Pierre Kwenders Covers Jean-Pierre Ferland’s “It Ain’t Fair” For SiriusXM Polaris Cover Sessions

The Polaris Music Prize has released its first SiriusXM Polaris Cover Session for 2019 featuring Pierre Kwenders reinterpreting “It Ain’t Fair” from Jean-Pierre Ferland’s Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize-winning album Jaune.

An in-studio performance video of the song is now available via the Polaris YouTube channel. Additionally, an audio stream of it can be found on the Polaris Soundcloud channel.

“I’ve always wanted to bring that (song) into my world a little bit. Make it even more joyful than the original version,” said Kwenders, adding, “I think it (Jaune) is one of the greatest albums that ever came out of Quebec. I want to share it with everyone.”

Kwenders’ version of “It Ain’t Fair” was recorded at Union Sound in Toronto this past April by Darren McGill.

The Kwenders cover is the first of three such sessions planned for 2019 that feature past Polaris nominees interpreting songs from albums that have received Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize designation. Ferland’s Jaune received its Heritage Prize designation in 2018. Kwenders has been nominated twice for the Polaris Prize, first making the Long List in 2015 for the album Le dernier empereur bantou and again in 2018 when he made the Short List with MAKANDA at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time.

Covers by Faith Healer and Partner will accompany this track and be pressed on to a limited edition vinyl record that will be free at participating retail stores starting in late-summer. The record will also be given to Polaris Gala attendees.

This is the thirteenth cover song commissioned by Polaris. Other acts who’ve contributed to the series include Jean-Michel Blais, Lindi Ortega, Weaves, Little Scream, Hannah Georgas, Les soeurs Boulay, Joel Plaskett, Zaki Ibrahim, Whitehorse, Sarah Harmer, Great Lake Swimmers and Arkells. All these performances are available on the Polaris YouTube and Soundcloud channels.