This year, Alexandra Stréliski and Daniel Bélanger were the big winners at the 45th edition of the ADISQ gala. Kanen, for her part, opened minds and made history. In an atmosphere of celebration, Ic3y Mag attended the festivities, which have been crowning the French-speaking Quebec music industry for 45 years.
Among the artists featured by Ic3y Mag, instrumental artist Alexandra Stréliski stood out with her 'Neo-Romance' project. She won Female Artist of the Year and the International Outreach prize. On Sunday and Wednesday at the First ADISQ Gala, she was also the winner of Instrumental Album of the Year.
“What’s special about instrumental music is that the listeners decide what the story is, leaving a lot of room for interpretation. I find that beautiful because it's up to the listener to interpret their own ideas. I feel at the service of that. The transfer of emotion is the most beautiful thing I do,” she expressed a few hours before winning her first trophy.
Kanen, Face of Indigenous Music in 2023
While Shauit won Album of the Year – Indigenous Language for his album 'Natukun', it was Kanen who most captivated the Academy with two Félixes (Revelation of the Year and Indigenous Artist of the Year). The Innu artist released her first opus 'Mitshuap' last April under the Musique Nomade label. She also thanked her French-speaking counterparts for continuing to sing in their language, while urging commercial radio stations to 'play more indigenous music' in their broadcasts—a message also conveyed by Maten during the First ADISQ Gala. The gala showcased this community, which has been overlooked since ADISQ's inception in 1978. Matiu, Maten, Shauit, and Kanen all performed on one of the two evenings.
Ariane Roy continues her rise
Amid her new tour 'Le Roy, la Rose et le Lou (P)', Ariane Roy won the Video of the Year award, outperforming Lost, Fouki, Dumas, and Jean-Michel Blais. The artist, signed with La Maison Fauve record label, invited director Franie-Éléonore Bernier on stage to collect the trophy for the 'Kundah' music video.
She also performed this song at the first gala on Wednesday, electrifying the MTelus crowd and Télé-Québec viewers. This marks the second Félix for the singer in her budding career, following her Revelation of the Year win in 2022.
“Being named Revelation of the Year was already a big deal for me. But to be nominated again is flattering. It’s always rewarding to receive recognition for a significant prize,” she shared in an interview with Ic3y Mag.
Among other artists spotlighted by Ic3y Mag, Jean-Michel Blais won the award for Lighting and Projection Design of the Year."