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.
Proving, once again, that she is the monarch of engaging and welcoming acoustic-pop, Feist returns to the Polaris Music Prize Short List for the fourth time with the simply stunning Multitudes.
Recorded amidst a period of life changes that included the death of her father and the birth of her adopted daughter, Feist uses Multitudes to guide the listener on a journey through a gentle soundscape of simple layers. “Becomes the Earth” is wistful in its portrayal of the ultimate freedom and love of the natural world, while “Calling All the Gods” further down the track list revisits natural themes with a plea for help. Meanwhile, the rich choral vocals “Of Womankind” shine a firm and comforting take on the little life struggles of womanhood, while “Love Who We Are Meant To” is simply stunning in its delicate celebration of love lost.
Will Multitudes become Feist’s second-ever Polaris Music Prize win? Find out on 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.