The East Coast Music Awards (EMCA) celebrated its 35th annual edition last week, and all of the winners for 2023's celebration of Maritime artistry have been announced.
Taking place in Halifax, NS, last week, with the hardware handed out on May 4 and 7, the 2023 ECMAs saw Prince Edward Island group the East Pointers come away with three awards from five total nominations. The group's seven-song release House of Dreams, which arrived last September, earned them honours for Contemporary Roots Recording, Group Recording and Pop Recording of the Year.
New Brunswick singer-songwriters Kellie Loder and David Myles followed close behind with two awards each. The former was celebrated Songwriter of the Year and Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year honours, while the latter received Album of the Year and Solo Recording of the Year awards for 15th studio LP It's Only a Little Loneliness.
Singer-songwriter Zamani Folade was awarded African Canadian Artist of the Year, while reggae artist (and Exclaim! New Faves alum) Jah'Mila received Global Music Recording of the Year honours for her debut album Roots Girl. Lisa LeBlanc's Chiac Disco was awarded Francophone Recording of the Year, while Rich Aucoin's Synthetic Season 1 was plugged as Electronic Recording of the Year. The Trews captured Rock Recording of the Year with 2021's Wanderer, while Classified was named Artist Innovator of the Year.
The 2023 ECMAs also saw Natalie MacMaster receive the Directors' Special Achievement Award, while founding April Wine guitarist and singer-songwriter Myles Goodwyn was officially inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Find the complete list of 2023 East Coast Music Awards winners below. Next year, the 2024 ECMAs will be hosted in Charlottetown, PE.
East Coast Music Awards 2023 Winners:
African Canadian Artist of the Year
Aquakultre
Jah'Mila
Maggie Andrew
Owen O'Sound Lee
Zamani Folade
Album of the Year
Andrew Waite, Andrew Waite (producer: Chris Kirby)
Classified, Retrospected (producer: Classified)
David Myles, It's Only a Little Loneliness (producers: David Myles, Joshua Van Tassel)
Fortunate Ones, That Was You and Me (producer: Joshua Van Tassel)
Jason Benoit, Time Traveller: Side A (producers: Jason Benoit, Clint Curtis)
Kristen Martell, Every Season (producers: Gabrielle Papillon, Dan Ledwell)
Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
Classified
David Myles
Jason Benoit
Kellie Loder
Lisa LeBlanc
Madison Violet
Neon Dreams
Rich Aucoin
Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen
The East Pointers
Fans' Choice Video of the Year
Andrew Waite
Braden Lam
Classified
Dave Sampson
Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire
Moira & Claire
Neon Dreams
Nicole Ariana
Pineo & Loeb x Sparkee
The East Pointers
Directors' Special Achievement Award
Natalie MacMaster
Blues Recording of the Year
Allen Snow, The Quorum
Charlie A'Court & Witchitaw, When Country Gets the Blues
Mark Riley, PM Blue
Mike Trask, TV Dinner
Rev. Dave and the Sin Eaters, Beams of Love
Children's Entertainer of the Year
Bingly and the Rogues (with The Villains Theatre)
Heather Feather
Matt the Music Man
Pete
Choral Recording of the Year
Dr. Zoo Featuring South African Singers Choir, We May Win
Halifax Camerata Singers, The Last Evening
Luminos Ensemble, I Am an Island That Dreams
Men of the Deeps, Remember the Miner
Sirens, In Her Image
Classical Composer of the Year
Andrew Staniland
Derek Charke
Edward Enman
Grej
Natalie Williams Calhoun
Classical Recording of the Year
Andrew Staniland, Reddened by Hammer: Earthquakes & Islands Remixed
Atlantic String Machine, A Single Juniper Post
Duo Concertante, Ecology of Being
Jennifer King, O Mistress Moon (Canadian Edition)
SHHH!! Ensemble, Meanwhile
Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year
Carleton Stone, Papercut
David Myles, It's Only a Little Loneliness
Madison Violet, eleven
Rawlins Cross, Sunrise
The East Pointers, House of Dreams
Country Recording of the Year
La Patente, L'Illusion d'la perfection
Mallory Johnson, Surprise Party
Pretty Archie, Pretty Archie
Rev. Dave and the Sin Eaters, Beams of Love
Willie Stratton, Drugstore Dreamin'
Dance Recording of the Year
Alex Byrne, "Nothing but a Liar"
Bishu, "WYGD"
Cloverdale & DJ Susan, "Talkin'"
Corey LeRue, "IDTYK"
Pineo & Loeb x Joel Freck, "Hope" (feat. Karl Wolf)
Electronic Recording of the Year
It Could Be Franky, "Edena"
Maura Whitman, Introspection
Mear, Soft Chains
Rich Aucoin, Synthetic Season 1
Sparkee, Snack Pack
Folk Recording of the Year
Dylan Menzie, Modern Classic
Fortunate Ones, That Was You and Me
Julie Aubé, Contentement
Kristen Martell, Every Season
Madison Violet, eleven
Francophone Recording of the Year
Caroline Savoie, Bruits blancs
Laurie LeBlanc, Long Weekend
Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire, Pas l'temps d'niaiser
Lisa LeBlanc, Chiac Disco
Plywood Joe, Et les mangeux de baloni
P'tit Belliveau, Un homme et son piano
Global Music Recording of the Year
Andru Branch & Halfway Tree, Weather the Storm
Jah'Mila, Roots Girl
Jing Xia, The Numinous Journey
Kubasonics, Kubasongs
Vineet Vyas, Satyam
Group Recording of the Year
Fortunate Ones, That Was You and Me
Moira & Claire, I'm not usually this forward but…
Pretty Archie, Pretty Archie
The East Pointers, House of Dreams
The Trews, Wanderer
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Deantha Edmunds
Gearl
Jason Benoit
Morgan Toney
Silver Wolf Band
Inspirational/Gospel Recording of the Year
Dr. Zoo, 20
Elijah MacDougall, The Boy Who Would Be
Keith Mullins, Vets for Healings Song Camp 1
One8tea, Say Amen
Yvette Lorraine, Same Story
Instrumental Recording of the Year
Atlantic String Machine, A Single Juniper Post
Florian Hoefner, Desert Bloom
Quilting, Quilting
Sarah Hagen, Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations
Shannon Quinn & Tony Quinn, 20 Summers
Jazz Recording of the Year
Behrooz Mihankhah, Lydium
Big Space, In Relation To
Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay, Djangology
Florian Hoefner, Desert Bloom
Joyfultalk, Familiar Science
Loud Recording of the Year
Dali Van Gogh, New Blood, Old Wounds
Electric Spoonful, 2 Poor 4 a Two Four
Red Usurper, Abandon
Swimming, That's OK
Truce., Unentitled
Pop Recording of the Year
Caroline Savoie, Bruits blancs
Lisa LeBlanc, Chiac Disco
Maura Whitman, Introspection
The East Pointers, House of Dreams
Yvette Lorraine, Same Story
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Aquakultre, Don't Trip
Boy T, Ride Your Name
Dee Hernandez, Remember Those Days
JRDN, Red Eye
Nicole Ariana, Crybaby
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
Albert Dalton, If I Can't Have It
City Natives, The People of the Dawn
Classified, Retrospected
Owen O'Sound Lee, 235
Reggie Morales, Regicide
Rising Star Recording of the Year
Daniel James McFadyen, "Hot Sun"
Dylan Menzie, "A Piece of Me"
Isabella Samson, "Love Takes You Home"
Marian, "Astral Plane"
Moira & Claire, "South Shore"
Rock Recording of the Year
Dali Van Gogh, New Blood, Old Wound
Julie & Dany, Julie & Dany
Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire, Pas l'temps d'niaiser
Motherhood, Winded
Nick Earle, No More Hiding
The Trews, Wanderer
Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year
Gina Burgess, ISNOW
Jing Xia, The Numinous Journey
Kubasonics, Kubasongs
Les Fireflies, Day by Day
Shane Pendergast, The House Before the Bridge
Solo Recording of the Year
Adam Baldwin, Concertos & Serenades
David Myles, It's Only a Little Loneliness
Jason Benoit, Time Traveller: Side A
Lisa LeBlanc, Chiac Disco
Owen O'Sound Lee, 235
Song of the Year
Adam Baldwin, "Lighthouse in Little Lorraine"
Braden Lam, "Silence" (feat. Wolf Castle)
Brandon Howard Roy, "Give Me Love"
Daniel James McFadyen, "Hot Sun"
Lisa LeBlanc, "Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui"
Songwriter of the Year
Andrew Waite
Kellie Loder
Madison Violet
Quote the Raven
The East Pointers
Artist Innovator of the Year
Carolina East
Classified
Dr. Zoo
Hillary Ladd
Jason Benoit
Live Sound Engineer of the Year
Evan Cormier
John Ellingbo
Kyle Gallagher
Michelle Lacour
Peter Green
Steve Everett
Producer of the Year
Chris Kirby
Classified
Clint Curtis
Corey LeRue
Mark Howard
Studio Engineer of the Year
Scott Ferguson
John D. S. Adams
Future Dad
Mike "Sheppy" Shepherd
Chris Iannetti
Thomas Stajcer
Video Director of the Year
Cecil Johnson
Harmz
Jamie Miller
Jeff Miller
Matthew Ingraham
Visual Artist of the Year
Alex MacAskill, Midnight Oil Print & Design House
Ashley Anne Clark
Heidi-Lyn O'Connor
Jud Haynes
Krista Power
Taking place in Halifax, NS, last week, with the hardware handed out on May 4 and 7, the 2023 ECMAs saw Prince Edward Island group the East Pointers come away with three awards from five total nominations. The group's seven-song release House of Dreams, which arrived last September, earned them honours for Contemporary Roots Recording, Group Recording and Pop Recording of the Year.
New Brunswick singer-songwriters Kellie Loder and David Myles followed close behind with two awards each. The former was celebrated Songwriter of the Year and Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year honours, while the latter received Album of the Year and Solo Recording of the Year awards for 15th studio LP It's Only a Little Loneliness.
Singer-songwriter Zamani Folade was awarded African Canadian Artist of the Year, while reggae artist (and Exclaim! New Faves alum) Jah'Mila received Global Music Recording of the Year honours for her debut album Roots Girl. Lisa LeBlanc's Chiac Disco was awarded Francophone Recording of the Year, while Rich Aucoin's Synthetic Season 1 was plugged as Electronic Recording of the Year. The Trews captured Rock Recording of the Year with 2021's Wanderer, while Classified was named Artist Innovator of the Year.
The 2023 ECMAs also saw Natalie MacMaster receive the Directors' Special Achievement Award, while founding April Wine guitarist and singer-songwriter Myles Goodwyn was officially inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Find the complete list of 2023 East Coast Music Awards winners below. Next year, the 2024 ECMAs will be hosted in Charlottetown, PE.
East Coast Music Awards 2023 Winners:
African Canadian Artist of the Year
Aquakultre
Jah'Mila
Maggie Andrew
Owen O'Sound Lee
Zamani Folade
Album of the Year
Andrew Waite, Andrew Waite (producer: Chris Kirby)
Classified, Retrospected (producer: Classified)
David Myles, It's Only a Little Loneliness (producers: David Myles, Joshua Van Tassel)
Fortunate Ones, That Was You and Me (producer: Joshua Van Tassel)
Jason Benoit, Time Traveller: Side A (producers: Jason Benoit, Clint Curtis)
Kristen Martell, Every Season (producers: Gabrielle Papillon, Dan Ledwell)
Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
Classified
David Myles
Jason Benoit
Kellie Loder
Lisa LeBlanc
Madison Violet
Neon Dreams
Rich Aucoin
Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen
The East Pointers
Fans' Choice Video of the Year
Andrew Waite
Braden Lam
Classified
Dave Sampson
Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire
Moira & Claire
Neon Dreams
Nicole Ariana
Pineo & Loeb x Sparkee
The East Pointers
Directors' Special Achievement Award
Natalie MacMaster
Blues Recording of the Year
Allen Snow, The Quorum
Charlie A'Court & Witchitaw, When Country Gets the Blues
Mark Riley, PM Blue
Mike Trask, TV Dinner
Rev. Dave and the Sin Eaters, Beams of Love
Children's Entertainer of the Year
Bingly and the Rogues (with The Villains Theatre)
Heather Feather
Matt the Music Man
Pete
Choral Recording of the Year
Dr. Zoo Featuring South African Singers Choir, We May Win
Halifax Camerata Singers, The Last Evening
Luminos Ensemble, I Am an Island That Dreams
Men of the Deeps, Remember the Miner
Sirens, In Her Image
Classical Composer of the Year
Andrew Staniland
Derek Charke
Edward Enman
Grej
Natalie Williams Calhoun
Classical Recording of the Year
Andrew Staniland, Reddened by Hammer: Earthquakes & Islands Remixed
Atlantic String Machine, A Single Juniper Post
Duo Concertante, Ecology of Being
Jennifer King, O Mistress Moon (Canadian Edition)
SHHH!! Ensemble, Meanwhile
Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year
Carleton Stone, Papercut
David Myles, It's Only a Little Loneliness
Madison Violet, eleven
Rawlins Cross, Sunrise
The East Pointers, House of Dreams
Country Recording of the Year
La Patente, L'Illusion d'la perfection
Mallory Johnson, Surprise Party
Pretty Archie, Pretty Archie
Rev. Dave and the Sin Eaters, Beams of Love
Willie Stratton, Drugstore Dreamin'
Dance Recording of the Year
Alex Byrne, "Nothing but a Liar"
Bishu, "WYGD"
Cloverdale & DJ Susan, "Talkin'"
Corey LeRue, "IDTYK"
Pineo & Loeb x Joel Freck, "Hope" (feat. Karl Wolf)
Electronic Recording of the Year
It Could Be Franky, "Edena"
Maura Whitman, Introspection
Mear, Soft Chains
Rich Aucoin, Synthetic Season 1
Sparkee, Snack Pack
Folk Recording of the Year
Dylan Menzie, Modern Classic
Fortunate Ones, That Was You and Me
Julie Aubé, Contentement
Kristen Martell, Every Season
Madison Violet, eleven
Francophone Recording of the Year
Caroline Savoie, Bruits blancs
Laurie LeBlanc, Long Weekend
Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire, Pas l'temps d'niaiser
Lisa LeBlanc, Chiac Disco
Plywood Joe, Et les mangeux de baloni
P'tit Belliveau, Un homme et son piano
Global Music Recording of the Year
Andru Branch & Halfway Tree, Weather the Storm
Jah'Mila, Roots Girl
Jing Xia, The Numinous Journey
Kubasonics, Kubasongs
Vineet Vyas, Satyam
Group Recording of the Year
Fortunate Ones, That Was You and Me
Moira & Claire, I'm not usually this forward but…
Pretty Archie, Pretty Archie
The East Pointers, House of Dreams
The Trews, Wanderer
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Deantha Edmunds
Gearl
Jason Benoit
Morgan Toney
Silver Wolf Band
Inspirational/Gospel Recording of the Year
Dr. Zoo, 20
Elijah MacDougall, The Boy Who Would Be
Keith Mullins, Vets for Healings Song Camp 1
One8tea, Say Amen
Yvette Lorraine, Same Story
Instrumental Recording of the Year
Atlantic String Machine, A Single Juniper Post
Florian Hoefner, Desert Bloom
Quilting, Quilting
Sarah Hagen, Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations
Shannon Quinn & Tony Quinn, 20 Summers
Jazz Recording of the Year
Behrooz Mihankhah, Lydium
Big Space, In Relation To
Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay, Djangology
Florian Hoefner, Desert Bloom
Joyfultalk, Familiar Science
Loud Recording of the Year
Dali Van Gogh, New Blood, Old Wounds
Electric Spoonful, 2 Poor 4 a Two Four
Red Usurper, Abandon
Swimming, That's OK
Truce., Unentitled
Pop Recording of the Year
Caroline Savoie, Bruits blancs
Lisa LeBlanc, Chiac Disco
Maura Whitman, Introspection
The East Pointers, House of Dreams
Yvette Lorraine, Same Story
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Aquakultre, Don't Trip
Boy T, Ride Your Name
Dee Hernandez, Remember Those Days
JRDN, Red Eye
Nicole Ariana, Crybaby
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
Albert Dalton, If I Can't Have It
City Natives, The People of the Dawn
Classified, Retrospected
Owen O'Sound Lee, 235
Reggie Morales, Regicide
Rising Star Recording of the Year
Daniel James McFadyen, "Hot Sun"
Dylan Menzie, "A Piece of Me"
Isabella Samson, "Love Takes You Home"
Marian, "Astral Plane"
Moira & Claire, "South Shore"
Rock Recording of the Year
Dali Van Gogh, New Blood, Old Wound
Julie & Dany, Julie & Dany
Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire, Pas l'temps d'niaiser
Motherhood, Winded
Nick Earle, No More Hiding
The Trews, Wanderer
Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year
Gina Burgess, ISNOW
Jing Xia, The Numinous Journey
Kubasonics, Kubasongs
Les Fireflies, Day by Day
Shane Pendergast, The House Before the Bridge
Solo Recording of the Year
Adam Baldwin, Concertos & Serenades
David Myles, It's Only a Little Loneliness
Jason Benoit, Time Traveller: Side A
Lisa LeBlanc, Chiac Disco
Owen O'Sound Lee, 235
Song of the Year
Adam Baldwin, "Lighthouse in Little Lorraine"
Braden Lam, "Silence" (feat. Wolf Castle)
Brandon Howard Roy, "Give Me Love"
Daniel James McFadyen, "Hot Sun"
Lisa LeBlanc, "Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui"
Songwriter of the Year
Andrew Waite
Kellie Loder
Madison Violet
Quote the Raven
The East Pointers
Artist Innovator of the Year
Carolina East
Classified
Dr. Zoo
Hillary Ladd
Jason Benoit
Live Sound Engineer of the Year
Evan Cormier
John Ellingbo
Kyle Gallagher
Michelle Lacour
Peter Green
Steve Everett
Producer of the Year
Chris Kirby
Classified
Clint Curtis
Corey LeRue
Mark Howard
Studio Engineer of the Year
Scott Ferguson
John D. S. Adams
Future Dad
Mike "Sheppy" Shepherd
Chris Iannetti
Thomas Stajcer
Video Director of the Year
Cecil Johnson
Harmz
Jamie Miller
Jeff Miller
Matthew Ingraham
Visual Artist of the Year
Alex MacAskill, Midnight Oil Print & Design House
Ashley Anne Clark
Heidi-Lyn O'Connor
Jud Haynes
Krista Power
