Debby Friday has won the 2023 Polaris Music Prize for her album B次元官网网址淕ood Luck.B次元官网网址�

The debut full-length release from the Nigerian-born Canadian was selected on Tuesday for the $50,000 prize by an 11-member grand jury. They named it the best Canadian album of the year based on its artistic merit.

The stunned musician took the stage at Massey Hall in Toronto to accept the cash award from last yearB次元官网网址檚 winner, Pierre Kwenders.

After regaining her composure, the 29-year-old thanked many of the people who helped her career and reflected on her upbringing. She was born in Nigeria before she immigrated to Canada when she was around two years old, she said.

B次元官网网址淭his is something that I didnB次元官网网址檛 realize was a possibility,B次元官网网址� she said from the stage.

B次元官网网址淣ow, IB次元官网网址檓 here today and it just feels like a miracle.B次元官网网址�

The Polaris Music Prize is considered one of the countryB次元官网网址檚 most prestigious music awards with previous winners who include Haviah Mighty, Jeremy Dutcher and Kaytranada.

Friday, who was born Deborah Micho, started her music career as a DJ in the Montreal club scene, learning her early skills from YouTube tutorials.

She later moved to Vancouver to get a masterB次元官网网址檚 degree in fine arts, a significant pivot from her bachelorB次元官网网址檚 degree in political science. She said all the money from her Polaris win will likely go towards paying off student loans.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 quite a bit,B次元官网网址� she said backstage with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l need Polaris and then some.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淕ood LuckB次元官网网址� finds her Debby Friday alias building on the industrial sounds of her two EPs with more soulful vocals.

Music critics likened the album to artists as diverse as industrial metal band Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, rappers Run the Jewels and Beyonc茅.

It was written during the pandemic, she said, as she spent B次元官网网址渁 lot of time sitting and reflecting on life.B次元官网网址� Winning the Polaris was never part of that vision, she added.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 have the imagination for this back then,B次元官网网址� she said.

An eclectic group of Canadian musicians were up for this yearB次元官网网址檚 prize, including Feist, Aysanabee, the Sadies, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Dan Mangan.

Many of them showed up at the awards show to perform from their nominated albums.

WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 Begonia sang tracks from B次元官网网址淧owder BlueB次元官网网址� earning some of the loudest applause of the night for her powerful voice.

Toronto band the Sadies performed from B次元官网网址淐older Streams,B次元官网网址� their final studio recording with founding member Dallas Good, who died last year.

Oji-Cree alternative soul musician Aysanabee played guitar beside a painting of his grandfather made by Toronto artist Montina Hussey. The work doubled as the album cover of B次元官网网址淲atin,B次元官网网址� which was inspired by daily phone conversations with his elder during the pandemic.

Four-time Polaris-nominated duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids closed the show with a live comedy skit as a precursor to songs from their album B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 Good, HBU?B次元官网网址� The sketch involved a late-night TV host interviewing them about their careers B次元官网网址� claiming himself a fan but having little knowledge of their music B次元官网网址� before the pair jumped into an energetic rap performance.

While accepting her Polaris win, Micho urged other musicians to B次元官网网址減rotect your strangenessB次元官网网址� because she now realizes what was in her was a B次元官网网址渟uperpower all along.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧rotect the things that make you different. These are gifts you are given,B次元官网网址� she said.

Not all of the Polaris nominees were present for the event. Organizers say Feist and Daniel Caesar, had touring commitments and were unable to be there. However, a few members of Alvvays were in attendance but did not perform.

This was also a year of big changes at the Polaris awards show.

Most notably, the eveningB次元官网网址檚 proceedings used to take place at the CARLU event space in Toronto, which holds up to 1,500 people. But organizers decided to upgrade to the larger Massey venue to draw more music fans.

The Polaris also only awarded its winner a cash prize and did not give $3,000 to each of the short-listed artists as it has in recent years.

The show also didnB次元官网网址檛 stream live on CBC Gem this year, though organizers say a compilation of highlights will broadcast on B次元官网网址淐BC Music LiveB次元官网网址� which airs Friday on the FM station CBC Music.

READ ALSO: