In Canada: Angine de Poitrine, PUP & More Make SOCAN Polaris Song Prize Short List

In Canada, the music scene is buzzing with excitement as the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize has just revealed its second-ever short list. The winner of this prestigious award will receive a whopping $10,000, split between the song's Canadian performers and the credited Canadian songwriter(s), so you can imagine the level of talent and competition involved. This year's short list features five unforgettable Canadian songs that will be fighting for the top spot, and I'm here to give you the lowdown.

The SOCAN Polaris Song Prize is an incredible initiative that celebrates the power of songwriting in Canada. According to Jennifer Brown, CEO of SOCAN, "Sometimes, a song is so powerful it stands on its own and demands to be heard, and the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize Short List honours five such unforgettable Canadian songs." The short list selections were whittled down from a 20-song long list that included tracks from Begonia, Les Louanges, Aquakultre, and Rochelle Jordan, among others.

The short list features Angine de Poitrine's "Fabienk", Charlotte Cornfield's "Hurts Like Hell", PUP's "Hunger For Death", Patrick Watson & Martha Wainwright's "House on Fire", and Charlotte Day Wilson, featuring Saya Gray's "Lean". These five songs are sure to get your playlist on repeat, and they made it to the short list. Of the five short-listed artists, two have secured their spot on the Polaris Music Prize album short list: Angine de Poitrine's Vol. II, and Charlotte Cornfield's Hurts Like Hell.

The SOCAN Polaris Song Prize was created to acknowledge "a whole new group of artists" who weren't necessarily releasing full albums or bodies of work. According to Amber Still, executive director of the Polaris organization, this award is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible talents of songwriters who may not have been recognized before. It's the organization's first new award since the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize, introduced in 2015 to award albums released before the Polaris Music Prize launched in the mid-2000s.

Past winners of the Polaris Music Prize include Alanis Morrisette, Peaches, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, among others. It's clear that the Polaris organization is committed to recognizing and celebrating the incredible talent that Canada has to offer. And with the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize, they're doing just that.

The Canadian music scene is on the rise, and it's exciting to see so many talented artists making waves. From PUP's high-energy rock to Charlotte Day Wilson's soulful vocals, there's something for everyone on this short list. And with the Polaris Music Prize and the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize also taking place on September 22, it's going to be a big night for Canadian music.

The recipient of the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize will be revealed alongside the Polaris Music Prize and the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize at the concert and award ceremony at Massey Hall on September 22, hosted by musician and broadcaster Odario Williams. So mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate the best of Canadian music.

All eyes are on the short list, and it's anyone's game. Who will take home the $10,000 prize? Will it be Angine de Poitrine, Charlotte Cornfield, PUP, Patrick Watson & Martha Wainwright, or Charlotte Day Wilson? Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: Canadian music is on the rise, and it's only going to get bigger and better from here.