Metric, Tegan and Sara, Godspeed! make short list for $30,000 Polaris Prize

TORONTO – Considering its remarkable cachet, it can be easy to forget that the Polaris Prize — awarded to the artist who produced Canada’s top album of the year — is still fairly new, not even 10 years old.

And once in a while, a band like Metz — among the 10 groups shortlisted for the $30,000 award on Tuesday — will remind you how young it is.

“I didn’t even know what Polaris was,” said Hayden Menzies, of the Toronto noise-rock trio. “I’m serious. We’ve never done music or band stuff for any type of recognition beyond just being able to play shows for people.”

Toronto new-wave band Metric, Montreal jazz saxophonist Colin Stetson and Calgary twins Tegan and Sara were the only artists to make a return appearance on the Polaris short list, pared down from the 40-album long list.

Otherwise, the Polaris short list newcomers to join Metz were Montreal art-rock collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Nanaimo, B.C.-born songwriter Zaki Ibrahim, Montreal electronic act Purity Ring, Hamilton roots duo Whitehorse, Aboriginal hip-hop trio A Tribe Called Red, and Montreal-based electro pop outfit Young Galaxy.

While the news truly came as a shock to Menzies, who flew in from Seattle on Tuesday morning with his bandmate Chris Slorach, he said it remained an honour.

“It’s flattering. It makes us look at things outside our own little tunnel vision,” he said. Added Slorach: “Canadian music is very strong right now.”

The award, founded eight years ago and selected by a jury of music journalists, bloggers and broadcasters, has quickly established itself with a reputation of finding the best in Canadian music across multiple genres and providing a spotlight for lesser-known acts.

“The thing is that it’s less recognized than the mainstream in some ways and the Polaris extracts or lifts up a few and that really makes a huge difference as far as your ability to maintain the process,” said Catherine McCandless, singer and keyboardist in Young Galaxy, who were recognized for their fourth album, “Ultramarine.”

“It gives you more exposure and gets bigger audiences.”

Ibrahim is perhaps one of the least heralded of the shortlisted artists — her record “Every Opposite” has so far been released only online and in South Africa. Buoyed by her nomination, she says the album is about to be made much more available to those who want to hear what the commotion’s about.

“It feels like things are about to pop off. I feel like I’m doing something right,” said the South African-Canadian singer-songwriter. “It’s a catalyst. It’s about to push things — it’s a great kick in the rear end.”

In a way, the diverse collection of genres recognized by the award is reflected by Ibrahim’s spectrum of influences. “I feel like I’m staunchly genreless…. You’ll find (my music) is electronic, it’s dubstep, it’s R&B, it’s hip-hop — it’s my Canadian experience.”

And if the award wasn’t already essentially Canadian, the bands’ self-effacing attitudes toward the prize certainly is.

“I always think about who hasn’t won yet…. Tegan and Sara would be great,” said McCandless.

“(A Tribe Called Red’s ‘Nation II Nation’) is the one I’m really gunning for,” said Metz’s Menzies.

The winner of this year’s Polaris Prize will be announced at a gala at the Carlu in Toronto on Sept. 23. The event will be hosted by formerly Polaris-nominated artists Kathleen Edwards and Shad.

Last year’s prize was claimed by Toronto-based songstress Feist, while other previous winners include Montreal indie institution Arcade Fire, Dundas, Ont., electronic producer Caribou and Montreal rock outfit Karkwa.