Canadian artists are in the spotlight with this year’s Grammy nominations, showcasing a diverse range of talents across various genres. Leading the pack is Toronto rapper Drake, who has apparently made nice with the Grammy folk breaking his years-long boycott of the awards by submitting his 2022 album Her Loss, earning him four nominations, including Best Rap Album.
Montreal singer-songwriter Allison Russell is also making waves with four nods, notably for Best Americana Album with The Returner. Joining the ranks of Canadian nominees is folk legend Joni Mitchell, recognized for her live recording Joni Mitchell at Newport in the Best Folk Album category.
Canadian engineers and mixers are making a significant impact, with Serban Ghenea securing seven nominations. Ghenea, originally from Romania and raised in Canada, is competing in key categories such as Record and Album of the Year for his work with artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Jon Batiste.
The dance categories boast notable Canadians, including Joel Zimmerman, widely known as Toronto DJ Deadmau5, and producer Cirkut (Henry Walter). Deadmau5 collaborated with American producer Kaskade on the project Kx5, which was nominated for Best Dance or Electronic Album, while Cirkut earns a nod for the song “Higher Than Ever Before” by Disclosure in the Best Dance/Electronic Recording category.
In the alternative music performance category, Prince Edward Island dream pop band Alvvays receives their first Grammy nomination for “Belinda Says.” Torontonians can claim at least a slice of Alvvays for themselves as the band formed in the city, and singer Molly Rankin was working as a server in Toronto when the band broke following their incredible self-titled debut album in 2014.
And that’s not all for Toronto music fans.
Local hip-hop and jazz outfit Badbadnotgood looks to add to their two Grammy wins with a nomination in the Remixed Recording category for their version of “Alien Love Call.”
Classical music continues to thrive with conductor and pianist Yannick Nรฉzet-Sรฉguin, a three-time Grammy winner, earning two more nominations for his work on Florence Price’s Symphony No. 4 and William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony.
Other noteworthy Canadian nominees include metal band Spiritbox, jazz ensemble Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, and saxophonist Ben Wendel in various categories.
Even beyond the music scene, and probably one of the most epic Grammy nominations this year, Canadian actor William Shatner is up for an award in the Best Audiobook category with his work Boldly Go: Reflections On A Life Of Awe And Wonder.
Canadians will be well-represented at the 66th Grammy Awards, broadcasting on Feb. 4.
