TORONTO, ON - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music and produced by Blue Ant Media, released its second collaboration session today. The session features historic pairing of 2015 Polaris winner Buffy Stephen and 2014 winner Tanya Tagaq working together for the first time. The recording of Buffy's song "You Got To Run" is now available via Stingray Music and YouTube.

The Polaris Collaboration Session is to get two Polaris Nominees together to create a whole new piece of music. "You Got To Run" (Spirit Of The Wind) "can be heard from the following Stingray Music and Vibe channels on TV, web and mobile: Canadian Indie, Canadian Indie, And Stingray's Hall of Fame Picks.

Jon Levine (Nelly Furtado, K'naan, Drake). The song was recorded in fall 2016 at Orange Lounge in Toronto. It was mixed by Howie Beck (Feist, Hannah Georgas, Jason Collett).

Written by Ste-Marie, the song was inspired by champion dogsled racer George Attla, who competed in the first-ever Iditarod dog sled race in 1973 and was the subject of the 1979 movie, Spirit Of The Wind.

Tagaq and Ste-Marie hope the message of "You Got To Run" (Spirit Of The Wind) "It reminded me of growing up in Nunavut," Tagaq explains. "Sometimes when things get difficult you have to pick yourself up, you can not let things bring you down. You could take an anti-suicide message. I really appreciate its powerful lyrics. " 

Sainte-Marie would like to be a candidate for political candidates. "There are very important things going on in Indian country right now. This is a song, "said Sainte-Marie.

An in-the-studio performance video of "You Got To Run (Spirit Of The Wind)" is available at the Polaris Music Prize YouTube channel. Episode Five of the Polaris Podcast features an in-depth interview with Stephen and Tagaq. A free digital download and a separate vinyl release of the song will be coming at a later date.

Assassination: 
"You Got To Run" (Spirit Of The Wind) Video - YouTube link
"You Got To Run" - JPG image
Polaris Podcast Episode 5: The Buffy Stephen & Tanya Tagaq Collaboration Session - Soundcloud Link

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters.

We acknowledge the OMDC for their continued support of the Polaris Music Prize.

About the Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit organization that annually honors and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics judge and award the Prize without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity.

About Stingray
Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B) is a leading business-to-business multi-platform music and in-store media solutions provider operating on a global scale, reaching an estimated 400 million pay TV subscribers ) In 152 countries. Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray Music, Stingray , And Classica. Stingray also offers various business solutions, including music and digital display-based solutions, through its Stingray Business division. Stingray is headquartered in Montreal and currently has close to 350 employees worldwide, including in the United States, The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Israel, Australia and South Korea. Stingray was recognized in 2013 and 2014 as a finalist in the Top 50 of Deloitte's Technology Fast 50TM list, and figures amongst PROFIT magazine's fastest-growing Canadian companies. In 2016, Stingray was awarded best IR for an IPO at the IR Magazine Awards - Canada. For more information, please visit www.stingray.com

About Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada's national public arts funder. We champion and invest in artistic excellence so that Canadians can enjoy and participate in a rich cultural life. In 2015-16 we allocated $ 157.4 million towards artistic creation and innovation through our grants, prizes and payments. We also conduct research, agree to activities and work with partners to advance the sector and help embed the arts more deeply in communities across the country. Canadacouncil.ca

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Media Contacts: 
Polaris Music Prize Media:
Amanda McCauley - Indoor Recess 
(905) 926-6440 
amanda@indoorrecess.com

Polaris Music Prize Media (Quebec):
Magali Ould 
(514) 994-6295 
magali@polarismusicprize.ca 

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BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE AND TANYA TAGAQ TEAM ON A POLARIS COLLABORATION SESSION

Toronto, ON - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music and produced by Blue Ant Media, released its second Collaborative Session today. In a historic twinning, the session features a very first collaboration between Buffy Sainte-Marie, recipient of the Polaris in 2015, and Tanya Tagaq, winner of the Polaris in 2014. Their recording of the song "You Got To Run (Spirit Of The Wind) "From Buffy is available via YouTube and Soundcloud.

Presented by Stingray Music with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Polaris Collaborative Sessions will bring together two Polaris nominees to create a brand new piece of music. The previous Polaris resumed session consisted of Shad and Holy Fuck under the pseudonym Holy Shad. They recorded "The Legend Of Cy Borg", a 7 "vinyl with two songs.

The song was recorded in the fall of 2016 at the Orange Lounge in Toronto with director Jon Levine (Nelly Furtado, K'naan, Drake). She was mixed by Howie Beck (Feist, Hannah Georgas, Jason Collett).

Written by Sainte-Marie, the song is inspired by sled dog runner George Attla, who participated in the first Iditarod sled dog race in 1973 and was the subject of the movie Spirit Of The Wind (1979) .

Tagaq and Sainte-Marie hope that the message of "You Got To Run" will be able to reach listeners in many inspiring ways. It reminded me of my childhood in Nunavut , "says Tagaq. Sometimes, when things get complicated, you have to pull yourself together. We must not let these things depress us.It's sort of an anti-suicide message. I really appreciate the powerful lyrics of the song .

Sainte-Marie would not be opposed to the idea that political candidates use it as a theme song. There are many important cases occurring in Indian territory at this time. This is a song that I would like to offer to any of our Aboriginal candidates, who are actually - and ultimately - able to make a big difference , "said St. Mary.

A film-based performance of "You Got To Run" is available on the YouTube channel of the Polaris Music Prize. The song is also available for listening and downloading on the SoundCloud page of the Polaris Music Prize. The recent fifth episode of the Polaris Podcast offers an in-depth interview with Ste-Marie and Tagaq, during which they discuss the creation of the song. A vinyl of the song will be available a little later.

Material: 
Video of "You Got To Run (Spirit Of The Wind)" - Link YouTube 
Image JPG of "You Got To Run (Spirit Of The Wind)" 
Episode 5 of Polaris Podcast Podcast: The Session Collaboration Buffy Sainte Marie & Tanya Tagaq - Soundcloud link

We recognize the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and private broadcasters in Canada.

We recognize the continued support of the OMDC for the Polaris Music Prize.

About the Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a non-profit organization that annually honors and rewards artists who have created renowned Canadian music albums. A selected group of music critics judge and award the Award regardless of musical genre or commercial popularity.

About Stingray
Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B) is a leading provider of multi-platform music services and multi-media business-to-business multi-media solutions that operate globally. It reaches about 400 million pay television subscribers (or households) in 152 countries. Stingray Music, Stingray iConcerts, Stingray Concerts, Stingray Brava, Stingray Djazz, Stingray Music Video, Stingray Lite TV, Stingray Ambiance, Stingray Karaoke, Festival 4K and Classica. Stingray also offers a variety of business solutions, including music and digital signage products through its Stingray Business division. Stingray is headquartered in Montreal and currently employs approximately 350 people worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Israel, Australia and Korea. South. Stingray was a finalist in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 ™ in 2013 and 2014 and was named one of the fastest growing Canadian companies by PROFIT magazine. In 2016, Stingray won top honors in the "Best Investor Relations in an Initial Public Offering" category at IR Magazine Canada's awards ceremony. For more information, visit www.stingray.com France, Israel, Australia and South Korea. Stingray was a finalist in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 ™ in 2013 and 2014 and was named one of the fastest growing Canadian companies by PROFIT magazine. In 2016, Stingray won top honors in the "Best Investor Relations in an Initial Public Offering" category at IR Magazine Canada's awards ceremony. For more information, visit www.stingray.com France, Israel, Australia and South Korea. Stingray was a finalist in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 ™ in 2013 and 2014 and was named one of the fastest growing Canadian companies by PROFIT magazine. In 2016, Stingray won top honors in the "Best Investor Relations in an Initial Public Offering" category at the IR Magazine Canada Awards Ceremony. For more information, visit www.stingray.com Stingray won top honors in the category of "Best Investor Relations at an Initial Public Offering" as part of the IR Magazine Canada Awards Ceremony. For more information, visit www.stingray.com Stingray won top honors in the category of "Best Investor Relations at an Initial Public Offering" as part of the IR Magazine Canada Awards Ceremony. For more information, visit www.stingray.com

About the Canada
Council for the Arts The Canada Council for the Arts is the national public arts support organization. We defend and invest in artistic excellence so that Canadians can enjoy and participate in a rich cultural life. In 2015-16, we allocated $ 157.4 million to artistic creation and innovation through our grants, awards and payments. We also do research, organize activities and work with partners to move the sector forward and help the arts become more deeply rooted in communities across the country. Canadacouncil.ca

Media contacts: 
Québec
Magali Ould 
(514) 994-6295 magali@polarismusicprize.ca

Canada
Amanda McCauley 
Indoor Recess 
(905) 926-6440 amanda@indoorrecess.com