2017 SOCAN Songwriting Prize Finalists Vie for $10,000

Toronto, June 15, 2017 – SOCAN today announced the finalists for the SOCAN Songwriting Prize, the prestigious competition that celebrates the incredible talent of emerging Canadian songwriters over the past year. The selection of 10 English and 10 French songs showcases artists from diverse genres. Once again, music fans will determine the winner, and for the first time in the 12-year history of the prize, fans will have the opportunity to vote for a single nominee – Charlotte Cardin – in both English and French categories beginning on June 15th.

The 10 English songs nominated this year:

• “Acid Test” – written by Tommy Paxton-Beesley, Thadeus Gardwood, Johnathan Mavrogiannis, Dan Voicu; performed by River Tiber; published by Raise Your Hands Music [Arts & Crafts Music].
• “Big Boy” – written by Charlotte Cardin; performed by Charlotte Cardin.
• “DVP” – written by Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zachary Mykula, Steve Sladkowski; performed by PUP.
• “Figures” – written by Jessie Reyez, Bjoran Johan, Tobias Frelin, Blake Carter; performed by Jessie Reyez; published by BMG Rights Management.
• “Glowed Up” – written by Kevin Celestin, Brandon Anderson; performed by Kaytranada featuring Anderson .Paak; published by Watch and Learn/BMI, PULSE, Casablanca Publishing.
• “Push + Pull” – written by Thomas D’Arcy, Ian Docherty, Peter Dreimanis, Leah Goldstein, Danny Miles, Josh Warburton; performed by July Talk; published by July Talk Music Inc., GalleryAC Music.
• “Shithole” – written by Jasmyn Burke, Morgan Waters; performed by Weaves.
• “We Don’t Know ” – written by Jeremy Drury, Jonathan Hembrey, Darryl James, Brian Pickett, David Ritter, Isabel Ritchie, Joanne Setterington; performed by The Strumbellas; published by Domino Music Publishing.
• “Won’t Live Here “ – written by Ashton Simmonds, Jordan Evans, Matthew Burnett, Tommy Paxton-Beesley, Ian Culley, Alexander Ernewein; performed by Daniel Caesar; published by Kobalt Music Publishing & Raise Your Hands Music [Arts & Crafts Music].
• “Work” – written by Charlotte Day Wilson; performed by Charlotte Day Wilson; published by Raise Your Hands Music [Arts & Crafts Music].

For two weeks, from June 15-29, 2017, SOCAN invites music fans to vote for their favourite song from the nominees by visiting www.socansongwritingprize.ca or through Twitter using the hashtag #mySSPvote and identifying the performer’s name in the tweet. Fans can vote once daily through each platform for each of the English and French prize competitions.

The winning songs are scheduled to be announced the week of July 10, 2017.

Winners will receive $10,000 in cash, an Epiphone Masterbilt Century Olympic Guitar, a Yamaha PSR-S970 keyboard, and a $500 gift card from Long & McQuade.

“SOCAN supports emerging Canadian songwriters and composers every day, and the SOCAN Songwriting Prize celebrates the incredible and diverse talent of several of our best,” said Mike McCarty, chief membership & business development officer at SOCAN. “Each year, the nominees raise the bar, and this year is no different. No matter who wins, I am confident all of these potential superstars will continue to grow and flourish in the music community.”

The French and English finalists are determined by respective independent panels of 15 music-industry influencers who nominate two songs that they feel were artistically superior by emerging Canadian songwriters, within the eligibility period (see Rules for complete criteria). All of the nominated songs are then compiled, reviewed and voted on by each panel to determine the final 10 nominees in each category. SOCAN does not have a role in determining nominees or winners.

The 10 song finalists for the 2017 Prix de la chanson SOCAN, the Francophone counterpart to the SOCAN Songwriting Prize:

• “Apprendre à mentir“ – written and performed by Lydia Képinski; published by Chivi Chivi.
• “Éclat” – written by John Nathaniel, Mariane Cossette Bacon, Alexe Gaudreault; performed by Alexe Gaudreault; published by John Nathaniel prod, Musicor.
• “Explosif” – written by Vincent Banville, Gregory Beaudoin, Jonathan Quirion, Jean-François Ruel, Pierre Savu-Massé, Charles-André Vincelette; performed by Dead Obies; published by Third Side Music.
• “Faufile” – written and performed by Charlotte Cardin.
• “J’aurai 100 ans” – written by Amélie Beyries, Maxime Le Flaguais; performed by Beyries avec Louis-Jean Cormier.
• “Je pense à toi” – written and performed by Bernhari; published by Editorial Avenue.
• “L’amour véritable est aux rebelles“ – written by Xavier Dufour Thériault, Jean-Philippe Godbout, Marc-André Landry, Julien Mineau, Ryan Battistuzzi, Jean-Cimon Tellier-Dubé; performed by Gazoline; published by Ambiances Ambigües / L-Abe.
• “Les ferrofluides-fleurs” – written by Klô Pelgag, Karl Gagnon; performed Klô Pelgag; published by Coop Les Faux-Monnayeurs.
• “Nord-Est” – written by Rosie Valland, Jessie Mac Cormack; performed by Rosie Valland; published by Ambiances Ambigües.
• “Rex” – written by Pierre-Luc Bégin, Éliane Préfontaine, Julia Daigle, Vincent Lévesque; performed by Paupière; published by Lisbon Lux.

For all of the latest updates, follow the SOCAN Songwriting Prize on social media at @SOCANmusic and on twitter via the #SOCANprize hashtag.

Previous winners of the SOCAN Songwriting Prize: Fast Romantics, “Julia” (2016); Dear Rouge, “I Heard I Had” (2015); Alejandra Ribera, “I Want” (2014); Mo Kenney, “Sucker” (2013); Kathleen Edwards, “A Soft Place to Land” (2012); Katie Moore, “Wake Up Like This” (2011); Brasstronaut, “Hearts Trompet” (2010); D-Sisive, “Nobody With a Notepad” (2009); The Weakerthans, “Night Windows” (2008); Abdominal, “Pedal Pusher” (2007); Propagandhi, “A Speculative Fiction” (2006).

Previous winners of the Prix de la chanson SOCAN: Laurence Nerbonne, “Rêves d’été” (2016); Antoine Corriveau, “Le Nouveau vocabulaire” (2015); Patrice Michaud, “Mécaniques générales” (2014); Keith Kouna, “Batiscan” (2013); Koriass, “St-Eustache” (2012); Galaxie, “Piste 1” (2011); Vulgaires Machines, “Parasites” (2010); Bernard Adamus, “La question à 100 piasses” (2009); Karkwa, “Oublie pas” (2008); Tricot Machine, “L’Ours” (2007); Éve Cournoyer, “Tout arrive” (2006).

About SOCAN

SOCAN connects more than four-million music creators worldwide and more than a quarter-million businesses and individuals in Canada. Nearly 150,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers are its direct members, and more than 130,000 organizations are Licensed To Play music across Canada. With a concerted use of progressive technology and a commitment to lead the global transformation of music rights, with wholly-owned companies Audiam and MediaNet, SOCAN is dedicated to upholding the fundamental truths that music has value and music creators and publishers deserve fair compensation for their work.

Media contacts:

Environics Communications (for SOCAN): Eric McLean, 416-969-2756, emclean@environicspr.com

SOCAN: Nicole Van Severen, 416-445-8700 x 3460, nicole.vanseveren@socan.com