Classical composer Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin is among the leading Canadian Grammy nominees this year with a strong showing from an array of other homegrown talents.
The Montreal native picked up five nominations across four classical music categories, which put him neck and neck with Serban Ghenea, who is up for record of the year for his mixing work on Mary J. Blige鈥檚 鈥淕ood Morning Gorgeous.鈥�
Ghenea was born in Romania before he moved to Canada as a youngster, going on to build his name in the music industry, where he鈥檚 scored 19 Grammy wins over his career.
N茅zet-S茅guin鈥檚 nominations include best classical compendium for 鈥淎 Concert For Ukraine,鈥� and two in the opera recording category 鈥� for 鈥淎ucoin: Eurydice鈥� and 鈥淏lanchard: Fire Shut Up in My Bones.鈥�
Other big nominees this year included Toronto producer Boi-1da, born Matthew Samuels, who trailed closely behind with four nominations, including two in the album of the year category for Beyonc茅鈥檚 鈥淩enaissance鈥� and Kendrick Lamar鈥檚 鈥淢r. Morale & The Big Steppers.鈥�
The hitmaker, who built his name crafting songs with Eminem, Drake and Kardinal Offishall, also earned nods for producer of the year, non-classical, and best rap song for work on 鈥淐hurchill Downs鈥� by Jack Harlow.
Drake pulled in three nods, even though he鈥檚 boycotted the Grammys in recent years by not submitting his own work. He still managed to pick up a mention in the album of the year category for his contributions to the song 鈥淗eated鈥� on Beyonc茅鈥檚 nominated album.
The Toronto rapper also held two nominations for best rap song, one which he shared with Samuels for Harlow鈥檚 track and another for his appearance on Future鈥檚 single 鈥淲ait For U.鈥�
Four-time Grammy winner Michael Bubl茅鈥檚 latest effort 鈥淗igher鈥� is among contenders for traditional pop vocal album, while DJ and producer Kaytranada鈥檚 鈥淚ntimidated,鈥� featuring H.E.R., is up for dance/electronic recording. The rising Montreal star, who recently opened for the Weeknd, already holds two Grammy wins from 2021.
And Bryan Adams pocketed a nomination for 鈥淪o Happy It Hurts鈥� in the best rock performance category.
Arcade Fire鈥檚 鈥淲e鈥� landed recognition for best alternative music album, a vote of support from the music industry at a troubled time for the Montreal band as they push forward with a tour. Lead singer Win Butler is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that he has denied, saying all encounters took place between consenting adults.
Winnipeg-born mixing engineer Jesse Ray Ernster is in the running in the record of the year category for his work on Doja Cat鈥檚 鈥淲oman.鈥�
In the album of the year category, Adele鈥檚 nominated 鈥�30鈥� includes mixers Ghenea and Shawn Everett from Bragg Creek, Alta., as well as Vancouver producer Tobias Jesso Jr.
Meanwhile, Adele鈥檚 鈥淓asy On Me鈥� gave prolific Montreal film director Xavier Dolan and Quebec producer Nancy Grant nominations for best music video.
Allison Russell from Montreal has been nominated for best American roots performance for her contributions to 鈥淧rodigal Daughter,鈥� alongside Aoife O鈥橠onovan.
In the best music film category, Justin Bieber grabbed a nomination alongside the team behind his 鈥淥ur World鈥� feature-length concert film, while Neil Young became a contender for 鈥淎 Band A Brotherhood A Barn,鈥� a documentary that traces the recording of the Neil Young & Crazy Horse album 鈥淏arn.鈥�
And the creators who put together a project celebrating late legendary Toronto pianist Glenn Gould earned Grammy recognition. 鈥淭he Goldberg Variations - The Complete Unreleased 1981 Studio Sessions鈥� is up for best historical album.
The 65th Grammy Awards will hosted by Trevor Noah and broadcast Feb. 5 on Citytv and CBS.
鈥擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press
