Backxwash wins Polaris Prize for album blending rap, metal
Backxwash has won the 2020 Polaris Music Prize for her album “God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It.”
The project by the Montrealbased transgender female artist was selected by an 11-member jury as the Canadian album of the year based on its artistic merit.
Backxwash, the stage name of performer Ashanti Mutinta, blends gothic elements of rap and metal music with her own personal experiences with faith, family and her queer identity. Her album features distorted samples of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and “In Heaven,” a song from David Lynch’s film “Eraserhead.”
The Polaris prize is considered one of the country’s most prestigious music awards. Former winners include Haviah Mighty, Jeremy Dutcher, Arcade Fire and Kaytranada.
The winner receives a $50,000 cash prize and heightened global awareness for their album.
Electronic composer Caribou, DJ and record producer Kaytranada, and singer-songwriter Lido Pimienta, already with a Polaris to their name, were in the running for best Canadian album of the year with their latest projects.
The jury of music journalists and broadcasters were tasked with considering the album’s artistic merit, regardless of sales or genre.
Other contenders included R&B-pop artist Jessie Reyez, First Nations indie rockers nehiyawak and a fusion of jazz, R&B and hip hop from Witch Prophet.
Rounding out the nominees was three-time Polaris shortlisted U.S. Girls, hip-hop and R&B performer Junia-T, and Pantayo, an all-women ensemble that combines traditional kulintang music from the Philippines with pop influences.