It seemed like a long time coming. I mean there’s always heaps of anticipation between the time when the East Coast Music Association announces this year’s nominees and when they start handing out the hardware BUT this year… well it was agonizing. After a virtual 2020, we were thrilled to announce ECMA Week 2021 would see an in-person celebration in Sydney May 5th-9th. Of course, that was before the most recent provincial shut down here in Nova Scotia – which forced the cancellation of events in Cape Breton and the subsequent delay in the award presentations. However, it’s true what they say… “all good things come to those who wait,” and when it comes to celebrating the best of the best of East Coast artists – well, that wait was truly worth it. Congratulations to ALL of the 2021 ECMA Nominees and to this year’s WINNERS as well – you’ll find the complete list below with the *winner* in each category being displayed as such. Keep on creating and we’ll keep on celebrating!!!
Oh and be sure to visit the ECMA’s official YouTube Channel here for video presentations, live stream performances and so much more.
Music Categories
African Canadian Artist of the Year
Joe Bowden
Keonté Beals
Miokal
Owen O’Sound Lee
Shelley Hamilton
*Zamani*
Album of the Year
Classified – Time EP (Producer: Classified)
Joel Plaskett – 44 (Producer: Joel Plaskett)
*Neon Dreams – The Happiness Of Tomorrow (Producer(s): Corey LeRue, PJ Bianco, Nathaniel Motte, Scott Effman, Adrian Morris)*
Rachel Beck – Stronger Than You Know (Producer: Daniel Ledwell)
Rose Cousins – Bravado (Producer: Rose Cousins)
Children’s Entertainer of the Year
Bingly and The Rogues
Dr G
Matt the Music Man
Silly Robbie
*The Swinging Belles*
Classical Composition of the Year
Andrew Staniland – “Peter Quince at the Clavier”
Bekah Simms – “Granitic”
Derek Charke – “Tree Rings”
Dinuk Wijeratne – “The Spirit and the Dust”
Emily Doolittle – “Doolittle: Minute Études “Excerpts” (Live)”
*Peter-Anthony Togni – “Sea Dreams”*
Classical Recording of the Year
Charke-Cormier Duo – Bathymetric Terrains
Duo Concertante – Franz Schubert Music for Violin and Piano
Sarah Hagen – Women of Note
Sarah Slean, Symphony Nova Scotia, Bernhard Gueller – Sarah Slean and Symphony Nova Scotia
*Steve Cowan and Adam Cicchillitti – Focus*
Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year
Catherine MacLellan – Coyote
Coco Love Alcorn – Rebirth
Émilie Landry – Arroser les Fleurs
Mike McKenna Jr. – At the Edge of the World
*Rose Cousins – Bravado*
Country Recording of the Year
Brooklyn Blackmore – Get A Little Crazy
Laurie LeBlanc – When It’s Right It’s Right
Lawrence Maxwell – Almost Natural
Norma MacDonald – Old Future
*The Heavy Horses – With Darkness In My Eyes*
Dance Recording of the Year
*BRDGS & FWLR – “Suspicious”*
Cloverdale – Keep Dancing EP
Karate Kactus – “Shut Up And Say It”
Kin Crew x LNY TNZ – No Limits EP
PINEO & LOEB – Free ft. Liinks & Kayo
Electronic Recording of the Year
ELEPHANT SKELETONS – SLEEP
grej – In Search Of…
*Rich Aucoin – United States*
Scientists of Sound – The Beginning (Of the Beginning of the End)
Sparkee – Moon Mist
Francophone Recording of the Year
Émilie Landry – Arroser les Fleurs
Joey Robin Haché – TRENTE
*Les Hay Babies – Boîte aux lettres*
Matt Boudreau – Armageddon
Menoncle Jason – La grosse piastre
Folk Recording of the Year
*David Myles – Leave Tonight*
Dylan Menzie – Lost In Dreams
Jennah Barry – Holiday
Rube & Rake – Leaving With Nothing
Sherman Downey – New Beautiful
Group Recording of the Year
Beòlach – All Hands
Jessica Rhaye & the Ramshackle Parade – Just Like a Woman: Songs of Bob Dylan
*Les Hay Babies – Boîte aux lettres*
Rube & Rake – Leaving With Nothing
Sorrey – In Full Bloom
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers
Mike Bern
SHiFT FROM THA 902
*Silver Wolf Band*
Wolf Castle
Inspirational Recording of the Year
*Jordan Musycsyn – Around The Fire*
Justin Fancy – Sure Beats a Good Time
Kristen Martell – Coming Home
Martine Kelsey – Sweet Hallelujah
Natasha Blackwood – Ease Back
Instrumental Recording of the Year
Beòlach – All Hands
grej – In Search Of…
*Maxim Cormier – Maxim and Gervais Cormier: Live at the Fortress of Louisbourg*
Sarah Hagen – Women of Note
Taktus – Mirrored Glass
Wrong Planet Band – Wrong Planet Band
Jazz Recording of the Year
Anteater – Anteater
Joe Bowden – ROOTS – Tales of the Urban Yoda
*Joel Miller – UNSTOPPABLE*
Lee Park – Lee Park
Loud Recording of the Year
*Diner Drugs – As Is*
Hero’s Last Rite – Behind the Darkest Days
Sonic Detour – Sonic Detour
Sound Drown – Selfish Reasons
WinterheartH – Riverbed Empire
Pop Recording of the Year
BRDGS – ie+
Kim Harris – Heirloom
KINLEY – KINLEY
Rachel Beck – Stronger Than You Know
*Sorrey – In Full Bloom*
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Kam Sparks – “Witness” feat. Jamie Sparks
*Keonté Beals – KING*
Rey D – “Loyal”
aRENYE – 23//97
Zamani – Outside
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
Atay & JAX – Last Night
*Classified – Time EP*
Owen O’Sound Lee – “Listen”
SHiFT FROM THA 902 – This Ones For You EP
Wolf Castle – Gold Rush
Rising Star Recording of the Year
Beauts – Dalliance
Braden Lam – Inside Four Walls
Hauler – Hauler
*Mike McKenna Jr. – At the Edge of the World*
Moira Bren – 6 Is Green
Rube & Rake – Leaving With Nothing
Rock Recording of the Year
*Beauts – Dalliance*
Chris Colepaugh – 2019
Kestrels – Dream or Don’t Dream
Like A Motorcycle – Dead Broke
Nap Eyes – Snapshot Of A Beginner
Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year
Beòlach – All Hands
Matthew Byrne – Matthew Byrne with the Lady Cove Women’s Choir – In Concert
*Maxim Cormier – Maxim and Gervais Cormier: Live at the Fortress of Louisbourg*
Pretty Archie – Running For Cover
Rum Ragged – The Thing About Fish
Solo Recording of the Year
Catherine MacLellan – Coyote
Classified – Time EP
David Myles – Leave Tonight
Dylan Menzie – Lost In Dreams
*Rose Cousins – Bravado*
Song of the Year
Classified – “Good News” feat. Breagh Isabel (Producer: Classified)
Like A Motorcycle – “Wide Awake” (Producer: Howard Redekopp)
Neon Dreams – “Sick of Feeling Useless” (Producer: Nathaniel Motte)
Rachel Beck – “Warrior” (Producer: Daniel Ledwell)
*Rich Aucoin – “Walls” (Producers: Rich Aucoin, Joel Waddell, Kevin Maher)*
Songwriter of the Year
*Catherine MacLellan*
Classified
David Myles
Joel Plaskett
Rose Cousins
Industry Awards
Artist Innovator of the Year (In light of COVID-19)
Adam Baldwin
Duo Concertante
Laurie LeBlanc
Stephen Lewis & The Big Band of Fun
The East Pointers – #Annedemic
Company of the Year
618 Entertainment INC
Atlantic Disc & DVD
The Citadel House
Sonic Concerts
Event of the Year
Celtic Colours International Festival – Celtic Colours International Festival 2020
*Levee on the Lake*
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society – Saturdays in the Park
Shivering Songs
The Jibfest Weekender
Industry Innovator of the Year (In light of COVID-19)
Celtic Colours International Festival
Side Door
*The Cap*
The East
NSCC Music Business class of 2020 – The Revival Initiative
Live or Virtual Sound Engineer of the Year
Carter Snow
Michelle LaCour
Peter Gallant
*Peter Green*
Management
Bruce Morel
Kate Butler / She Said Feck Records
Matthew Sampson
Roger Lockyer
*Sonic Entertainment Group*
Media Outlet of the Year
Canadian Beats
KIXX Country Network
Maritime Centre Stage
*The East*
VOCM
Media Person of the Year
*Alex Cook*
Chris Pride
Greg Smith
Richard Lann
Producer of the Year
*Classified*
Jamie Foulds
John D.S. Adams
Corey LeRue
Studio Engineer of the Year
*Jamie Foulds*
John D.S. Adams
Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd
Paul Aarntzen
Scott Ferguson
Studio of the Year
FMP Matrix
Lakewind Sound Studios
Soundpark Studios
Stonehouse Sound
*The Sonic Temple*
Video Director of the Year
Catherine MacLellan and Tara MacLean (“This Storm” – Catherine MacLellan and Tara MacLean)
Mathieu Laprise (“Camping Colibri” – Raphaël Butler)
*Mr Mike Boyd (“Good News” feat. Breagh Isabel – Classified)*
Nicole C. Holland, Kat Shubaly (“Big Universe” – Jennah Barry)
Patrick Canning (“Weight In My Lungs” – Heavy Horses)
Visual Artist of the Year
Aaron Bishop
*Ashley Anne Clark*
Jessica Rhaye
Kt Lamond
Launch Media
Fans’ Choice Awards
Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
*Beòlach*
Classified
David Myles
Like A Motorcycle
Neon Dreams
Rich Aucoin
Rose Cousins
The East Pointers
Fans’ Choice Video of the Year
Andrew Waite – “Faith” (Director: Brendan Henry)
BRDGS – “Dancing Without Music” (Director: Kostadin Kolev)
Classified – “Good News” feat. Breagh Isabel (Director: Mike Boyd)
*Kellie Loder – “Molded Like A Monster” (Director: Ashlea Wessell)*
Kim Harris – “Once You Were Wondrous” (Director(s): Meaghan & Marie Wright
of Mirror Image Media)
Levi Rowan – “Let It Go” (Director(s): Levi Rowan, Alex Gayoso)
Mike McKenna Jr. – “At the Edge of the World” (Director: Danny Gillis and Siyi Liu (Broken Lighthouse Films)
Neon Dreams – “Sick of Feeling Useless” ( Director(s): Frank kadillac, Adrian
Morris)
Rich Aucoin – “Walls” (Director: Jason Levangerie)
Rose Cousins – “The Benefits of Being Alone” (Director(s): Shebab Illyas & Rose Cousins)
Honorary Awards / Prix honorifiques
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction / Intronisation au Le Panthéon des auteurs et compositeurs canadiens:
Rita MacNeil
Bucky Adams Memorial Award / Prix commémoratif Bucky Adams:
The Gospel Heirs
Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award / Prix Dr. Helen Creighton pour l’ensemble des réalisations:
Joella Foulds
Industry Builder Award / Pilier de l’industrie de l’année:
Jamie Steel
Musician’s Achievement Award / Prix pour réalisations exceptionnelles par un musicien ou une musicienne:
Keith Mullins
Stompin’ Tom Awards / Prix Stompin’ Tom:
Wendy Bergfeldt (CB)
Peter Rowan (NB)
Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers (NL)
Dave Gunning (NS)
Tara MacLean (PE)
About ECMA
The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is a regional collaboration of people in the music industry of Atlantic Canada that fosters, develops and celebrates East Coast music and its artists locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The ECMA annually produces the East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference, one of the top music industry events in Canada, inclusive of its International Export Buyers Program. The ECMA would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Province of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, FACTOR, MUSICACTION, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund).
For more on the East Coast Music Association visit ecma.com
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