The JUNOs define world music as “including, but not limited to, roots based or cross-cultural music from the following regions: South and Central America, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Caribbean (excluding Reggae and New Age music)”. Four of the five artists are nominated for the first time; this is Eccodek’s second JUNO nomination.
Montreal’s Ayrad (self-titled album) describes the music as a combination of flamenco, Moroccan, Jewish, and reggae. Singing in Tongues by Guelph’s Eccodek is a fusion of “dub, electronica and funk featuring instrumentalists and singers from Africa, South Asia, Turkey, Fiji, Canada and beyond”. The Key by Toronto’s Emmanuel Jal is essentially hip hop refined by musical influences from the regions of Toronto; South Sudan Bentiu; Nairobi, Kenya; and London, UK. Montreal-based Congolese-Canadian postmodern pop star Pierre Kwenders (who speaks five languages) mixes Afrobeat, moody electro and Congolese rumba on album Le dernier empereur bantou. 500 Years of Night by Toronto’s Quique Escamilla, whose roots lie in Chiapas, Mexico, is a mishmash of Latin folk, rock, and reggae.
Familiarize yourself with these exquisite, culturally rich, beautiful works of art.
Canadian Music Blog 
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