Music Insights
CBC MUSIC SEARCHLIGHT: THE WINNERS
2023 Searchlight is CBC Music’s long-running hunt for Canada’s undiscovered musical talent. Thousands of submissions have come in and the judges have revealed the winners!
We’ve provided our expertise to host and develop the entry form and judging tools, but more importantly we’re providing prizes for both the Grand Prize and secondary category prizes to help boost their careers.
Grand Prize Winner:
Mattmac from Winnipeg with “Rez (Remix)”
Meet Mattmac, the blind Oji-Cree artist who writes, raps and produces his own music
Mattmac just scored a sweet set of prizes including a recording residency at The National Music Centre in Calgary, a spot in the Allan Slaight Juno Masterclass program, fresh new gear from Long & McQuade, and a Yangaroo Music promotional servicing package for both a single and video including all the bells and whistles. We’re excited to work with Mattmac to provide exposure to new audiences via radio and TV broadcasters, industry VIPs and tastemakers.
Outstanding country artist: Rosewood Ave from Matheson, Ont., with “Good Ole Days”
The husband-and-wife duo of Dave and Sabrina Sauve make up Rosewood Ave, which was nominated for group or duo of the year at the 2023 CMAOntario Awards.
Outstanding Indigenous artist: Miesha & the Spanks from Calgary with ‘Dig Me Out’
Miesha Louie, a mixed-Secwépemc artist living in Treaty 7 territory, and percussionist Sean Adams form this guitar-driven duo, which has supported bands including Queens of the Stone Age and Death From Above 1979.
Top teen: Luna Elle from Mississauga, Ont., with “Tempo“
Luna Elle is an 18-year-old R&B singer who released her debut EP, L.O.V.E, last year. She has also been selected for the RBCxMusic First Up roster, and has been working with Yangaroo Music as part of our participation in this excellent program that works to elevate the careers of talented up and coming recording artists.
Songwriting prize winner: Encore from Winnipeg with ‘Done’
Brothers Donald and Richard Plant front the pop-rock duo Encore, and the two have been releasing music since they were in high school.
Congratulations to the winners, the finalists, the entrants, and CBC Music for using their searchlight to illuminate these incredibly talented Canadian recording artists.