Basia Bulat (Ontario)

Singer-songwriter Basia Bulat came seemingly out of nowhere to become one of the most talked about new artists in both Canada and the United Kingdom when she released her first full-length album, the Polaris Prize nominated Oh, My Darling, in 2007. Bulat’s rich, “demerara” voice and evocative songs, dealing with love and life with a combination of sadness and wonder, caught people’s attention – along with what was called her “chamber-pop” sound.

She toured across Canada, the US, Europe, and Australia, and in 2010 released her second album, Heart of My Own. This is when we began to recognize her as a national treasure. Bulat was invited to participate in two sacred Canadian events: an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada in December of 2011, and in mid-2012, singing the national anthem at an Ottawa Senators baseball game.

In October of 2013, she issued her third album, Tall Tall Shadow, which garnered a 2014 Juno Award nomination in the Adult Alternative Album of the Year category, and was shortlisted for a 2014 Polaris Music Prize. Throughout, this is an artist who challenges herself, no laurel-resting here, and remains honest and true to her voice and vision. Her talents continue to grow, her sound evolve, her powerhouse voice stronger – and we’re fortunate to be able to check on this astonishing artist’s journey.