The Polaris Podcast can be found at iTunes, Google Play and Spotify. Or, you can listen to it below…
Polaris Podcast Episode 25: Broken Social Scene & Kid Koala
Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It In People and Kid Koala’s Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are the focus of this Polaris Podcast episode thanks to their recent Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designations.
We’ll interview BSS’s Brendan Canning about You Forgot It In People on top of an interview with Kid Koala where he spoke with juror Alain Brunet in Montreal.
This episode was supported by Re:Sound.
Polaris Podcast Episode 24: Alanis Morissette & Dream Warriors
Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and Dream Warriors’ And Now The Legacy Begins headline this Polaris Podcast episode thanks to their recent Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designations.
We’ll hear expert analysis of Jagged Little Pill from author and Polaris juror Andrea Warner in addition to a deep dive on And Now The Legacy Begins with juror Mary Dickie.
This episode was supported by Re:Sound.
Polaris Podcast Episode 23: Rush & Bruce Cockburn
Rush’s 2112 and Bruce Cockburn’s Stealing Fire are the focus of this Polaris Podcast episode thanks to their recent Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designations.
We’ll hear analysis of 2112 from expert Polaris juror Adrien Begrand as well as an exclusive interview with Cockburn.
This episode was supported by Re:Sound.
Polaris Podcast Episode 22: Neil Young & Jean-Pierre Ferland
Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and Jean-Pierre Ferland’s Jaune are the focus of this Polaris Podcast episode thanks to their recent Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designations.
We’ll hear expert analysis of Young’s album from from expert Polaris juror Mary Dickie as well as an exclusive interview with Ferland by juror Nicholas Tittley.
This episode was supported by Re:Sound.
Polaris Podcast Episode 21: The Bubbling Under Episode
With the 2018 Polaris season winding down, we used this episode to highlight some of our producers’ favourite albums which didn’t make the Long List. We’ll be exploring Woolworm’s Deserve To Die, Laura Sauvage’s The Beautiful, Souljazz Orchestra’s Under Burning Skies and L CON’s Insecurities in Being.
Polaris Podcast Episode 20: The Weather Station & Jennifer Castle Collaboration Session
The Weather Station and Jennifer Castle have recorded a pair of songs together for the third edition of the Polaris Cover Sessions, sponsored by Stingray Music. Included here is The Weather Station’s “I Tried to Wear the World (feat. Jennifer Castle).” Stingray Music host and Polaris juror Zachary Monson spoke to Castle and The Weather Station’s Tamara Lindeman about their musical partnership.
Polaris Podcast Episode 19: Jeremy Dutcher Wins
Jeremy Dutcher has won the 2018 Polaris Music Prize for the album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. In this episode we speak with Dutcher about how he felt when he won, who the album was made for and what his name means. We also check in with Matt Carter, the Polaris Grand Juror who was tasked with speaking on behalf of Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa at the 2018 Polaris Gala.
Polaris Podcast Episode 18: 2018 Short List
The 10-album 2018 Polaris Music Prize Short List has arrived. To document this important occasion we gathered three jurors — Ian Steaman, Laura Stanley and Marc-André Mongrain — to weigh in on each album on the Short List.
Polaris Podcast Episode 17: 2018 Long List
For this episode we got three Polaris jurors — Michael Rancic, Erin Lowers and Christine McAvoy — to analyze what trends they saw in this year’s 40-album Long List, what albums they voted for, and what album they think will win the whole thing this year.
Polaris Podcast Episode 16: Ask Polaris Anything
Now that #Polaris2018 season is in full swing we did an Ask Polaris Anything with founder and executive director Steve Jordan.
Topics included: what makes a good or bad juror, how an act can get nominated, best Gala performances and more.
Polaris Podcast Episode 15: Live In Hamilton
The Polaris Podcast traveled to Hamilton, Ontario for this live taping event at Jillard Guitars featuring jurors Jamie Tennant (CFMU), J.C. Villamere (villamere.com) and Biljana Njegovan (Cut From Steel) talking records with Steve Jordan.
Topics included Arkells, Junior Boys, Caribou as well as speculation about which album should win #Polaris2018.
Polaris Podcast Episode 14: Feist & k-os
Feist’s Let It Die and Joyful Rebellion by k-os are the albums we focus on for this Polaris Podcast episode thanks to their recent Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designations.
We’ll hear expert analysis of these albums from expert Polaris jurors Karen Bliss and Tabassum Siddiqui.
Polaris Podcast Episode 13: The Tragically Hip & Eric’s Trip
The Tragically Hip’s Fully Completely and Eric’s Trip’s Love Tara albums are the focus of this Polaris Podcast episode thanks to their recent Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designations.
We’ll hear expert analysis of Love Tara from veteran East Coast arts reporter Stephen Cooke before checking in with Michael Barclay, author of the book The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip.
Polaris Podcast Episode 12: Harmonium & Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould’s Bach: The Goldberg Variations and Harmonium’s L’Heptade albums are the focus of this Polaris Podcast episode thanks to their recent Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designations.
We’ll hear expert analysis of the Gould record from CBC Radio’s Katherine Duncan and then speak with Harmonium’s Louis Valois to discuss the album some people call Quebec’s Dark Side Of The Moon.
Polaris Podcast Episode 11: The Band & Gordon Lightfoot
We focus on two albums that recently received Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize hall of fame designation — The Band’s The Band and Gordon Lightfoot’s Lightfoot!. We’ll hear expert analysis of these albums from music historian Rob Bowman and author Nick Jennings as well as some bonus insights from The Sadies’ Travis Good.
Polaris Podcast Episode 10: Lido Pimienta Wins
Lido Pimienta’s La Papessa has won the 2017 Polaris Prize. In this episode we speak to Pimienta as well as Francella Fiallos, one of the grand jurors who supported the album.
Polaris Podcast Episode 9: 2017 Longer List
The Polaris Music Prize jury considered 213 different albums for this year’s prize. In this episode we gathered some of these jurors together to discuss the depth of this list.
Polaris Podcast Episode 8: 2017 Short List
When the 10 albums on the 2017 Polaris Short List was revealed we assembled a panel of expert jurors to discuss what made the list. And what should have made the list.
Polaris Podcast Episode 7: Long List Live In Ottawa
We traveled to Ottawa, Ontario for this special live taping of the Polaris Podcast focused on the just-released 2017 Polaris Music Prize Long List.
Polaris Podcast Episode 6: Cadence Weapon
For this episode we speak with the ace rapper and producer/former poet laureate of Edmonton, Alberta/three-time Polaris nominee Cadence Weapon about his debut album Breaking Kayfabe.
Polaris Podcast Episode 5: Buffy Sainte-Marie & Tanya Tagaq Collaboration Session
Polaris Podcast episode five features past winners Buffy Sainte-Marie and Tanya Tagaq discussing their new collaborative song, “You Got To Run (Spirit Of The Wind).”
Polaris Podcast Episode 4: 2016 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize pt 2
Featuring marquee interviews with Arcade Fire, Blue Rodeo, Patrick Watson and author Michael Barclay, this episode is the second of two parts dedicated to exploring the eight albums that were honoured with the 2016 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize.
Polaris Podcast Episode 3: 2016 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize pt 1
We’ll have an in-depth interview with Anna McGarrigle, talk to Catherine McCandless, the lead singer for three-time Polaris nominees Young Galaxy, and have expert conversations with Have Not Been The Same co-author Michael Barclay as well as CHOM FM host, Pierre Landry.
Polaris Podcast Episode 2: Kaytranada Wins
In this episode we’re going to take an in-depth look at Kaytranada’s Polaris 2016-winning album 99.9%, including interviews with BADBADNOTGOOD bassist Chester Hansen, CBC Music’s Del Cowie and a special one-on-one between Anupa Mistry and Kaytranada.
Polaris Podcast Episode 1: 2016 Short List
In this episode we’ll dig deep with a look at the 10 albums on the 2016 Polaris Music Prize Short List. We’ve assembled jurors from across the country who’ll explain why their favourite album should win.