Snotty Nose Rez Kids pose for photos after winning Rap Album/EP of the Year during the Juno Awards Gala in Vancouver, on March 29.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie and Haisla hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids were early winners at the Juno Awards industry ceremony.
The Saturday evening soiree saw Elisapie’s pop covers collection “Inuktitut” pick up adult alternative album, while Rez Kids’ sixth record “Red Future” landed rap album of the year. It’s their first Juno win.
“I had a good cry walking here,” said Darren Metz from Rez Kids in the press room.
“When you work so hard towards something for so long, and then finally get it, all the emotions that you endured throughout that journey just come out.”
Other early winners included Tate McRae whose “Exes” was named single of the year. McRae was absent from the Junos because she was booked to appear at a music festival in Brazil.
Elizabeth Lowell Boland won the first songwriter of the year award created for non-performers. She picked up the prize for her work behind the scenes on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album and the Beaches’ “Takes One To Know One.”
The Calgary-raised Boland pushed for splitting the songwriting Juno category into two awards – performer and non-performer – after seeing the only Juno songwriting trophy consistently won by well-known stage performers.
“I’ve been fighting for this award,” Boland said.
“I chased down people at parties. I was really annoying. I joked that people would run away from me when they saw me at parties, because I wasn’t really interested in mingling. I just wanted to change this one little thing.
The Junos hardware was handed out during an industry gala event in Vancouver where prizes in more than 40 categories will be awarded, including single and album of the year, as well as a new Juno recognizing South Asian music.
Other winners included “No Time” by Interplanetary Criminal and SadBoi which earned dance recording of the year. “This But More” by Priori won electronic album.
