Polaris Music Prize

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Better Know a Jury Member # 4: Peter Hemminger June 30 2009

Peter Hemminger (Calgary)
Music and Film Editor, Fast Forward Weekly
Jury member since: 2009

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

Souljazz Orchestra Manifesto
Jay Crocker Below the Ocean Over
Julie Doiron I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
Lhasa Lhasa
Pale Air Singers Pale Air Singers

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

I first heard Souljazz when I was filling in for a friend at CJSW, Calgary's independent/campus radio station. I arbitrarily put on the track "State Terrorism," and when it was time for me to talk afterwords, all I could do was pull up my jaw and babble incoherently. That the entire record manages to maintain that intensity is absurd. I'd never given much time to Afrobeat before, but the elements of rock and funk that Souljazz bring to the mix, and the sheer skill of the band, made this one an easy choice. Well, relatively easy, at least.

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

Obviously, I'm disappointed that only one of my choices made it to the Long List, but the only omission that genuinely shocked me was Julie Doiron's. She made the short list two years ago for Woke Myself Up and I Can Wonder... is an even better album — I thought it was a lock. I was glad to see Charles Spearin's Happiness Project make the list, though, as it's one of the few 'concept albums' I can think of that has a genuinely novel concept, and genuinely interesting music to go with it. The most pleasant surprise, though, was seeing four Calgary-based bands on the list. Chad Van Gaalen, Rae Spoon, Women and Woodpigeon all have a solid shot at going all the way this year, and I couldn't be happier for 'em.

Describe the state of Canadian music in 5 words:

A source of ceaseless wonder.

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

That kind of cash could buy a pretty rad home studio — it'd probably go straight into some recording gear.

Related Link: Fast Forward Weekly

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 .
Jul 30 2010, 4:25pm from TweetDeck

Cool. RT @CiTRradio: CRTC policy decision gives Community Radio Fund of Canada $775,000 in funding to support community and campus stations.
Jul 30 2010, 4:01pm from TweetDeck