Juno nominee Jessie Reyez won’t shun awards shows
Jessie Reyez is a leading contender heading into this weekend’s Junos, but the breakout singer says she’s not letting the awards buzz go to her head.
“The last thing I want to do is get too happy,” the fiery 27-yearold musician said of her four nominations - a tally matched only by rockers Arcade Fire this year.
“I feel like it’s dangerous to get complacent and celebrate too much... You can’t get comfortable.”
But that doesn’t mean Reyez isn’t craving recognition.
The Toronto-raised performer with Colombian roots says she’s excited about her Juno nods and what lies ahead this year. She’s in the running for best R&B/ soul recording, best music video, breakthrough artist of the year and the Juno Fan Choice award.
Reyez will also perform her single “Figures” on Sunday’s Junos broadcast airing live on CBC. Other nominated acts slated to play include fellow Toronto newcomer Daniel Caesar, Diana Krall, Arkells and Lights. The show at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena will be hosted by pop
crooner Michael Buble.
The telecast caps off a weekend of accolades for Canadian music, starting at the Juno Awards gala dinner on Saturday where most trophies are handed out. The event will be streamed on the CBC Music website.
Reyez spoke to The Canadian Press about making her first impression on Junos viewers, and why she’s still chasing awards, even if Canada’s biggest hip
hop acts refuse to submit their work for consideration to some awards shows.
C
P: You’re coming off a steady run of tour dates but this Junos performance is among your first on a big-time awards show. What’s going through your mind as you prepare?
Reyez: A lot of people don’t know me, and for a lot of people this will be their first time hearing me. So it’s going to be me trying to make that moment as potent as possible. Not a lot of embellishments. It’s going to be honest. It’s going to be me.
C
P: You’ve mentioned previously that one of your aspirations is having a shelf of Grammys. That’s pretty ambitious out of the gate.
Reyez: That’s definitely my goal... but I’m still a rookie. That’s why I’m trying to do this for the long haul. I’m trying to think of the 10-year plan and the calibre of music I need to make. I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of dope musicians. Any time I’m in a (recording) session, I try to walk in like a sponge and take notes, learn and try to get better.
C
P: Some of your fellow Toronto hip hop artists have shunned big awards shows like the Grammys and Junos in recent years under the belief they don’t give the music genre its due. (Drake and the performers on his OVO Sound label chose not to submit their work to the Junos for consideration this year and the rapper has famously shunned the Grammys.) Why have you decided to set your sights on these trophies?
Reyez: I know (there’s talk) about how a lot people of colour don’t get recognized, a lot of hip hop music doesn’t get recognized. For me, I try to always look at the positive. If I get to hold that (Grammy) one day, I can say, “OK, dope. This little chick that was born in... Toronto, this little Colombiana woman of colour, a minority female, did it.” I want to be able to say that so my two little nieces can feel like they can do anything.