The Fast Romantics have won the annual SOCAN songwriting prize for their song “Julia.”
The shimmery, summery single was easily one of the catchiest rock songs released in Canada last year, and we named it as one of our picks for 2015's song of the summer. The song was accompanied by an equally as infectious video featuring footage of the band performing while the late, great Fred Astaire dances on the ceiling around them.
The SOCAN prize, now in it’s 11th year, comes with a $10,000 cheque and gear from Yamaha Music Canada. The winner was chosen by an industry panel, whose members voted on a short list of 10 nominees, which you can read in full below.
“I'm surprised and thrilled to hear we've won this prize, and beyond honoured to have been included alongside so many spectacular Canadian songwriters,” said Matthew Angus, the Fast Romantics frontman and songwriter behind “Julia.”
The SOCAN prize was introduced in 2006, with Propagandhi winning the inaugural prize for their song “A Speculative Fiction.”
The other nine songs nominated in the English category were:
“Black Body,” Spek Won feat. Shi Wisdom
“Dead or Alive,” Jazz Cartier
“Desire,” Dilly Dally
“How Could You Babe,” Tobias Jesso Jr.
“No Hurry,” Terra Lightfoot
“Paradise,” Daniel Ceasar feat. BADBADNOTGOOD and Sean Leon
“Pen to Paper,” Modern Space
“Spirits,” The Strumbellas
“Wendell Walker,” Andy Shauf
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