Celebrating Music in Durham Region, the 4th annual Oshawa Music Awards will be taking place over three separate weekends this year, September 9, 16, and 23.

Spanning seven award categories — including Durham Song of the Year, Emerging Artist or Band of the Year, Album of the Year, and more — public voting for nominees has officially begun via Theomas. and closes on August 20th at 11:59 p.m. EST.

This year’s recipients of OMA’s Music Industry Leader and Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame honours were also revealed; Artemis Chartier will receive the 2021 honour of Music Industry Leader of the Year, and Ivan Berry — alongside the late Al Cole and the late Andy Gondek — will receive Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame nods.

“The OMAs are excited to officially reveal the names of our nominees,” says co-director, Julius Allan Rondilla. “The Durham Region is front row to so many incredibly talented candidates; our arts scene is home to some of the nation’s best!”

// 2021 Official Nominees & Recipients

Artist or Band of the Year — Presented by 360 Insights
Crown Lands (Context: Fearless Pt. I)
Judgement (Define Alive)
Lindsay Schoolcraft (World’s Away)

Single of the Year
Crown Lands (Context: Fearless Pt. I)
Hunter Sheridan (To You, My Friend)
Valdii (The Mirror)

Songwriter of the Year — Presented by Trent University Durham GTA
Judgement w/ Evangelos Aivaliotis, Riley Robertson, James Hack, Cameron Smith (Terra Firma, November, Define Alive)
Tania Joy (Planks and Marietta, The Drought)
The Rockin Krolik (More Than Enough)

Music Video of the Year
Dead Defined w/ Director Luke Camozzi (Lifeline)
Gal George Gjurin w/ Director Gal George Gjurin (Secret)
Judgement w/ Director Roberto Spadafora (Define Alive)

Emerging Artist or Band of the Year
NERiMA (Home)
Hollowsage & the Three Mile Islanders (Nuclear Home)
Nothing Special (Brandi)

Album of the Year
Crown Lands (Crown Lands)
Hollowsage & the Three Mile Islanders (Nuclear Home)
Hunter Sheridan (Life Is a Dream)

Durham Song of the Year
Daniel Raymond (115)
Gal George Gjurin (I Don’t Want to Meet You In Heaven)
Tania Joy (Planks and Marietta)

The nomination list was made public via a broadcast hosted by Canadian folk singer/songwriter Tania Joy, who received two nominations of her own. “The Drought” and “Planks and Marietta” were recognized in her nomination for Songwriter of the Year, and “Planks and Marietta” received a nod for Durham Song of the Year.

Based in Uxbridge, Tania Joy is proud to call Durham home, having hosted an open mic night at local pub, Col. McGrady’s, for nearly a decade. Performance credits include the likes of Serena Ryder, The Weeknd’s original backing band, and more, She is a multi-talented artist with a forthcoming new sophomore EP slated for this fall. Among her recently released singles are “The Drought,” a moseying country-soul musing on the loss of love, “Who I Am,” a rootsy anthem embracing unspoken fears, and “Planks and Mairetta,” an acoustic, reflective protest song, with all proceeds directed towards Black Lives Matter.

Launched in 2018, previous Oshawa Music Awards’ recipients include Shawn Mendes, Crown Lands, Zaftig, Skye Wallace, Mogens Galberg, and more.

About the Author

Bryen writes about local Durham community news, including regional events, municipality updates, entertainment, lifestyle, and the great outdoors. Email him directly if you want your business profiled or know a community member that deserves recognition - bryen@thelocalbizmagazine.com