Music/Features

Montreal’s Charlotte Cardin and her potent package of sultry, jazz-infused R&B has powered her to the top of JUNO Award nominations. Her six noms have her leading the pack; Justin Bieber and The Weeknd follow close behind with five and Sean Mendes, Pressa and JESSIA each nabbing four.

Cardin’s nominations include Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her debut release, Phoenix, which NEXT’s Laura Robinson absolutely loved. “Phoenix is a searing emotional trip blazing with sexy, smoky, snap-along sonics, “ Robinson wrote in NEXT’s April 2021 issue, where she says Cardin has the “coquettish nonchalance of Jane Birkin and the braggadocio of A$AP Rocky.”

Cardin will also perform live at the awards on May 15 — outdoors — at the Budweiser stage, with the entire show being broadcast on CBC TV and streamed on its other platforms. The show will be hosted by Marvel mega-star Simu Liu and other performers include the Arkells, Avril Lavigne and Mustafa. Tickets go on sale this Friday (March 4).

Cardin faces off another NEXT-featured artist, 347aiden, in the TikTok Fan’s Choice award. NEXT’s Robinson calls the Cambridge, ON, native’s debut release “gritty and honest musings to the tune of head-bangable hooks.” He’s also up for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Cardin will also battle NEXT fave Tate McRae for Album of the Year. We dubbed Tate McRae the “Next Big Thing” in our April 2021 issue, calling her “ a rising global superstar” who creates songs that are “moody alt-pop bops that lend themselves to the replay button.”

NEXT magazine’s first ever cover star, Haviah Mighty, who appeared on our December 2020 debut issue and was dubbed “a rap super-star in waiting” by NEXT editor Michael Hollett, picked up a nomination for Rap Album of the Year.

Other NEXT faves face off for the Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year as Danko Jones (“Canadian hard rock at its finest”) and Spiritbox (“a sonic wall of anger, surrounded by guttural screams and heavy guitars that also has a gentleness that’ll make you want to cry”) go head-to-head bang for the prize. Spiritbox is also up for Breakthrough Group of the Year.

Two of NEXT’s favourite Indigenous artists will battle for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year as Shawnee Kish (“powerful, soulful singing, inspired by her heroes Whitney Houston, Etta James and Nina Simone”) and Snotty Nose Rez Kids (“one of the leading voices in Indigenous hip hop for a reason”) vie for the honour.

Two of our favourite smooth-singing R&B artists — Emanuel ( “the purity of the music moved me to tears”) and Savannah Ré (“her voice jumps from coy and sultry to triumphant and anthemic”) — are both up for Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.

Punk powerhouse Sate (“packed with though-provoking lyrics and powerful feminine energy”) is up for Alternative Album of the Year while June 2021 NEXT cover stars Mother, Mother are up for Group of the Year.

Drake is still miffed at the JUNOs for a perceived snub and didn’t submit music for awards consideration — kinda like The Weeknd and the Grammys — so only nom for his world-beating 2021 album Certified Lover Boy is a production nomination for Wondargurl who co-produced the album.

See the full list of JUNO nominations here.