Three B.C. artists have earned spots on this year’s Polaris Music Prize Long List, highlighting the province’s strong presence in Canada’s music scene.
The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit registered charity that annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics judge and select the 40-album Long List, 10-album Short List, and one Polaris Prize winner, based on artistic merit alone, without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity.
Dedicated to celebrating the art of music, the Polaris Prize brings together music lovers, artists, and jury to discover, discuss and champion important Canadian music. In 2025, the Polaris Prize is their 20th season of celebrating the art of music.
Art d’Ecco
Art d’Ecco is a Victoria-based recording artist revered for his creativity, originality, and refusal to conform to a single genre, style, or label. His fourth album, “Serene Demon“, released in February 2025 via Paper Bag Records, is his most ambitious to date—a deeply philosophical effort that questions the nature of existence and channels the mystery of noir film.
Though often described as a glam rocker due to his early work, Art d’Ecco’s latest album breaks from convention. “Serene Demon” is unconcerned with radio-friendliness or rock ’n’ roll status; instead, it leans into cinematic and jazz-inflected textures, resulting in an art rock record infused with elements of soul and disco, oscillating between intimate and epic moments.
The title track, spanning over seven minutes, depicts the artist’s confrontation with the Serene Demon—a personification of self-doubt, anxiety, and imposter syndrome. It’s intended to inspire listeners toward self-reflection and to interrogate their own sense of purpose, meaning, and existence.
After concluding the North American leg of his 2025 tour, Art d’Ecco is bringing his music to the United Kingdom in the fall. Stay in the loop with upcoming announcements and tour dates on his website and Instagram page.
Destroyer
Commonly, a “boogie” is a dance, song, or party. But on “Dan’s Boogie“, Destroyer redefines the term: “a hustle, a scam that doesn’t quite work, the moves we make when we’re up against it,” is how frontman Dan Bejar puts it.
Destroyer began in the 1990s as Bejar’s solo home-recording project and gradually evolved into a full band by the decade’s end. Over the years, the Vancouver-based group has explored glam, MIDI, yacht rock, pop, electronic, and more—starting fresh with every release. Bejar, dubbed “Rock’s Exiled King” by The Fader for his genre-defying sensibility, continues to defy expectations.
Released in March 2025 via Merge Records, “Dan’s Boogie” marks the band’s 14th studio album. Preceded by the singles “Bologna,” “Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World,” and “Cataract Time,” the album was produced and mixed by longtime collaborator and band member John Collins, who has shaped much of Destroyer’s discography.
Pitchfork calls “Dan’s Boogie” “contemplative, morning-after music par excellence.” Like much of Destroyer’s work, the album reads as a character study, but departs from the darker, electronic leanings of “Labyrinthis” and “Have We Met”. Instead, it leans into a more organic, even humorous tone, filled with emotional insights, lush string arrangements, jazz piano glissandos, and a full-band sound. Alongside Bejar and Collins, the album features contributions from pianist Ted Bois, guitarists Nicolas Bragg and David Carswell, and drummer Joshua Wells.
Destroyer is currently on an international tour between Europe and North America over the summer and fall months, including a hometown performance in Vancouver this October. Tickets are on sale now via AdmitOne. Stay up to date with the band on their Instagram page.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Snotty Nose Rez Kids, the electrifying hip hop duo from Kitimat, B.C., are having a landmark year in 2025. Comprised of Haisla rappers and cousins Darren “Young D” Metz and Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce, the duo kicked off the year with three JUNO nominations—taking home Rap Album of the Year for “RED FUTURE”, making history as the first Indigenous artists to win in the category.
Metz and Nyce began collaborating in high school, releasing their first two albums in 2017 and landing on the Polaris Prize shortlist by 2018. Their rise has been marked by a steady build of critical acclaim and cultural impact, driven by their fearless lyricism, innovative sound, and unapologetic authenticity. They’ve since emerged as one of Canada’s most compelling contemporary hip-hop acts.
Their sixth studio album, “RED FUTURE”, released in September 2024 through Sony Music Canada, marks their major label debut. The album has earned praise from Billboard, Wonderland, and Exclaim! for its bold sound and rich production, as well as its deep exploration of identity, resilience, and the future of Indigenous culture. The record features a bold sound, raw energy, and lush productions, filled with anthems of resilience. Described by Nyce as a celebration of Indigenous futurism and excellence, “RED FUTURE” features collaborations with 12 Indigenous artists, including Tia Wood, Dreezus, and Travis Thompson.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids are taking the RED FUTURE tour across North America, with multiple performances in Vancouver in July and later this year. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster. Look out for updates and new announcements on their Instagram page.
Discover all artists longlisted for the Polaris Prize on their website and listen to the nominated artists on the 2025 Polaris Music Prize Spotify playlist. The shortlist will be announced on July 10, 2025, and the Polaris Concert and Heritage Prize announcement will take place on September 16, 2025.
