Pierre Kwenders has won the 2022 Polaris Music Prize for his album B次元官网网址淛os茅 Louis and the Paradox Of Love.B次元官网网址�
The Congolese-CanadianB次元官网网址檚 third album, which blends the dancefloor energy of Congolese rumba, R&B and pop, was selected by an 11-member grand jury as best Canadian album of the year based on its artistic merit.
At the ceremony in Toronto on Monday night, Kwenders beat nine other contenders for the $50,000 prize, including rapper Shad, Vancouver rock band Destroyer, Quebec pop provocateur Hubert Lenoir and Rosaireville, N.B.-raised Lisa LeBlanc.
Kwenders accepted the honour after dropping to his knees on the stage, which he later explained was out of nervousness.
B次元官网网址淭his means a lot to me, and a lot of people that have been around me, and helped me to be the man that I am today,B次元官网网址� he said.
He went on to explain that over the past couple of months heB次元官网网址檚 lost several people close to him, including cousins and most recently his godfather.
B次元官网网址淚 felt a little bit like (in) life something was going wrong,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut then I remembered the reason why I do what I doB次元官网网址� to tell the story of the people that inspired me.B次元官网网址�
Kwenders was born Jos茅 Louis Modabi, in Kinshasa, Congo, and immigrated to Canada in 2001. His stage name is drawn from his late grandfather, a local businessman and community leader.
B次元官网网址淛os茅 Louis and the Paradox Of LoveB次元官网网址� was recorded over four years and Kwenders describes it as a reflection on romantic love, family and personal growth sung in English, French, Lingala, Tshiluba, and Kikongo. It features musical collaborators King Britt, Michael Brun and Arcade FireB次元官网网址榮 Win Butler and R茅gine Chassagne.
In a press conference after his win, he considered how heB次元官网网址檇 spend the $50,000 prize.
B次元官网网址淭he first thing IB次元官网网址檓 doing with the money is giving my mom the per cent that she deserves,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址�(SheB次元官网网址檚) a single mom, she made a lot of sacrifices. She didnB次元官网网址檛 believe that I could do it in music but still trusted that I got the guts to do it. SheB次元官网网址檚 still out there supporting me.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭en or 20 per cent goes first to my mom. And then the rest? WeB次元官网网址檒l figure it out,B次元官网网址� he added.
Kwenders has been celebrated by the Polaris jury in the past. He previously landed a spot on the 2018 shortlist with his album B次元官网网址淢akanda at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time.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 past winners that include Haviah Mighty, Jeremy Dutcher and Kaytranada.
Attended by Canadian talent and industry players, the evening proved to be a lengthy celebration that stretched on for more than four hours as each nominee took the stage to perform, many of them playing at least two of their songs.
Last yearB次元官网网址檚 winner Cadence Weapon opened the show with a performance of B次元官网网址淥n MeB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪enna,B次元官网网址� two tracks from his Polaris-winning album B次元官网网址淧arallel World.B次元官网网址�
He was followed by this yearB次元官网网址檚 nominees, including Toronto singer-songwriter Charlotte Day Wilson and Haisla Nation hip-hop act Snotty Nose Rez Kids.
Kwenders said being among the multi-genre B次元官网网址渕elting potB次元官网网址� of his fellow nominees felt right and was B次元官网网址渁 good representation of Canada.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 like to put myself into any kind of boxes,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut finding myself in this box, I kind of feel like itB次元官网网址檚 the right box.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press
