The contenders for Canada’s biggest musical honour are in. At a Nova Scotia-style kitchen party media conference in Toronto, The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CTV announced the nominations for The 2006 JUNO Awards, Canada’s Music Awards. Culminating in a two-hour telecast on CTV on Sunday, April 2, The 2006 JUNO Awards will be celebrated over three days in Halifax, Nova Scotia beginning March 31.

One of the 39 categories will be for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year. And the nominees are:

• Amanda Falk – Amanda Falk


• Livin’ for Something – Janelle


• mmhmm – Relient K


• In This Time – Patricia Shirley


• The Art of Breaking – Thousand Foot Krutch

Amanda Falk

Over the past 2 years, Winnipeg based singer/songwriter Amanda Falk has toured throughout Canada with artists Starfield, Jill Paquette, Jaylene Johnson and Jon Buller. Her self-titled full-length debut project gives the listener a glimpse into the last few years of Amanda’s life. The realness and the rawness of each song raises questions and yet at the same time solidifies her faith.

An accomplished musician, Amanda earned her performer’s ARCT in piano at age 18. Now age 21, she has launched a debut album with Avanté Records in Winnipeg, won a national songwriting competition through HOT 103 FM, was named New Artist of the Year at the 2005 SHAI Awards, nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award (WCMA) for Outstanding Christian Recording of the Year, and most recently Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2005 Covenant Awards.

Janelle

Janelle’s sophomore release Livin’ for Something explodes with intense pop rock grooves, high energy vocals and memorable melodies. Aimed at the global youth market, it deals with everyday life and faith issues that arise deep within the human soul. The project was produced by Stephen J. Rendall (Jake, Starfield, Jill Paquette, Matt Brouwer) and David Browning (Katy Hudson, JUMP5, Aurora).

Based out of Legal, AB, Janelle began her singing career at an early age. By age 14, Janelle had become the lead singer with a contemporary Christian band, hosting evenings in Edmonton, Alberta that regularly attracted 300-600 youth. She has had the honour of performing the theme song for the world’s largest ongoing event, World Youth Day, in 2003 and sang for Queen Elizabeth II on her Canadian visit.

In 2003, Janelle, was recognized as Best New Artist of the Year at the 2003 Vibe/Shai Awards while her debut release, New Day, received a 2003 Canadian Gospel Music Covenant Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.

Relient K

The name Relient K has always been synonymous with some of the most contagious power pop/punk rock, tongue in cheek songwriting and all the feel good fun anyone could ever ask for. Their latest offering mmhmm is no exception demonstrating yet another ingredient upon the group’s reliable recipe.

Songs written by St. Catharines, ON born and Relient K singer/guitarist Matt Thiessen turned to the basic root of his personality, a combination of satire and seriousness that runs the gamut between relationships, geography, faith and the weather. The music blurs the lines between the post hardcore, post punk and peak emo movements, making Relient K’s original output level especially attention grabbing. The project was produced by Mark Townsend and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge (U2, The Rolling Stones, Oasis) and J.R. McNeely (UnderOath, Project 86, Demon Hunter).

mmhmm was nominated for a 2005 CGMA Covenant Award for Modern Rock Album of the Year, while the band was nominated for Artist of the Year and Group of the Year. The first single, Be My Escape, was nominated for Song of the Year and won for Modern Rock Song of the Year.

Relient K’s “Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour” will be coming to Canada in late February. Check the YMZ Concert Listings for more details.

Patricia Shirley

26 year-old Toronto native Patricia Shirley has an incredible vocal ability. At age 11, she began singing in notable Canadian choirs. She went on to open for, or provide background vocals for, such artists as Hezekiah Walker, Take 6, Tramaine Hawkins, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Amanda Marshall, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Celine Dion, John P. Kee, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Dawkins & Dawkins and Keith Staten.

Her debut solo release, In This Time, a mix of contemporary Gospel, urban, and traditional styles and was nominated for a 2005 CGMA Covenant Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year. The album won Best Gospel Recording of the Year at the 2005 Canadian Urban Music Awards.

Thousand Foot Krutch

In the past few years, Toronto-based Thousand Foot Krutch broke through on active rock radio, shared the stage with today’s leading alt-rockers (Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, The Donnas, Switchfoot, etc.) and even created the first great sports anthem of the 21st century with 2003’s adrenaline-fuelled hit Rawkfist which has been heard everywhere from sports stadiums to commercials.

Their third full-length album, The Art Of Breaking, delivers straightforward aggressive, melodic rock ‘n’ roll. The project was produced by Arnold Lanni (Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan). At the 2005 CGMA Covenant Awards, Absolute, was nominated for Song of the Year and Modern Rock Song of the Year while The Art Of Breaking won Modern Rock Album of the Year. In addition, the group took home two of the night’s biggest honours, Group of the Year and Artist of the Year.

The band will be appearing with MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Kutless and Pillar at Summer Celebration at Paramount Canada’s Wonderland. Check the YMZ concert listingsfor more details.

All the nominated albums are currently available at Canadian Christian retailers nationwide.

The winners will be announced during the Juno celebration in Halifax. The 2006 JUNO Awards, Canada’s Music Awards, will be broadcast in High-Definition and 5.1 Surround Sound on CTV on Sunday, April 2 from the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, NS.

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