The full list of nominees is here for the 2025 East Coast Music Awards, and Halifax is well-represented. Sixty-seven ECMA nominations—the annual awards celebrating the best of East Coast music—include contributions from Halifax-based artists, engineers, managers and venues this year. That includes nine ECMA shortlist nods for Enfield rapper Classified, whose album Luke’s View earned him consideration for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, among a slew of other honours. It’s a good year for Halifax’s Maggie Andrew and Jah’Mila, too, who each earned five nods following their respective albums DAY JOB and Woman of the Sun.
This year’s ECMAs are set for May 7-11 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Voting opens for the Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year and Fan’s Choice Video of the Year today at ECMA.com. Check out the full list of nominees below.
***Denotes Halifax-area nominee
MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES
African Canadian Artist of the Year
Baraka – “Galaxy”
Jah’Mila – “Never Fail”***
KAYO – “Get Me Right” ft. JRDN (Prod. NULO)***
Maggie Andrew – “About Us”***
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee – “Zombie”
Album of the Year
Classified – Luke’s View***
Jah’Mila – Woman of the Sun***
Maggie Andrew – DAY JOB***
Quote The Raven – Map The Dark
The Irish Descendants – The Irish Descendants Christmas
Vishtèn Connexions – Expansion
Acadian or Francophone Artist of the Year
Jacques Surette – Conséquences
Joey Robin Haché – “Jerrycan”
Les Hay Babies – “Soyez fiers”
Sirène et Matelot – “Coeur chaviré”
Suzie LeBlanc – “Nous partirons”
Blues Release of the Year
11th & Duke – “The Phoenix”
Campbell & Johnston – “Find Your Way”***
Connor Fox – “Ain’t No Time”
Lookout Tower – “Dust Jackets”
Stompbox – “Just Don’t Know It Yet (She’s My Girl)”
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Brett Matthews – “If I Die Today” ft. Classified”***
Callum Gaudet – Ghosts***
Clare Siobhan – “Flare”
Jacques Surette – “Conséquences”
Loviet – “Broken Lips”
Rachel Cousins – “Hell & High Water”
Children’s Artist of the Year
Art Richard – “Bonjour Canada”
Heather Feather – “Ants in My Pants”
Micaela Comeau (Wuzzô) – “I’m Made From Stardust”
Miss Kris – “The Day Has Just Begun”
Mr Super Dude X KinderChartin’ – “Sticker on My Toe”
Classical Composer of the Year
Bekah Simms – “Foreverdark”
Florian Hoefner – “Bird Island Suite: IV. Song for the Song of the Leach’s Storm Petrel”
India Gailey – “Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth: I. SKY”***
Jeremy Dutcher – “Motewolonuwok”
Julia Mermelstein – “Bending, breaking through”***
Classical Release of the Year
Blackwood w/ India Gailey – “Benedicite”***
India Gailey – Problematica***
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee – “Blizzard”
SHHH!! Ensemble – “Causes, 1.1 Negative Energy”
Suzie LeBlanc – “pour une Amérique engloutie”
Country Release of the Year
Brett Matthews – “If I Die Today” ft. Classified***
Carolina East – “I’m Not Scared”
Julie Aubé – “I Found Mine”
Justin Fancy – “She Just Is”
Mallory Johnson – “suitcase”
Dance Release of the Year
Alex Byrne – “When We Dance”
Bad Friends – “Mmam”
Cloverdale – “Believe In The Music”***
PINEO & LOEB – “Chrome”***
Summer Bennett – “Just a Phase – Dave Aude Remix”
The Volta – Lights Out
Electronic Release of the Year
Ben Diamond – “Something Sawed”
DenMother – “Ghost Gear”
Rich Aucoin – “Sonica”***
Rozalind MacPhail – “In Perfect Time”
SHHH!! Ensemble – “Causes, 1.1 Negative Energy”
Folk Release of the Year
Noah Malcolm – “Cereal”
Old Man Luedecke – “My Status Is The Baddest” ft. Bahamas***
Rum Ragged – “The Road to Lushes Bight (Island Stock)”
Terra Spencer – “Real Love” ft. Ian Sherwood
Vishtèn Connexions – “Kouma”
Fusion Release of the Year
Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers – “The Dream Canoe”
Capital 6 – Not My One
Ian Foster – “Gossamer”
India Gailey – Problematica***
Jeremy Dutcher – “Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok”
Vishtèn Connexions – “Kouma”
Global Music Release of the Year
Ana Luísa Ramos – “Clouds”
Dee Hernandez – “Just Friends”
KAYO & NULO – “Lightning In A Bottle” ft. aRENYe***
Richard Wood – “CareBear Forever”
Zay Nova – “Keep Your Head Above the Water”
Group of the Year
Moira & Claire – “no hesitation”***
Neon Dreams – “The Art of Letting Go”***
Rum Ragged – “The Road To Lushes Bight (Island Stock)”
The Once – “Oh You”
The Town Heroes – “Hockey Fights”***
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Deantha Edmunds – “Angmalukisaa: IV. Rings 4 (Arr. for Voice & String Orchestra by Robert Carli)”
DeeDee Austin – “Tell Me ( Why Am I So Different)”***
Jeremy Dutcher – “Ancestors Too Young”
Summer Bennett – “Just A Phase”
Wolf Castle – “Gravity / Levity”
Instrumental Release of the Year
Blackwood w/ India Gailey – “Passages”***
Iris Trio – “Bird Island Suite: IV. Song for the Song of the Leach’s Storm Petrel”
Mark Fewer – “The Simple Life (Arr. for Violin & String Orchestra by Andrew Downing)”
Sam Wilson – “the moon song”***
Shaun Ferguson – “Sound Mind”
Symphony Nova Scotia – “Piano Concerto in One Movement: Andantino – Allegretto”***
Jazz Release of the Year
Amirault Brothers – “St-Antoine’s March”
Capital 6 – “Not My One”
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee – “Zombie”
Natasha Blackwood – “Good Machines”
Sam Wilson – “the moon song”***
Loud Release of the Year
BLEVK – Ascension
Elevate The Virus – “Famine”
Les Moontunes – Elephant Wizard
Omnivide – “Cosmic Convergence”
The Order of the Precious Blood – “Suffer & Die”
Pop Release of the Year
chasing luma – “is this as good as it gets?”
Logan Richard / Moira & Claire – “Unrequited Love Blues”***
Maggie Andrew – “About Us”***
Mat Elliott – “Church Street”***
Noah Malcolm – “January”
Related
Mat Elliott delivers soothing soundscapes and sincere heartbreak in ‘South Endings’ EP
Producer of the Year
AA Wallace – Archiviste
Ben B. Creelman – “Bad Habit”***
Classified – Luke’s View***
Cloverdale – “Believe In The Music”***
Jeremy VanSlyke – “Alikeness”
R&B / Soul Release of the Year
aRENYE, NULO – “City On Fire” ft. Kayo & BASYL***
Bakers Duz’n – “Lesson #1 (Radio Edit)”***
Dee Hernandez – “Blessed”
Jah’Mila – “Never Fail”***
Mat Elliott – “Church Street”***
Rap / Hip-Hop Release of the Year
Classified – “Sure Enough” ft. Masta Ace***
DK – “something real” ft. Carlitta Durand, Saukrates, Ghettosocks & Cesar Comanche***
HARMZ – “Family Highs”
Stephen Hero – “Can’t Stop (working)” ft. Aquakultre***
Wolf Castle – “Gravity / Levity”
Release of the Year
Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers – “The Dream Canoe”
Classified – “Amnesia”***
Jah’Mila – “Never Fail”***
Jeremy Dutcher – “Skicinuwihkuk”
Kellie Loder – “When It Comes To You”
The Once – “The Bend”
Rock / Alternative Release of the Year
Absolute Losers – “By Fright”
Maggie Andrew – DAY JOB***
Mo Kenney – “Evening Dream”***
Sluice – “Agis comme du monde”
The Town Heroes – “In Your Head”***
Related
Halifax’s Maggie Andrew is bringing alt-pop to new heights
Roots Release of the Year
Jeremy Dutcher – “Skicinuwihkuk”
Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper, Sandy MacKay – “Rocky Hills”
Quote The Raven – “Already Gone”
Terra Spencer – “East to West”
Vishtèn Connexions – “Gaillard” ft. De Temps Antan
Solo Artist of the Year
Classified – “Amnesia”***
Ian Foster – “Gossamer”
Jeremy Dutcher – “Take my Hand”
Kellie Loder – “When It Comes To You”
Kylie Fox – “Alberta”
Rich Aucoin – “Sonica”***
Songwriter of the Year
Classified – “Wonder” ft. Ian Janes***
Jeremy Dutcher – “Skicinuwihkuk”
Kellie Loder – “When It Comes To You”
Natasha Blackwood – “Pleading Guilty”
Old Man Luedecke – “The Raven and The Dove”
Terra Spencer – “Real Love” ft. Ian Sherwood
Traditional Release of the Year
Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers – “Whale Hunting Song”
Lucy MacNeil – “Radio Sweethearts”
Rachel Davis & Darren McMullen – “The Quartermaster”
Rum Ragged – “Paddy Hyde”
Vishtèn Connexions – “Gaillard” ft. De Temps Antan
Vocal Release of the Year
Chœur Louisbourg – “L’appel”
Halifax Camerata Singers – “Yôtin (The Wind)”***
Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus – “Maybe”***
Laura Roy – “Lucy”
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee – “Pur ti miro”
Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers
Andrew Rodgers
Daniel James McFadyen
Dylan Menzie
Ian Foster
Justin Fancy
Kellie Loder
Lennie Gallant
Mallory Johnson
Rum Ragged
The Once
Fans’ Choice Video of the Year
Classified – “Amnesia” (Directed by: Classified)***
David Myles – “Devil Talking” (Directed by: Griffin O’Toole)
Jah’Mila – “East Coast Family” (Directed by: Jeff Miller)***
Jeremy Dutcher – “Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok” (Directed by: tranquilo)
Kellie Loder – “Can’t Go Back” (Directed by: Ashlea Wessel)
Maggie Andrew – “About Us” (Directed by: MooseCanFly)***
Neon Dreams – “The Art of Letting Go” (Directed by: Dan Lewis Cole & Frank Kadillac)***
Old Man Luedecke – “She Told Me Where To Go” (Directed by: Pangalactic Pictures Inc)
Quote The Raven – “Already Gone” (Directed by: Cody Westman)
The Town Heroes – “Hockey Fights” (Directed by: Matt Corkum)***
INDUSTRY AWARD NOMINEES
Artist Management of the Year
Derrick Sturge (Pharos Music Inc.)
Evan Newman***
Hurricane Music Artist Management
Jayden Duplessis***
Todd Mercer
Content Creator of the Year
Classified***
Jud Haynes
Kristan Toczko
Richard Lann
Scott Legge
Event of the Year
Congrès mondial acadien 2024
Goolaholla!
Halifax Jazz Festival***
Nova Scotia Music Week
The 2024 JUNOS***
Innovator of the Year
Ariel Sharratt
Chelsi Madonna***
Ian Foster
John D.S. Adams
Micah Smith***
Media Person of the Year
Chuck Boudreau
Darcy Walsh
Greg Smith
Richard Lann
Zach Snow
Venue of the Year
Marigold Cultural Centre
Sanctuary Arts Centre***
Shore Club***
The Carleton***
The Ship Pub
Related Stories
Mat Elliott delivers soothing soundscapes and sincere heartbreak in ‘South Endings’ EP
Halifax’s Maggie Andrew is bringing alt-pop to new heights
Enfield’s Classified steps back into the booth for Luke’s View
Old Man Luedecke is back off the scallop boat—and sounding as new as ever
This article appears in Feb 1-28, 2025.