From a list of hundreds, 196 music journalists from across the country carefully decided the 10 best Canadian albums of which the winner of the 2023 Polaris Music Prize will be determined on September 19, live from Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall. In honour of this year’s vibrant list of nominees, Canadian Beats is examining the 10 nominees and celebrating the artists behind them.
With her deep roots in Montreal beat and DJ culture front and centre, the globe-trotting Gayance has woven the world’s rhythms into her debut LP, Mascarade.
Based now in Amsterdam, Gayance drew on her travels through Los Angeles and Brazil to introduce the world to hometown artists, Raveen, Janette King, Judith Little D, and Hui Li though lively, hypnotic beats that keep the listener focused on movement. Standout tracks on the record include “Cloud Chacer’s Anthem,” which leads the listener through a relaxing movement of chill hop; while “Moon Rising (10 Years)” gives the soul a chance to dance through a smooth beat born out of the world.
Will Gayance introduce the world to the Polaris Music Prize? Find out by following CBC Music on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook, and at cbcmusic.ca/polaris, and follow Canadian Beats for more Polaris Music Prize coverage.