VANCOUVER — Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie and Haisla hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids were early winners at the Juno Awards industry ceremony.
The Saturday evening soiree saw Elisapie’s pop covers collection “Inuktitut” pick up adult alternative album, while Rez Kids’ sixth record “Red Future” landed rap album of the year. It’s their first Juno win.
“I had a good cry walking here,” said Darren Metz from Rez Kids in the press room.
“When you work so hard towards something for so long, and then finally get it, all the emotions that you endured throughout that journey just come out.”
Other early winners included Tate McRae whose “Exes” was named single of the year. McRae was absent from the Junos because she was booked to appear at a music festival in Brazil.
Elizabeth Lowell Boland won the first songwriter of the year award created for non-performers. She picked up the prize for her work behind the scenes on Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” album and the Beaches’ “Takes One To Know One.”
The Calgary-raised Boland pushed for splitting the songwriting Juno category into two awards — performer and non-performer — after seeing the only Juno songwriting trophy consistently won by well-known stage performers.
“I’ve been fighting for this award,” Boland said.
“I chased down people at parties. I was really annoying. I joked that people would run away from me when they saw me at parties, because I wasn’t really interested in mingling. I just wanted to change this one little thing.”
The Junos hardware was handed out during an industry gala event in Vancouver where prizes in more than 40 categories will be awarded, including single and album of the year, as well as a new Juno recognizing South Asian music.
Other big winners included Mustafa, who wasn’t present to accept his two Junos. His self-directed “Name of God” was named music video of the year, and he also won songwriter of the year.
Punjabi music star AP Dhillon was also missing, who didn’t show up to accept the first-ever South Asian music recording Juno award. His album “The Brownprint” won the category.
Aqyila scored contemporary R&B recording of the year for “Bloom,” while Priori’s “This But More” by won electronic album.
TikTok star Jake Vaadeland’s bluegrass release “Retro Man … More and More” took home traditional roots album. The dapper, 1950s-style bluegrass musician accepted his Juno dressed in a retro suit accented by music notes on the collar.
“I am well aware that I’m living in the year 2025 — or whatever it is, ” he said with a prominent twang in his voice.
“And I may dress a certain way, or play a certain style of music, but I still grew up in the generation that I grew up in … This type of performance, this type of entertainment is really missing in the music industry today. We need to bring it back. And I’m trying so hard to do that.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2025.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
