NEWS
It’s no surprise that Justin Bieber and The Weeknd are among the most-nominated artists for this year’s Juno Awards, with five nods each, but you may be less familiar with the artist who leads the pack with six nods: Charlotte Cardin.
The Montreal-born singer-songwriter sings pop, electro and jazz. She released her debut album Phoenix in April. It has spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Cardin, 27, was nominated for Juno Awards in 2018 for breakthrough artist of the year and songwriter of the year.
Cardin, Avril Lavigne, Arkells (four-time winners for group of the year) and singer, songwriter and poet Mustafa are the first artists announced to perform on the Juno Awards, which will be held at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on Sunday, May 15. Simu Liu, star of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is set to host the show, which will be the first in-person Juno Awards since 2019.
Cardin and Bieber are the only artists nominated this year in each of these four top categories: TikTok Juno fan choice, artist of the year, album of the year, and single of the year. While Bieber has won the fan-voted Fan Choice Award five times, more often than anyone else, he has yet to win in any of these other three categories. Will this finally be his year?
The Weeknd is nominated in all four of the above-mentioned categories except album of the year. He didn’t release a new album in the eligibility period. But he made up for it by also being nominated for songwriter of the year.
Bieber is the first artist to land both Juno and Grammy nominations for album of the year and record of the year (called single of the year at the Junos) in the same year since The Weeknd achieved that quadruple feat six years ago. The Weeknd was nominated on both sides of the border for his album Beauty Behind the Madness and his smash “Can’t Feel My Face.” (He won Juno Awards in both categories.) Bieber is nominated for his album Justice and his soulful jam “Peaches” (a collab with Daniel Caesar, who, like Bieber, was born in Canada, and Givēon).
Cardin, The Weeknd and Bieber are followed in the nominations tally by Jessia, Pressa and Shawn Mendes, with four nods each. Jessia and Pressa are both first-time nominees.
Mendes is nominated for TikTok Juno fan choice, artist of the year and album of the year, but he missed out on a single of the year nod. He won in that category three years running from 2018-20 with “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” “In My Blood” and “Señorita,” a collab with Camila Cabello.
JP Saxe is nominated for both artist of the year and album of the year.
WondaGurl, who won the Jack Richardson producer of the year award last year, is back to defend her title. A second female producer, Charlotte Day Wilson, is also nominated. (By way of comparison, the Grammys haven’t had two female nominees in their producer of the year, non-classical category in the same year since 1998, when both Sheryl Crow and Lauryn Hill were nominated.)
Wilson is also nominated for songwriter of the year. She is the only person nominated for both songwriter of the year and producer of the year this year. One other female songwriter, Allison Russell, is nominated for songwriter of the year.
Kairo McLean, just 13, is a first-time nominee in the reggae recording of the year category. But he’s practically an old-timer compared to Romeo Eats, who at the tender age of 3 becomes the youngest nominee in Juno Awards history. Alongside his parents, both members of Walk Off the Earth, he is nominated for children’s album of the year for his debut album Walk Off the Earth x Romeo Eats Vol. 1.
As first announced at last year’s Juno Awards, rap recording of the year has been split into two categories: rap album/EP and rap single of the year. Likewise, indigenous artist or group of the year has been split into contemporary indigenous artist or group of the year and traditional indigenous artist or group of the year.
Also, 2022 is the first year for the underground dance single of the year category. The creation of the category was spearheaded by Toronto electronic producer Joanne Hill, drawing attention to less mainstream sounds with roots in subgenres of electronic music.
Denise Jones, one of the most influential voices in Canada’s Black entertainment community, will be posthumously awarded the 2022 Walt Grealis special achievement award. This award, along with 40 additional Juno statuettes, will be handed out at the Juno Opening Night Awards on Saturday, May 14.
Here are the nominees in selected nominees:
TikTok Juno fan choice
347aidan, Columbia *Sony
bbno$, bbno$ *mtheory
Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation *The Orchard
Forest Blakk, Atlantic
Jessia, Republic *Universal
Justin Bieber, Def Jam *Universal
Loud Luxury, Armada *Sony
Pressa, Sony
Shawn Mendes, Island *Universal
The Weeknd, XO *Universal
Artist of the year
Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard
JP Saxe, Arista*Sony
Justin Bieber, Def Jam*Universal
Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal
The Weeknd, XO*Universal
Album of the year
Phoenix, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard
Dangerous Levels of Introspection, JP Saxe, Arista*Sony
Justice, Justin Bieber, Def Jam*Universal
Wonder, Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal
Too Young to Be Sad, Tate McRae, RCA*Sony
Single of the year
“Make a Life, Not a Living,” Brett Kissel, Warner, publisher: Bennett’s Dad Songs
“Meaningless,” Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard, publisher: Big Boy Ed./SOCAN
“I’m Not Pretty,” Jessia, Republic*Universal
“Peaches,” Justin Bieber and Daniel Caesar featuring Givēon, Def Jam*Universal, publisher: Universal Music/ASCAP and Bieber Time Pub/ASCAP / Universal Music Canada/Socan
“Take My Breath,” The Weeknd XO*Universal, publisher: KMR Music Royalties II SCSp
Songwriter of the year
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye
Allison Russell
Charlotte Day Wilson
Mustafa Ahmed
TOBi
Jack Richardson producer of the year
Charlotte Day Wilson
Chromeo
Kaytranada
WondaGurl
YogiTheProducer
Group of the year
Arkells, Arkells Music*Universal
Loud Luxury, Armada*Sony
Mother Mother, Warner
The Reklaws, Starseed Entertainment*Vydia
Valley, Universal
Breakthrough artist of the year
347aidan, Columbia*Sony
Faouzia, Warner
Jessia, Republic*Universal
Pressa, Sony
Tesher, Capitol Records*Universal
Breakthrough group of the year
Black Pistol Fire, Blackhill*The Orchard
Cleopatrick, Nowhere Special*The Orchard
Monowhales, True Records*ADA
Ocie Elliott, Nettwerk*ADA
Spiritbox, Rise/BMG*ADA
Rap album/EP of the year
See You Next Wednesday, Belly, XO*Universal
Stock Exchange, Haviah Mighty Mighty, Gang Inc.*Foundation Media
Emergency Tsunami, NAV, XO*Universal
The Extravagant Collection, NorthSideBenji, Nrthrn*Believe
Gardner Express (Deluxe), Pressa, Blue Feather*Sony
Contemporary R&B recording of the year
“Tabula Rasa,” a l l i e, Oracle Records*Believe
“Vibe for Me (Bob for Me),” Aqyila, Sony
“Gifted,” Kallitechnis, Independent*Stem
“Supernovas,” k-os, Fontana North
“Take My Breath,” The Weeknd, XO*Universal
Alternative album of the year
Hope for Sale, Chiiild, 4th & Broadway*Universal
Death of an Optimist, grandson, Warner
When Smoke Rises, Mustafa, Regent Park Songs*The Orchard
If It Comes Down to It, Ruby Waters, Independent*The Orchard
The Fool, Sate, Clk*Independent/Idla
Underground dance single of the year
“Waves,” Blond:Ish feat. Grace Tither, Spinnin’
“Hood Sh*t,” Carlo Lio feat. MC Flipside, Rawthentic
“Shadows in the Dark,” Hntr feat. Elliot Moss, mau5trap/Awal
“All I Need (DJ-Kicks),” Jayda, G !K7 Music
“Sobriety,” Korea Town Acid, Independent
Contemporary indigenous artist or group of the year
When the Magic Hits, Adrian Sutherland, Midnight Shine*Independent
War Club, DJ Shub, Shub Music*The Orchard
Wild Whisper, Jayli Wolf, Alt Eden*Fontana North
Shawnee Kish, Shawnee Kish, Independent
Life After Snotty Nose, Rez Kids, Independent*Fontana North
NEWS
Kelly Rowland has shared some heartfelt guidance for KATSEYE as the girl group faces a challenging period, with Sophia Laforteza and Manon Bannerman temporarily stepping away to prioritise their mental health.
Having experienced worldwide fame at an early age with Destiny’s Child, Kelly understands the intense pressure that comes with success and changes within a group. During an interview with Rolling Stone, she encouraged the KATSEYE members to look after their own needs while continuing to stand by one another.
She explained: “In an industry as fast-paced as music, where there are constantly eyes on you and pressure to keep rising, your health is one of the most sacred things you have.
“I learned during my time in Destiny’s Child that you can show up for your fans and your group while still honouring what you need as an individual.”
Kelly then revealed what she would personally tell the group: “My advice to the KATSEYE girls would be to listen to themselves, be kind to themselves, and continue supporting one another through every season.”
As KATSEYE continue their Wildworld tour, Kelly also highlighted the importance of making space to recharge: “Especially on tour, it’s so important to intentionally carve out time to rest and reset in their daily routines. Taking care of your mind and body is what allows you to bounce back, stay resilient, and keep doing what you love.”
KATSEYE began their Wildworld tour on Tuesday (01.09.26), although neither Sophia nor Manon was present.
Sophia discussed her decision on Instagram Stories, telling fans: “I cannot express how much I want to participate in this tour and perform for you all. I have to remind myself every day that our health and mental wellbeing should always be prioritised.
“When I show up for you, I want you to get the best version of me. I've been in ongoing treatment and doing everything I can to stay healthy, occupied and happy.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s important to care for yourself.”
KATSEYE later posted an official announcement on Instagram, saying: “We would like to share an update regarding Sophia’s upcoming schedule.
“Sophia is focusing on her wellbeing, and the company remains fully committed to providing her with all the support and resources needed.”
Signed by HYBE and Geffen Records, the announcement verified that Sophia “will not be participating in the Wildworld Tour in Europe and the UK”.
However, no reference was made to the group’s scheduled performances in North America.
The statement added: “We sincerely ask for EYEKONS’ warm understanding, as our highest priority will always be the health and long-term well-being of our artists.
“We will share further updates as they become available. Please continue to send your love, warmth, and support to Sophia and KATSEYE.”
Sophia also expressed her appreciation for the care she has received from her management team and fellow members while dealing with her health concerns.
She added: “There’s been nothing but love and support from the company, my members, and everyone else around me as I work to get well. I can’t wait until I return and share the stage with my sisters again.
“They’re gonna put on an extraordinary performance for you. Trust me, I’ve been watching and they’re absolutely giving.”
Ending her message with gratitude, she told supporters: “I love you all so much. Thank you for understanding.”
The Pinky Up singers, whose lineup also includes Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung, have appeared with five members since February after Manon took a break to concentrate on her “health and wellbeing”. Sophia’s temporary absence means the group is currently performing with four members.
