The 2025 Saskatchewan Music Award Nominees

by SaskMusic

January 21, 2025 in SaskMusic News

Sask Music Awards 2025

 

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.  

​The public is invited to help determine some of the SMA winners by voting on four award categories. Beginning January 2 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.

​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!”

​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.

​Follow along for event updates and information here at www.saskmusicawards.com, and on SaskMusic’s social media.

​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.

ARTISTIC

Afrobeats Artist of the Year

  • MeenahMo
  • MELODNA
  • NiniJegz
  • Rooky Kamiz
  • VOFALOGO
  • ZOCHI​

Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year

  • Berk Jodoin
  • Eekwol
  • Jah'kota
  • JJ Lavallee
  • Raven Reid
  • Teagan Littlechief

Country Artist of the Year

  • Hunter Brothers
  • Jess Moskaluke
  • JJ Lavallee
  • Katelyn Lehner
  • Teagan Littlechief

Electronic Artist of the Year

  • Emilio Del Canto
  • FOOTWURK
  • The Corner Hotel
  • Theo Noble
  • Tim Damage
  • Velcro Stories

Hip Hop Artist of the Year

  • Big Tones
  • HarveyDent
  • Nige B
  • Pimpton
  • RaytheNihilist
  • Skizza & AK Productions

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

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

R&B Artist of the Year

  • Ella Forrest
  • Katie Tupper
  • Lyssa & The Try-Tones
  • TOVA & vbnd

Rock Artist of the Year

  • Autopilot
  • Blu Beach Band
  • Dump Babes
  • Fame Fatale
  • GreenWing
  • The Radiant

Roots or Folk Artist of the Year

  • Alexis Normand
  • Jake Vaadeland
  • Jeffery Straker
  • Last Birds
  • Merv xx Gotti
  • Wolf Willow​

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

INDUSTRY

Indigenous Music Achievement Award
Erroll Kinistino

Music Professional of the Year

  • Jayson Brinkworth
  • Joel Rohs
  • Mac Ulmer
  • Marvin Chan
  • Scott Roos
  • ZHE the Free

Producer of the Year

  • Aspen Beveridge
  • Bart McKay
  • Chris Dimas
  • Madison Nicol
  • Matt Stinn
  • Riley McLennan
  • Walter Jeworski

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

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

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

ARTISTIC: Albums of the Year

Albums of the Year: The Long List
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.

  • ​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

Download promotional graphics for the nominees and categories here

For information and updates on the SMAs, visit the event website at www.saskmusicawards.com.

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