NWT names its first music award winners

Miranda Currie, Criminal the Child and Kilo November had been among the many winners as Music NWT staged its inaugural awards ceremony in Yellowknife on Saturday.

In the meantime, the Yellowknives Dene Drummers, Ted Wesley and Norm Glowach entered a newly fashioned NWT music corridor of fame throughout a mixed awards and induction ceremony on the Explorer Resort.

Drummer Cody Drygeese stated the award demonstrated the well being of Dene drumming.

“I’m very comfortable to say that proper now we now have many individuals in our First Nation who’re nonetheless taking part on this historical cultural apply,” he stated.

Guitarist Ted Wesley handed away final December. Sister-in-law Heather Pritchard, showing on his behalf, stated Ted was “an exquisite musician with a really giant vary” who obsessively studied songs he heard.

“He didn’t do music for cash or fame. He largely performed without spending a dime,” she stated. “And he missed his probability for fame when he went to the Juno Awards, as a result of they actually needed to enroll this glorious younger expertise, however he must transfer to Toronto. And who the hell desires to depart the North to maneuver to Toronto?”

Mayor of Yellowknife Rebecca Alty, introducing Norm Glowach because the night time’s last inductee, famous he had spent many years focusing his immense skillset, from musical capacity to audio engineering, on the Northwest Territories.

“I’m fortunate,” stated Glowach. “I get to report folks. I get to work with my bandmates, who I’ve been enjoying with in Priscilla’s Revenge for 15 years. This can be a fairly good life, I’d suggest it to anyone.”

Currie, named the NWT’s Indigenous artist of the yr on Saturday, recently released an album designed to assist youngsters be taught their conventional language.

“Each time I hear Miranda play, her music performs in my thoughts for the subsequent six hours,” stated the ceremony’s host, Inuk creator and throat-singer Tanya Snow.

“It feels very nice that people are recognizing my music,” Currie advised Cabin Radio.

“We performed a variety of reveals this week and youngsters are singing the songs and the lyrics, even for the brand new album. That’s the factor that at all times touches me essentially the most, while you see mother and father and youngsters singing alongside to stuff.

“You’re like, yay, as a result of I write this music with a message to vary that Indigenous narrative in Canada, beginning with younger folks and their households.”

Gnarwhal’s Deep Spaced was topped one of the best new single of the previous yr. The award for greatest new album went to Al Bee’s One From The Different.

Kilo November, the teenage DJ who sensationally closed the Cabin Stage at People on the Rocks 2019 and returned in 2021, was honoured for the territory’s greatest stay efficiency.

“I’m nonetheless shocked. I kind-of don’t consider it,” stated the 14-year-old, including he found he had been nominated after his mother obtained the decision whereas he performed video video games.

“She got here into my room and stated, ‘One thing loopy has occurred.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ And he or she’s like, ‘You’ve been nominated for this music award thingy.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh no manner, that’s superior.’

“I made a decision to not get my hopes up as a result of I didn’t truthfully assume I might win.”

Fort Good Hope rapper Criminal the Child, who carried out on the night time, received the songwriting award of excellence. “I can’t consider somebody on this room thought it was OK to provide me an award,” he advised the viewers, laughing, following his set.

Different performances on the gala, opened by the Yellowknives Dene Drummers, included Nara, Johnny Cole, Yellowknife’s taiko drummers, Munya Mataruse, 5 Thirds Mad, and Brenden MacIntosh, who received greatest debut launch for Espresso Break.

David Dowe’s Double D Studios received 2022’s music trade award, whereas Inuvik’s Nice Northern Arts Pageant received an award recognizing its work as a venue. Inuvik resident Abe Drennan collected that award on the occasion’s behalf earlier than selecting up the night time’s fan selection award.

Saturday’s ceremony, the primary such awards night time ever staged by Music NWT, befell in a gold-bedecked banquet corridor with two phases and a stay on-line broadcast.

The occasion was masterminded by Music NWT’s president, Trevor Sinclair, within the hope {that a} devoted and, by Yellowknife’s requirements, lavish annual awards night time will assist to provide the territory’s trade a better profile.

The winners, within the order they had been introduced:

• Songwriting: Criminal the Child
• Music Business: Double D Studios
• Venue: Nice Northern Arts Pageant
• Dwell Efficiency: Kilo November
• Music Video: Keith Robertson for Skinny Ice, by Andrea Bettger
• Fan Selection: Abe Drennan
• Indigenous Artist: Miranda Currie
• Debut Launch: Brenden MacIntosh
• New Single: Gnarwhal for Deep Spaced
• New Album: Al Bee for One From The Different

See the complete checklist of nominees in our earlier coverage.

Associated