April 2026 Newsletter

THE FOUNDATION ASSISTING CANADIAN TALENT ON RECORDINGS

• ARTIST PROGRAM DEADLINES
• JUNO AWARD
• WINNERS
• ARTIST
• SPOTLIGHTS
• FACTOR-FUNDED
• FRIDAY PLAYLIST
• POCKET GUIDE

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au gouvernement du Canada.

SPRING 2026

Canada

We're happy announce the Artist lane program updates for 2026-2027 below.

Click on the program name to be led to the program page on our website.

See all details on Artist lane programs for 2026-2027 at factor.ca

• PROGRAM
• ARTIST
• DEVELOPMENT
• JURIED SOUND
• RECORDING:
• SINGLE/EP
• ARTIST
• ENTREPRENEUR
• JURIED SOUND
• RECORDING:
• ALBUM
• OPENS
• APRIL 7, 2026
• APRIL 14, 2026
• JUNE 16, 2026
• JULY 23, 2026
• DEADLINE
• MAY 7, 2026
• MAY 14, 2026
• JULY 23, 2026
• SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR Laura Anglade

ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR &

CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR Aysanabee

ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR Begonia

CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR Mariel Buckley

REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR Naomi Cowan

METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR DESPISED ICON

TRADITIONAL R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR Melanie Fiona

DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR Debby Friday

GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR Kazdoura

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR Ryan Ofei

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR Aaron Paris

GROUP OF THE YEAR & ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR The Beaches

RAP SINGLE OF THE YEAR TOBI, Saukrates & Jully Black

TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR Morgan Toney

JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (GROUP) Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

FACTOR FUNDED

Photo Credits: O'Shane Howard, CARAS: Steph Montani, John Butler

ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS

GeminiCrab is the name of the Montreal-based HighSoul music duo consisting of Felix award winner keyboardist/producer Caulder Nash

(Jonathan Roy) and 3 time Grammy nominee vocalist/producer Malika Tirolien (Bokanté). GeminiCrab combines a plethora of music styles including R&B, Soul and jazz-Hip Hop highlighted by honest lyrics from a Gen Y Lens (the title of their album).

They playfully reflect on several eras of music through 7 catchy songs about love, adulting and the multi-faceted realities of millennials.

"We showcased at The Great Escape Brighton and performed at the JazzCafé London in May; shortly thereafter we were selected as official artists at the Montreal International JazzFestival, and were seen by key decision makers, festivals etc. We toured twice to Europe including the Copenhagen and Sarajevo JazzFestivals and coming up at The New Morning in Paris. Finally, we are planning a big JazzFestival tour in Canada this June/July and USA in Sept. 2026 including Monterey JazzFest."

https://geminicrab.com

"Over the past year, I've been developing my upcoming project Still In My Room, an album that blends alternative pop and contemporary R&B with intimate storytelling. The project came from a period of solitude where I stepped away from many of the expectations, people, and paths I had spent much of my life chasing.

The songs on Still In My Room carry everything that space held for me; the fears I never said out loud, the small wins that felt bigger than they appeared, the tears, the dreams, and the moments of clarity that reminded me I was exactly where I needed to be. It's an unfiltered project, built from late-night writing sessions and honest reflection.

Recent releases from the project, including Glass Closets, have begun introducing listeners to this world. Upcoming singles, "Selah" and "Take Your Bags," will continue expanding the story over the coming months as the project unfolds.

Support from FACTOR has been instrumental in helping me bring this work to life. The funding allowed me to invest in recording, production, marketing and the rollout of these releases, giving the music the space and care it deserved as I continue sharing this chapter of my artistry."

• #FACTORFUNDED PLAYLIST
• #FACTORFundedFriday
• Haviah Mighty
• Sheare
• Jonah Yano
• PLAY HERE
• BREATHE
• Kasablanca

THE FOUNDATION ASSISTING CANADIAN TALENT ON RECORDINGS

• TRANSISTOR
• View the NEW 2026-2027
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