2019 in Canadian music explained

The following musical events and releases happened in 2019 in Canada.

Events

• March – Juno Awards of 2019
• April – East Coast Music Awards
• May – Prism Prize
• June – Preliminary longlist for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize was announced
• July – SOCAN Songwriting Prize
• July – Shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize was announced
• September – Haviah Mighty won the Polaris Music Prize for her album 13th Floor^[1]

Albums released

A

• Absolutely Free, Geneva Freeport^[2]
• Alaskan Tapes, Millions
• Alaskan Tapes, Views from Sixteen Stories
• Jeremie Albino, Hard Time^[3]
• Altameda, Time Hasn't Changed You
• Anemone, Beat My Distance - February 15

B

• Badge Époque Ensemble, Badge Époque Ensemble^[4]
• Tim Baker, Forever Overhead - April 19^[5]
• Bedouin Soundclash, MASS - October 4
• Begonia, Fear
• Beppie, Song Soup
• Bibi Club, Bibi Club
• Big Brave, A Gaze Among Them
• Bleu Jeans Bleu, Perfecto
• Blue Moon Marquee, Bare Knuckles & Brawn
• Jacob Brodovsky, Sixteen Years^[6]
• Dean Brody, Black Sheep - April 26^[7]
• Chad Brownlee, Back in the Game - June 21^[8]
• Broken Social Scene, Let’s Try the After Vol. 1 - February 15
• Broken Social Scene, Let’s Try the After Vol. 2 - April 12
• Michael Jerome Browne, That's Where It's At
• Jon Bryant, Cult Classic - May 17
• Louise Burns, Portraits - November 8
• Burnstick, Kîyânaw
• Spencer Burton, The Mountain Man

C

• Daniel Caesar, Case Study 01 - June 28
• Alessia Cara, This Summer - September 6
• Celeigh Cardinal, Stories from a Downtown Apartment
• Lou-Adriane Cassidy, C'est la fin du monde à tous les jours^[9]
• Tanika Charles, The Gumption - May 10
• Clairmont the Second, Do You Drive? - January 31
• City and Colour, A Pill for Loneliness - October 4^[10]
• Bruce Cockburn, Crowing Ignites - September 20^[11]
• Leonard Cohen, Thanks for the Dance - November 22
• Charlotte Cornfield, The Shape of Your Name
• Corridor, Junior
• Les Cowboys Fringants, Les Antipodes
• Amelia Curran, Live at Massey Hall
• Isabelle Cyr, Brûle sur mes lèvres^[12]

D

• Mac DeMarco, Here Comes the Cowboy - May 10^[13]
• Del Barber, Easy Keeper^[14]
• Devours, Iconoclast
• Le Diable à Cinq, Debout!
• Digawolf, Yellowstone
• Céline Dion, Courage - November 15
• Julie Doiron with Mount Eerie, Lost Wisdom pt. 2 - November 8
• Drake, Care Package - August 2
• Durham County Poets, Hand Me Down Blues

E

• Efajemue, Motions and Methods
• André Ethier, Croak in the Weeds

F

• Lara Fabian, Papillon
• Stephen Fearing, The Unconquerable Past
• FET.NAT, Le Mal
• Dominique Fils-Aimé, Stay Tuned!
• Flore Laurentienne, Volume 1
• Florian Hoefner Trio, First Spring
• Flying Hórses, Reverie
• FouKi, ZayZay
• The Franklin Electric, In Your Head EP - August 2
• Debby Friday, Death Drive

G

• Hannah Georgas, Imprints^[2]
• Leela Gilday, North Star Calling
• The Glorious Sons, A War on Everything - September 13
• The Golden Seals, Something Isn't Happening
• Aaron Goodvin, V
• Jenn Grant, Love, Inevitable - May 31
• Great Lake Swimmers, The Waves, the Wake (Acoustic) - November 8^[15]

H

• Half Moon Run, A Blemish in the Great Light – November 1
• Haviah Mighty, 13th Floor
• Joshua Haulli, Aqqut
• Headstones, PeopleSkills – October 25
• Hey Major, The Station
• Hollerado, Retaliation Vacation
• Hunter Brothers, State of Mind – January 25^[16]
• Nate Husser, 23+^[17]
• Andrew Hyatt, Abel

I

• Iamtheliving, In This Thing Called Life
• Ice Cream, Fed Up
• iskwē, acākosīk - November 8, 2019^[18]

J

• James Barker Band, Singles Only - May 24^[19]
• Yves Jarvis, The Same but by Different Means
• JayWood, Time
• Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated^[2] - May 17
• Lyndon John X, The Warning Track
• Julian Taylor Band, Avalanche - March 29
• Just John x Dom Dias, Don III (April); PROJECT (November)

K

• Kanen, Kanen
• Kaytranada, Bubba - December 13
• Kid Koala, Music To Draw To: Io - January 25
• Patrick Krief, Dovetale - June 7

L

• Laurence-Anne, Première apparition
• Avril Lavigne, Head Above Water - February 15^[20]
• Lee Harvey Osmond, Mohawk^[2]
• Jean Leloup, L'Étrange pays - May 24
• Murray Lightburn, Hear Me Out - February 22
• Lightning Dust, Spectre
• Loud, Tout ça pour ça - May 24
• The Lowest of the Low, Agitpop - May 31

M

• Ryan MacGrath, That Woods
• Maestro Fresh Wes, Champagne Campaign - March 8
• Alexandria Maillot, Benevolence - November 22
• Manila Grey, No Saints Loading
• Mappe Of, The Isle of Ailynn - November 1
• Marianas Trench, Phantoms - March 1
• Mauno, Really Well^[21]
• Memphis, Leave With Me - February 8
• Millimetrik, Make It Last Forever
• Monsune, Tradition
• Mounties, Heavy Meta - April 26^[2]

N

• nêhiyawak, nipiy
• The New Pornographers, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights - September 27
• Eliza Niemi, Vinegar
• Safia Nolin, xX3m0 $0ng$ 2 $!nG @L0nG 2Xx

O

• OBUXUM, Re-Birth
• Ocie Elliott, We Fall In^[22]
• Okan, Sombras
• Ouri, We Share Our Blood

P

• Partner, Saturday the 14th^[23]
• Orville Peck, Pony
• Philémon Cimon, Pays
• Planet Giza, Added Sugar^[24]
• poolblood, Yummy
• PUP, Morbid Stuff - April 5
• Pvrx, 3.14 - July 26

R

• Billy Raffoul, Running Wild
• The Reklaws, Freshman Year - August 27^[25]
• Reuben and the Dark, un love - October 25
• Amanda Rheaume, The Skin I'm In
• Rheostatics, Here Come the Wolves - September 6^[26]
• Riit, Ataataga - October 25^[27]
• John River, The Academy - January 25
• Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Better by Now
• Royal Canoe, Waver^[2]
• Ruth B, Maybe I'll Find You Again - March 22
• Justin Rutledge, Passages - May 31^[28]

S

• Said the Whale, Cascadia^[2]
• Saint Asonia, Flawed Design^[29]
• Sarahmée, Irréversible
• Jacques Kuba Séguin, Migrations
• Joseph Shabason, Anne EP - May 10
• Shay Lia, Dangerous
• Silverstein, - April 12
• Siskiyou, Not Somewhere - May 17^[30]
• Dallas Smith, The Fall - March 13^[31]
• Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Trapline
• SonReal, The Aaron LP - May 10
• Rae Spoon, Mental Health
• The Strumbellas, Rattlesnake - March 29^[32]
• Sum 41, Order in Decline - July 19^[33]
• Super Duty Tough Work, Studies in Grey

T

• Tariq, Telegrams - March 29
• Tegan and Sara, Hey, I'm Just Like You - September 27
• Devin Townsend, Empath^[2]
• Tobi, STILL - May 3
• Tre Mission, Orphan Black - July 26

V

• Vile Creature, Preservation Rituals (2015-2018)
• Leif Vollebekk, New Ways - November 1^[34]

W

• Ruby Waters, Almost Naked
• Dawn Tyler Watson, Mad Love
• Patrick Watson, Wave - October 18
• We Are the City, RIP^[2]
• Whitehorse, The Northern South, Vol. 2 - January 18
• WHOOP-Szo, Warrior Down
• JJ Wilde, Wilde Eyes, Steady Hands
• Wintersleep, In the Land Of - March 29^[2]
• Donovan Woods, The Other Way
• Hawksley Workman, Median Age Wasteland - March 1^[2]

Deaths

• January 16 - Jean Chatillon, composer
• January 16 - Alfred Kunz, composer
• February 9 - Phil Western, electronic/industrial musician
• February 23 - Johnnie Lovesin, rock singer
• February 28 - Ed Bickert, jazz guitarist
• March 6 - Charlie Panigoniak, singer-songwriter
• March 22 - Joe Hall, singer-songwriter
• April 1 - Vladimir Orloff, cellist
• April 20 - David Zafer, violinist
• May 20 - Dave Bookman, musician (The Bookmen) and radio personality (CFNY-FM, CIND-FM)
• June 16 - Adam Litovitz, rock musician and film composer^{[35] [36]}
• November 20 - John Mann, singer and guitarist (Spirit of the West)^[37]
• December 5 - Leon Cole, organist, composer and classical music radio host
• December 15 - Monique Leyrac, singer^[38]
• December 24 - Kelly Fraser, singer^[39]

Notes and References

1. David Friend, "NewsAlert: Haviah Mighty wins Polaris prize for '13th Floor'". Victoria Times-Colonist, September 16, 2019.
2. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/here_are_exclaim_s_22_most_anticipated_canadian_albums_of_2019 "Here Are Exclaim!'s 22 Most Anticipated Canadian Albums of 2019"
3. Kaitlin Ruether, "Jeremie Albino: Hard Time". Exclaim!, August 5, 2019.
4. Vish Khanna, "Badge Époque Ensemble, Badge Époque Ensemble". Exclaim!, June 10, 2019.
5. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/hey_rosettas_tim_baker_details_forever_overhead_solo_album "Hey Rosetta's Tim Baker Details 'Forever Overhead' Solo Album"
6. Erin Lebar, "Winnipeg singer goes solo with new EP: Sixteen Years a preview of future releases for frontman of disbanded folk-rock group". Winnipeg Free Press, May 4, 2019.
7. Web site: 'Dean Brody Releases Anticipated EP, Black Sheep, and new single in Advance of Fall Tour. Open Road Recordings. April 26, 2019. April 30, 2020. September 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926115822/https://openroadrecordings.com/news/dean-brody-releases-anticipated-ep-black-sheep-and-new-single-in-advance-of-fall-tour/. dead.
8. Web site: Back in the Game – Chad Brownlee. AllMusic. April 26, 2020.
9. Marissa Groguhé, "Le vrai début pour Lou-Adriane Cassidy". La Presse, April 4, 2019.
10. https://glidemagazine.com/226497/city-and-colour-announces-new-album-shares-north-american-tour-dates/ "City and Colour announces new album, shares North American tour dates"
11. David Friend, "Bruce Cockburn avoids impulse to get political with lyric-less new album". Toronto Star, September 19, 2019.
12. https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2019/04/24/brule-sur-mes-levres-isabelle-cyr-propose-un-nouvel-album "«Brûle sur mes lèvres»: Isabelle Cyr propose un nouvel album"
13. https://glidemagazine.com/221023/mac-demarco-releasing-fourth-full-length-lp-here-comes-the-cowboy-may-10th/ "Mac DeMarco releasing fourth full length LP 'Here Comes the Cowboy' May 10th"
14. Web site: Del Barber: Easy Keeper. Davis. Mike. September 9, 2019. Folk Radio UK. June 27, 2023.
15. Sarah Murphy, "Great Lake Swimmers Reveal Acoustic Version of 'The Waves, the Wake' LP". Exclaim!, September 20, 2019.
16. Web site: Hunter Brothers Sophomore Album 'State Of Mind' . Complete Country . February 2, 2019 . July 15, 2020 . Ella, Shannon.
17. Clayton Tomlinson, "Nate Husser Is Montreal Rap's LeBron James". Exclaim!, February 12, 2019.
18. Graham Rockingham, "Hamilton-based singer-songwriter shares her journey of Indigenous self-discovery with new album". Hamilton Spectator, November 6, 2019.
19. Web site: JAMES BARKER BAND RETURN WITH THEIR SOPHOMORE EP, SINGLES ONLY. UMusic.ca. Universal Music Canada. April 27, 2020.
20. Web site: Avril Lavigne Announces New Album 'Head Above Water' . Clash . December 13, 2018 . December 20, 2018 . Murray, Robin.
21. Jonathan St. Michael, "Mauno, Really Well". Exclaim!, July 29, 2019.
22. Rae Porter, "Tender musical connections mark Ocie Elliott’s latest album". Victoria News, January 31, 2019.
23. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/partner-saturday-the-14th-ep/ "Partner: Saturday the 14th EP"
24. Philippe Renaud, "Added Sugar, Planet Giza". Le Devoir, February 15, 2019.
25. Web site: BREAKOUT COUNTRY MUSIC STARS, THE REKLAWS, RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM, FRESHMAN YEAR, OUT NOW. UMusic.ca. August 27, 2019.
26. Brock Thiessen, "Rheostatics Announce Their First New Album in 15 Years". Exclaim!, June 19, 2019.
27. [Ben Rayner]
28. https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/9213312-graham-rockingham-justin-rutledge-is-alt-country-with-a-little-help-from-his-friends/ "Justin Rutledge is alt-country with a little help from his friends"
29. https://rock947.com/news/articles/2019/feb/21/new-album-from-three-days-gracestaind-band-saint-asonia-due-out-this-year/ "New album from Three Days Grace/Staind band Saint Asonia due out this year"
30. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/siskiyou_announces_not_somewhere_lp_shares_new_song "Siskiyou Announces 'Not Somewhere' LP, Shares New Song"
31. Web site: The Fall - EP by Dallas Smith. Apple Music (CA). Apple Inc. 25 November 2019.
32. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/the_strumbellas_announce_rattlesnake_lp The Strumbellas announce 'Rattlesnake' album
33. https://www.punkrocktheory.com/releases/sum-41-order-decline "Upcoming Releases: Sum 41, Order in Decline"
34. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/leif_vollebekk_returns_with_new_ways_lp "Leif Vollebekk Returns with 'New Ways' LP"
35. https://nowtoronto.com/music/adam-litovitz-jooj-dead-at-36/ "Jooj member Adam Litovitz dead at 36"
36. News: Friends remember 'enormously talented' Toronto musician Adam Litovitz . June 20, 2019 . Thompson Citizen . Canadian Press . June 20, 2019 . June 20, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190620183844/https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/friends-remember-enormously-talented-toronto-musician-adam-litovitz-1.23862025 . dead .
37. Marsha Lederman, "Spirit of the West singer John Mann dies at 57". The Globe and Mail, November 20, 2019.
38. Mayssa Ferah, "La chanteuse Monique Leyrac s’éteint à 91 ans". La Presse, December 15, 2019.
39. Web site: Dyck . Darryl . Kelly Fraser, Canadian Inuit Singer, Is Dead at 26 . The New York Times . The Associated Press . 16 January 2020.