Polaris Music Prize

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Better Know A Jury Member #12: Addi Stewart July 31 2009

Addi Stewart (Toronto)
Freelance journalist
Jury Member Since: 2008

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

K'naan Troubadour
Hey Rosetta! Into Your Lungs (and around your heart and on through your blood)
K-OS Yes!
The Dears Missiles
Thunderheist Thunderheist

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

Troubadour by K-NAAN. That record is the beautiful synthesis of so many dreams, sounds, ideas, emotions and brilliant observations that I was seriously shocked silent at its conclusion. The first time I listened to it in its entirety, I was scared to hear it again for a week. I just walked around my life contemplating everything it did to my mind, body, soul and perception of hip-hop and world music, and marveled at how perfect its timing and execution was. The magic of K-Naan recording it in Bob Marley's Tuff Gong home and studio, as well as him inviting esteemed artists as diverse as Mos Def, Kirk Hammett, Adam Levine, Chubb Rock, and Damian Marley did nothing but increase the awe I held for it. This record is the communal future of music on so many levels. Nobody I know of has balanced and blended so many separate-but-connected dimensions of creation so harmoniously and naturally. It's not the perfect album, but it is truly wonderful to know that the album dares to exist.

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

Most pleasant surprise might be seeing K-OS's great new record make it that far. He was a media pariah not long ago. Good to see that great music is still the most important detail to focus on.

Describe the state of Canadian music in five words:

Infuriatingly under-explored. Silently superior worldwide.

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

Invest it all in enough social networking ideas, marketing and promotional tools and distribution channels to turn a street corner novelty into the next William Hung. Or even better, the next Tay Zonday, word to Dr. Pepper and Dr. Dre. In this age, who needs a major label? I'd make that money convey the illusion that I've got a million dollar budget, since consumer-level video cameras have never been better than they are right now. A YouTube/Vimeo/MuchMusic onslaught would then commence, and a variety of intriguing, mysterious, and interactive promotions would completely overwhelm the populace in proximity. Give me $20,000, and I will give you your next Canadian musical superstar. Who would think it was so cheap to create an American (hip-)pop music superstar-inspired audio phenomenon? We can do it. We have the technology.

Related Link: cityonmyback.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 .
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