Music Nova Scotia Presents the 25th Annual Music & Industry Awards Nominations!

Aug. 23

A fresh constellation of shining stars, Advocates of Truth, Deedee Austin LxVNDR, Nicole Ariana, waants & Zamani lead the pack with three nominations.

(August 23rd, 2022 - Halifax, NS) Nova Scotia continues to provide outstanding musical talents, and this year is undoubtedly one to remember. This year’s awards presented a seat for seven outstanding artists who all lead the way with three nominations. Last year’s Indigenous Artist of the Year, Dee Dee Austin, together with her counterparts, Advocates of Truth, LxVNDR, Nicole Ariana, waants, and Zamani, have all worked hard and deserve all the accolades. The Music Nova Scotia Awards will be presented on Sunday, November 6th, 2022 as part of the 25th Anniversary of the Nova Scotia Music Week (NSMW) 2022.

Based on the feedback from last year’s awards, MNS has looked inward at opportunities to make this year an even greater event. The organization introduced six new award categories including; Emerging Industry Professional of the Year, Live Sector Award, Recording Sector Award, Artist Development Award, and two others. MNS has now introduced members will only need to vote for at minimum 50% of the ballot in the Music Awards, whereas previously it was mandatory to vote for 80% of the ballot.

All Music Nova Scotia members in good standing are eligible to vote for this year’s Music and Industry Awards. Voting will take place online through the Music Nova Scotia website. Voting is now open and will close on Monday, September 5th, 11:59 PM AST. Music Nova Scotia members need to log into their MNS profile to vote here.

The general public is able to vote for Entertainer of the Year here. The public is able to vote once daily, per the email address provided.

See below for a complete list of award nominees.

Festival Wristbands and Delegate Passes are on sale now. To purchase wristbands or passes, click HERE.

The following categories did not receive the required 3 or more eligible nominations:
Blues Recording of the Year
Children’s Recording of the Year
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year

And the 2022 Nominees are….

The 2022 Music Nova Scotia Music Awards nominees are:

African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year
Haliey Smith
Jody Upshaw
LxVNDR
Reeny Smith
Zamani

Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year
Aaron MacDonald - It's Been Too Long
Cheval - Singer Songwrecker
Gabriel Minnikin - Sweet Nothings
Steve MacIntyre - Steve MacIntyre
Willie Stratton - Drugstore Dreamin'

Classical Recording of the Year
Catherine Little - Taking Five
Chimera Trio - Constellations
India Gailey - to you through
Jennifer King - O Mistress Moon: Canadian Edition
Maureen Batt - Lighthouse

Country Recording of the Year
Charlie A'Court & Witchitaw - When Country Gets The Blues
Farewell Town - Farewell Town
Ken Ward - Fallen Angel
Lisa Richard - Promises Kept
Thomas Stajcer - Midwestern States

DJ of the Year
Cloverdale
HANZ OONZ
Karate Kactus
PINEO & LOEB
Troy Power

Electronic Artist of the Year
Cloverdale
Kristen Martell
Nicole Ariana
PINEO & LOEB
waants

Entertainer of the Year
Atay & JAX
Daniel James McFadyen
LxVNDR
Neon Dreams
Nicole Ariana
Rich Aucoin
The Town Heroes
waants
Willie Stratton
Zamani

Folk / Roots Recording of the Year
Blue Lobelia - Resilient Moon
Daniel James McFadyen - August, I'm Yours
Dave Carroll - Until One Day
Eric Stephen Martin - Dreamlike
Isabella Samson - If It's Not Forever

Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Ghettosocks x DK - Listen to the Masters
Harmz - Glorious Purpose
LxVNDR - Moonwater
Mo Money Matteo - Camp Nowhere
YFilla - NU ERA VOL1., PART 2

Indigenous Artist of the Year
DeeDee Austin
Gearl
L'Nu JoKeR
Matt Meuse
SHiFT from THA 902

Jazz Recording of the Year
Behrooz Mihankhah - Lydium
Brian McConnell - Footman
Karen Myatt - Femoir
Sam Wilson - Into A Heart: Part II
Vesuvius Big Band - Live at Open Waters Festival

Loud Recording of the Year
Botfly - Lower Than Love
Electric Spoonfull - 2 Poor 4 a Two Four
Feathers & Anvils - Swallowed by the Sun
No, It's Fine. - I Promise.
Shadow of Everest - Where Giants Die

Music Video of the Year
Advocates of Truth - BRO AM IN LOVE (Directed by: KEKE BEATZ)
Awolk - No Eyes (Directed by: Tim Mombourquette)
Kin Crew - Silent (Directed by: Joel Jennex & Gee Clarke)
Maggie Andrew (JORIE) - Honda Civic (Directed by: Andy Hines )
Neon Dreams - Little Dance (Directed by: Dan Lewis & Frank Kadillac)

Musician of the Year
Cassie Mann
Clare Macdonald
Katelyn Bonomo
Micah Smith
Reeny Smith

New Artist Recording of the Year
Advocates of Truth - Never Too Late
DeeDee Austin - Stepping Stones
Keeper E. - Thank u and Please and Don't Go
Laura Rae - Didn't Know
Moonwalka - Pandemic Pandemonium

Pop Recording of the Year
Advocates of Truth - Never Too Late
Atay & JAX - Did You Have Fun?
Keeper E.- Thank u and Please and Don't Go
Mitch Currie - Good Enough For Now
Pillow Fite - Flutter

Rock Recording of the Year
Andre Pettipas and The Giants - No Fools No Fun
June Body - Never Here for Long
Safeword - Currents
The Town Heroes - Home
We Should've Been Plumbers - We Should've Been Plumbers

Prix de l’Acadie
MIKE A VIK
P'tit Belliveau
Peanut Butter Sunday
Sluice
Yvette d'Entremont

SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
DeeDee Austin
Kin Crew
Nicole Ariana
waants
Zamani

Traditional/Roots Recording of the Year
Adam Young - Yearbook
Ellen Gibbling - The Bend in the Light
Shannon Quinn - 20 Summers

Industry Award Nominees

Artistic Development Award
African Nova Scotia Music Association (ANSMA)
Jones&Co.
La Fédération culturelle acadienne de le Nouvelle-Écosse (FéCANE)
Sonic Entertainment Group
SoundBox Music

Emerging Industry Professional of the Year
Chris Ritchie
Dylan Jewers
Eirinn Fraser
Kevin Beal
Micah Smith

Live Sector Award
Acoustic Roots Festival
Blueberry Jam
Makin' Waves presented by Sydney Credit Union
Sonic Concerts
TD Halifax Jazz Festival

Media Arts Award
CBFM: Cape Breton's favourite radio station
East Coast DNA Podcast
Israel Ekanem
Katie Kelly
The Coast 89.7 CKOA-FM

Recording Sector Award
Chris Thomas
Corey LeRue
Scott Ferguson, FMP Matrix Entertainment
The Golden Palm
Thomas Stajcer

Sound, Tech, or Production Award
Corey LeRue
Jordan Metro
Peter Green
Scott Ferguson
Trevor DeSouza