Music Nova Scotia’s annual Music & Industry awards concluded an energetic weekend of song and celebration in Yarmouth. Capping off Nova Scotia Music Week was the awards brunch on Sunday, Oct. 26, which featured performances from Mi’kmaq folk artist Morgan Toney—who showed off his dancing skills while playing—folk artist Kristen Martell, R&B/folk artist Adina, hip-hop artist Kxng Wooz and singer-songwriter Mo Kenney.
A total of 31 awards were handed out that morning, eight in industry categories and 23 in music. Halifax Jazz Festival, KAYO, Mo Kenney and Terra Spencer all walked away with two awards each, but several award wins held great significance for the artists who won them and the province’s music scene as a whole.
Music Awards
Reggae artist Jah’Mila was named African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year. Jah’Mila has seen great success this year following the release of her latest album, Woman of the Sun, and a massive show at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium alongside Symphony Nova Scotia.
Soulful rock artist Charlie A’Court won Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year for his latest project, San Palarino, an Americana album marked by emotional weight. Blues rock duo Campbell & Johnston won Blues Recording of the Year for their release Paisley Hearts, and alt-country outfit Bill Ricky, who only debuted in 2023, won Country Recording of the Year for their self-titled EP. While accepting the award, they announced on stage that their full-length debut is on the way.
Hip-hop artist KAYO, one part of the Million Vibes collective, took home DJ of the Year and Hip Hop/Rap Recording of the Year for his 2024 album EXTENDED TRIP. Pop Recording of the Year went to Pillow Fite for their album Hard Feelings, Soft Promises, a blend of pop production with some distinct rock riffs. R&B/Soul Artist of the Year went to JupiterReign, a talented vocalist who has been performing for over a decade.
Hip-hop artist KAYO, one part of the Million Vibes collective, took home DJ of the Year and Hip Hop/Rap Recording of the Year for his 2024 album EXTENDED TRIP. Pop Recording of the Year went to Pillow Fite for their album Hard Feelings, Soft Promises, a blend of pop production with some distinct rock riffs. R&B/Soul Artist of the Year went to JupiterReign, a talented vocalist who has been performing for over a decade.
Rock Recording of the Year went to Eric Stephen Martin for his album Paper Chains, a multidisciplinary project produced by Joel Plaskett. Jazz Recording of the Year went to Sam Wilson for the album Wintertides, inspired by the contrasting landscapes of Canada’s coasts. Young up-and-coming noise and stoner rock band The Orchids took home Loud Recording of the Year for their self-titled debut record.
Classical Recording of the Year went to Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth, a project from India Gailey with Symphony Nova Scotia and Karl Hirzer. The interactive children’s music duo Razzmatazz were selected as Children’s Artist of the Year. Rich Aucoin accepted the award for Electronic Artist of the Year, and Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers won Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Terra Spencer took home awards for Entertainer of the Year and Folk/Roots Recording of the Year for her album Sunset. Mo Kenney’s two awards were Music Video of the Year for “From Nowhere”, directed by Nicole Cecile Holland and Sarah Swire, as well as SOCAN Songwriter of the Year.
Bilingual songwriter Kristen Martell won the Prix de l’Acadie this year, while Traditional Recording of the Year went to Lucy MacNeil of The Barra MacNeils for Angel Whispers. Mat Elliott took home New Artist Recording of the Year for his album South Endings, and The Brood’s Siobhan Martin, who is also an accomplished session musician and on the Board of Directors for Music Nova Scotia, won Musician of the Year.
Industry Awards
Halifax Jazz Festival came out with two awards: the Artistic Development Award and the Live Sector Award. The Media Arts Award was given to CKDU-88.1FM, the Halifax campus radio station broadcasting from Dalhousie University.
Singer-songwriter and producer Breagh Isabel won the Recording Sector Award, while audio engineer Sara Martin won this year’s Sound, Tech and Production Award. R&B singer-songwriter and teacher Avery Dakin won the award for Educator of the Year. Anna Brown, an expert in event coordination, won the Emerging Industry Professional of the Year Award.