So, What’s It Like to Win a JUNO?

Since the first JUNOs in 1970 (then known as the Golden Leaf Awards), Hamilton has had its share of nominees and winners. With The JUNOs returning to the city this year, it made sense to ask our hometown talent: What, exactly, is it like to win a JUNO?

We talked to a cross-section of artists, known for a variety of genres, and asked them what The JUNOs meant to them and to the Canadian music scene.

Max Kerman

Lead Singer, Arkells, Hamilton

What has it meant to win nine JUNOs?

I’ve learned that, as an artist, a little encouragement goes a long way. Sometimes it’s showing a friend a new song, and hearing what they think. And sometimes it comes in the form of a JUNO Award. Something that offers a bit of confidence to keep creating bold, imaginative things.

How did winning a JUNO Award affect the band or the band’s career?

The first one quelled our parents’ nerves a bit, who were worried about their sons on tour for 200 days a year. It was also reaffirming to our fans who believed in us at the earliest shows. As an artist, any good news helps!

Why is it important for Canada to recognize its artists? Or is it?

It’s easy to celebrate the big, iconic artists, but it’s seldom that we recognize the ecosystem that allows artists to flourish. Canada’s a vast place, and organizing an event like this is a huge undertaking. But I’m glad it exists, because a Canada without it is poorer.

Steven Pitkin

Drummer, Elliott BROOD, Hamilton

What did it mean to win a JUNO in 2013 for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year?

For the band, I think the feeling was one of validation. An “official” acknowledgement of your efforts in the field. You kind of win by just being nominated, but the actual hardware makes a big difference to the psyche. Mine is still proudly on my mantle.

How did winning a JUNO Award affect your career?

Adding “JUNO Winner” to our self-promotion never gets old. The win has probably also awarded us some longevity in the business, not to mention the hope that it can happen again!

Derek Miller

Singer and Songwriter, Six Nations

What did winning your first JUNO Award in 2003 for Aboriginal Recording of the Year mean to you?

Winning a JUNO Award helped me tremendously in validating to others my insane belief that I could make a living as a singer/songwriter. I did what I had to do to get an album out that represented my artistic vision. And to have that vision awarded with a JUNO by my peers really helped get me going on my artistic path.

Other than the moment they announced your name, what is your favourite JUNO memory?

Honestly, helping Manitou Mkwa Singers produce their JUNO-nominated song “Me And You” is a great memory because I built my recording studio and home on The Six Nations Of The Grand River specifically to become a cultural hub and a creative lighthouse, supporting community-based creative projects reclaiming sound, story, and sovereignty in the arts. Hearing that they got nominated with the help of my label Silverheels Records, made me feel so proud.

Steve Strongman

Blues Singer and Guitarist, Hamilton

What did it mean to win a JUNO for Blues Recording in 2013?

I don’t think any artist sets out to win awards, but when it happened, it truly was an incredible honour. I started out playing bars and clubs in my teens, and to reach the pinnacle of Canadian music is something I am so proud of.

How did winning a JUNO Award affect your career?

I feel like in some ways it added a legitimacy factor to my career, and people started to take notice in a different way, especially within the industry. It also gave me some momentum personally, and I felt that the music I was creating was being noticed.

Do you feel The JUNO Awards have changed with the times?

Yes, I think any awards show has to change with the times in order to have continued success, and The JUNOs have done that, though perhaps the pendulum has swung a little far towards pop music culture. It’s not an easy task to try and represent Canadian music in its entirety and cover all the bases, but The JUNOs have done the best job possible.

Diana Panton

Jazz Vocalist, Hamilton

What did it mean to win your first JUNO for Vocal Jazz Album in 2015?

It was a special honour to have our trio’s creative endeavours recognized on a national level. Since our first JUNO win happened when the event was hosted in Hamilton, it also felt good to represent my city.