2024 Juno Nominees Revealed From The Roots Up

The 2024 Juno Nominees From The Roots Up

The honour roll of Canadian talent gets definitively, and sometimes brutally, sorted out at this cold, cold time of year when the Juno noms are announced. Roots artists had a majority of the songwriting nominations this year, with Aysanabee, William Prince and recent Grammy winner and member of Queen Joni's court, Allison Russell, shining out in the pack. Aysanabee also showed up in the Alternative Album category and his producer, Hill Kourkoutis also merited a nomination. Allison Russell drew an extra nod for her video for Demons.

 

In terms of roots music by genre, Traditional Indigenous nominations went as follows:

Sing. Pray. Love. - Joel Wood Independent

LFS5 - Nimkii & the Niniis Independent

Mitòòdebi (For My Relatives) - The Bearhead Sisters Independent

Reverie - The Red River Ramblers Independent

Drum Nation - Young Scouts Indepr newer talntendent

 

The Contemporary Indigenous list included another score for Aysanabee:

Here and Now - Aysanabee Ishkōdé*Universal

Scream, Holler & Howl Blue - Moon Marquee Independent*IDLA

Inuktitut - Elisapie Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Revolution - Shawnee Kish Amelia*Symphonic

Bekka Ma’iingan - Zoon Paper Bag*Fontana North

 

In the Reggae department there were a few surprises.

Orbital favourite and Haviah Mighty's sister, Omega Mighty made a jump from the hip hop family. For the first time since the category was introduced in 1985, females dominate the JUNO Award for Reggae Recording of the Year.

This is the seventh nomination for Ammoye, who is originally from Clarendon, and the 11th for Exco Levi (who is originally from Manchester). Exco Levi has won the award five times. This is the first nod for both Jah Mila and Omega Mighty, while this is the third nomination for Finn and the sixth for Kirk Diamond. Diamond and Finn won last year for Reggae Party featuring Kairo McLean.

Stir This Thing - Ammoye Donsome*Ingrooves/Virgin

Feel Like Home - Exco Levi Penthouse*High Priest/ONErpm

Roots Girl - Jah’Mila Independent

Dread - Kirk Diamond & Finn Independent

Rush Dem (feat. 4Korners, Haviah Mighty) - Omega Mighty Independent*Foundation Media

 

The Blues nominations included some well-known names, with Brandon Isaak and Blue Moon Marquee coming in to claim space for the newer talent.

SoulFunkn’BLUES - Blackburn Brothers Electro-Fi*Isotope Music/The Orchard

Scream, Holler & Howl - Blue Moon Marquee Independent/IDLA

One Step Closer - Brandon Isaak Independent

The Big Bottle of Joy - Matt Andersen Sonic*Warner

Gettin’ Together - Michael Jerome Browne Borealis*Universal/IDLA

 

The Global Music section fulfilled its mandate of presenting wildly diverse entries:

Donte sann yo - Bel and Quinn Independent

Kizavibe Kizaba Disques - Nuits d’Afrique*Believe

SMS for Location Vol. 5 Moonshine Moonshine/FORESEEN*MNRK

Okantomi - OKAN Lulaworld*Symphonic

Soap Box - Waahli Wyzah Musk*Lemont

 

And in the actual Roots divisions there were many familiar friends and favourites:

In the Traditional Roots arena we find

Paint Horse Benjamin / Dakota Rogers - Good People*The Orchard

The Breath Between - David Francey Independent

Roses - Jackson Hollow Mountain Fever*Syntax Creative

Second Hand - James Keelaghan Borealis*Universal/IDLA

Resilience - Morgan Toney Ishkōdé*Universal

 

In the Contemporary Roots category, we also can see many of our most worthy perennial contestants, with Allison Russell's accomplishments being recognized yet again:

The Returner - Allison Russell Fantasy*Universal

We Will Never Be The Same - Good Lovelies Outside

Beyond The Reservoir - Julian Taylor Howling Turtle*Warner

A Light in the Attic - Logan Staats Red Music Rising*Believe

Stand in the Joy - William Prince Six Shooter*The Orchard

 

It all stops being hypothetical on Sunday March 24th, in

 Halifax this year, when trophies and teardrops will be

showering down in a music-filled night full of ceremony,

 community,

 and congratulation.