Polaris Music Prize

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Better Know a Jury Member #23: Del Cowie September 08 2009

Del Cowie (Toronto)
Associate Editor, Exclaim!
Jury Member Since: 2007

Please share the Top 5 Canadian records you put on your final ballot.

K-Os Yes!
K'naan Troubadour
D-Sisive Let the Children die
Bell Orchestre As Seen Through windows
Junior Boys Begone Dull Care

Tell us about your top ranked choice. Why #1?

I know K-OS is an established artist at this point, but I was quite impressed with the continuing artistic growth he showed on Yes!. It really feels like he starts from scratch and is making a debut record every time. Aside from that I feel that “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman,” performed with the criminally underrated Saukrates is one of the best hip-hop records to ever come out of this country. Collaborations between top tier hip-hop artists happen all the time in the States, but it is a comparatively rare event for domestic MCs.

Reaction to the Short List: Your most pleasant surprise? Shocked by any omissions?

Well, it would have been good to see my number 1 on the list, but there really was a lot of excellent music to choose from. Other selections on my list like Bell Orchestre’s hypnotic and intricately constructed record really stemmed from having access to all the records on the Long List which I think most jurors would report made it even harder to come up with a top five. This was a good thing. To be honest, I was disappointed Mocky’s Saskamodie didn’t crack the Long List. That being said, it was good to see K’naan make the Short List again. The effortless incorporation of Ethiopian jazz master Mulatu Astatke's music onto the single “ABCs,” is demonstrative of the seamless cultural meshing and the dedication to truthful storytelling that is essentially Troubadour’s mission statement.

Describe the state of Canadian music in five words:

Raw and ready to rumble.

Imagine the tables are turned and you are the nominee: What would you do with the $20,000 prize money?

Without question I think I would definitely pump some of the music back into the arts community. With specific regards to hip-hop music there have been some definite tangible results. In the 90s, the Fresh Arts program was instrumental in the careers of artists like Kardinal Offishall. These days, the efforts of really driven people like Gavin Sheppard at The Remix Project in Toronto have helped to develop promising talent like Rich Kidd, the producer behind the aforementioned Saukrates and K-OS track. The proof really is in the pudding.

Related Link: vibesandstuff.blogspot.com

RT @teganandsara: Home Recordings the bonus album from our vinyl box set is streaming at http://bit.ly/9mrMUN.
Jul 30 2010, 4:26pm from TweetDeck

@nicooooole in @torontoist on @TheSadies awesome summer .
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Cool. RT @CiTRradio: CRTC policy decision gives Community Radio Fund of Canada $775,000 in funding to support community and campus stations.
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