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The 2025 Saskatchewan Music Award Nominees
SaskMusic is pleased to announce the 2025 Saskatchewan Music Award nominees. The seventh SMA ceremony will honour excellence and celebrate the achievements of those in the Saskatchewan music industry over the past year, with artistic and industry nominees being recognized in 21 different categories. Live performances will include Saskatchewan artists from a variety of musical styles, with performers to be announced beginning next week.
The show will take place at the Regina Performing Arts Centre in Regina on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, January 24 at https://rpac.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/sales.
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The public is invited to help determine some of the SMA winners by voting on four award categories. Beginning January 22 through 10pm CST January 31, voting links will be open on www.saskmusicawards.com for Album of the Year, Industry Achievement, Music Company or Organization of the Year, and Venue or Festival of the Year. One vote per person/IP address will be accepted over the course of the voting period.
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SaskMusic Executive Director Lorena Kelly notes, “We are immensely proud to represent a diverse array of talented artists and industry professionals. The Saskatchewan Music Awards serve as a platform to amplify our province’s exceptional talent both locally and internationally. This event also provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate their outstanding achievements. We eagerly look forward to welcoming everyone to the awards show!”
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We are also excited to announce the recipient of our Indigenous Music Achievement Award, Erroll Kinistino. Kinistino hails from the Ochapowace First Nation. He is known for his work as an actor, drama instructor, director, writer, and singer, and has become a respected and inspirational figure throughout the province.
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Follow along for event updates and information here at www.saskmusicawards.com, and on SaskMusic’s social media.
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The SMAs are made possible thanks to support from Creative Saskatchewan.
How were the nominees determined?
Artists and industry professionals were invited to submit themselves for nomination consideration through an open call that closed on December 11/2024. Eligible submissions for all categories, with the exception of Single of the Year and the Indigenous Music Achievement Award, went to juries comprised of peers and music industry professionals across Canada. Single of the Year nominees and winner are determined solely by industry data points, while the IMAA recipient has been selected by SaskMusic’s Indigenous Advisory.
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Afrobeats Artist of the Year
MeenahMo
MELODNA
NiniJegz
Rooky Kamiz
VOFALOGO
ZOCHI
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Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year
Berk Jodoin
Eekwol
Jah'kota
JJ Lavallee
Raven Reid
Teagan Littlechief
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Country Artist of the Year
Hunter Brothers
Jess Moskaluke
JJ Lavallee
Katelyn Lehner
Teagan Littlechief
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Electronic Artist of the Year
Emilio Del Canto
FOOTWURK
The Corner Hotel
Theo Noble
Tim Damage
Velcro Stories
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Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Big Tones
HarveyDent
Nige B
Pimpton
RaytheNihilist
Skizza & AK Productions
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Inspirational or Spiritual Artist of the Year
Elenee
Servant
The Uplift Duo
Winsome Kind
Yovel Worship
Instrumental or Ambient Artist of the Year
Annette Campagne
Ember Belladonna
Jesse Brown
Sean Bougie
West of Mabou
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Metal or Hard Rock Artist of the Year
Grimelda
Kelevra
Man Meat
Riversleem
Roughsleeper
Zayd
Pop Artist of the Year
Beau Nectar
Greg Orrē
Halle Ponton
Lova Lamp
Patrick Moon Bird
Vikki Minor
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R&B Artist of the Year
Ella Forrest
Katie Tupper
Lyssa & The Try-Tones
TOVA & vbnd
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Rock Artist of the Year
Autopilot
Blu Beach Band
Dump Babes
Fame Fatale
GreenWing
The Radiant
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Roots or Folk Artist of the Year
Alexis Normand
Jake Vaadeland
Jeffery Straker
Last Birds
Merv xx Gotti
Wolf Willow
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Single of the Year
“Female Body,” Farideh
“Go Get Er,” Jess Moskaluke
“i don't want it,” Elenee
“Need Nothing,” Katie Tupper
“Train - Station Edition,” Hunter Brothers
“Under A Tree,” Jesse Brown
“What I Wouldn't Do,” Shantaia
Music Video of the Year
“And Now We Sleep In Endless Ocean” performed by Makari, nominee Dylan Hryciuk of Versa Films
“Dumb Enough” performed by Aurora Bella, nominee Eyecatcher Video
“Gimme One More” performed by The Gladstone, nominee Joshua Stade
‘I Won't be Leavin' “ performed by Velvet Threads, nominee Prehistoric Productions
“July Again” performed by Blu Beach Band, nominee Carter Vosper
“Open Ya Eyez” performed by Big Tones, nominee Captured Beyond Today Media
“Partir Pour Revenir” performed by Ponteix ft. Laurence-Anne, nominee Owen Assman of Light/Dark Media
“Peace” performed by Cupid's Heart, nominee Jonathan Harrison-Kendrick
“Perfect Soul” performed by Spiritbox, nominee Dylan Hryciuk of Versa Films
“Train (Station Edition)” performed by Hunter Brothers, nominee Adler Irwin of Irwin Films
Indigenous Music Achievement Award
Erroll Kinistino
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Producer of the Year
Aspen Beveridge
Bart McKay
Chris Dimas
Madison Nicol
Matt Stinn
Riley McLennan
Walter Jeworski
Music Professional of the Year
Jayson Brinkworth
Joel Rohs
Mac Ulmer
Marvin Chan
Scott Roos
ZHE the Free
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The following categories open for public voting BEGINNING JANUARY 22:
Industry Achievement
Recognizes those helping to strengthen the music community of Saskatchewan. Their work or volunteerism has contributed forward momentum to our scene and has had an impact on creating new opportunities for performance, provided support for equity-deserving artists/industry members, and/or provided services serving the wider good. The winner will be determined by a combination of industry jury and public vote.
Brian Manz, Blue Door Recording
Community Arts Mentorship Program
Marvin Chan
North Sask Music Zine (NSMZ)
The Digital Media Studio at Regina Public Library
Venue or Festival of the Year
Recognizes live music venues and music festivals that strove to celebrate and present live music during the eligibility period. The category will consider both in-person shows/events and alternate programming initiatives, as well as excellence in programming and community engagement.
Moose Jaw Centre for Arts & Culture (Mae Wilson Theatre)
Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music Festival
SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival
The Broadway Theatre
The Exchange
Music Company or Organization of the Year
Recognizes a music business/ organization/ company that has demonstrated excellence in sales, services, or craftsmanship in their offerings to the public and/or music industry during the eligibility period. The winner will be determined by a combination of industry jury and public vote.
Captured Beyond Today Media Inc.
Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC)
PR Productions
University of Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts
Western Seer Records
Albums of the Year: The Long List
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Album of the Year, also formerly known as The Best Saskatchewan Albums of the Year poll, is in its tenth annual iteration. This category recognizes an album-length project released by a Saskatchewan artist, released during the period of September 15, 2023-November 30, 2024, in any genre. A combination of public vote and industry jury will now determine our Album of the Year nominees. Public voting will open January 22.
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A R I E - Homage
Aurora Bella - Persephone
Autopilot - Here Comes the Pressure
Beau Nectar - Two Lips DELUXE
Big Tones - Existence
Blake Berglund - What's Left of the Right
Cassandra Stinn - Returnings
Crowvenn - Rebirth
Dreyspurpo - LIFE LOVE MELANCHOLY
Dump Babes- Known Liar
Elenee - elenee.
Ella Forrest - Butterflies
Ember Belladonna - The Grove
Factor Chandelier - Cold, Cold World
Halle Ponton - Is This What Real Life Is?
Jake Vaadeland - Retro Man...More And More (Expanded Edition)
Jess Moskaluke - Heartbreaker EP
Jesse Brown - in the deep
Katelyn Lehner - Dirt Road Dancing
Kelevra - Oneiric
Last Birds - Endless Turn of Day Into Night
Lova Lamp - extensions of U
Man Meat - You Deserve Better
Merv xx Gotti - Guitar Songs
MJ Meehan - Spells
Nige B - U R What U R -, Vol. 2
Nyle Segovia - catharsis
Patrick Hardy - Elsewhere
Patrick Hardy - Tiny
Raven Reid - Waiting For Change
Rooky Kamiz - IRIDESCENT
Sëdèzë - Redlines
TOVA & vbnd - Everything, In Its Time
Tracy Waters - Who The Fuck Is Tracy?
Velvet Threads - Sunday's Best
Wolf Willow - Soul of Slippery Butte
Yarbo - Husband
Yovel Worship - Echoes Of Freedom
Zochi – Afrikaanman Fairytale
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Download promotional graphics for the nominees and categories