ECMAs end on high note, with a dozen more awards for N.L. musicians

The East Coast Music Awards has come and gone, and some Newfoundland and Labrador musicians are walking away with new trophies and memories.

Brazilian duo Ana and Eric, based in St. John's, opened the event's second awards show with a gentle acoustic performance Sunday morning. Eighteen music awards and six industry awards were given out, in addition to honorary awards.

Twelve of Sunday's winners are from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Heather Feather took home the prize for children's artist of the year. She said in a speech that her "world fell apart" when she became disabled, but she was able to lean on the music community.

"All of a sudden, everyone just rallied closer," she said.

Dance release of the year went to 17-year-old Summer Bennett.

"Even being nominated is crazy," Bennett said.

The 2024 CBC Searchlight Top Teen promised she wouldn't cry on stage, despite the surprise.

"It's really special," she said. "I started writing music at six years old. Trying to write pop music is, of course, very different from anything else." 

Celebrating the win in her home province — where dance music isn't the most popular genre — made the moment even more meaningful, said Bennett. 

Some tears were shed in the audience as the honorary musicians' achievement award went to the late Chris Ryan, who died unexpectedly in October.

Ryan was the kind of person who would support a fellow musician in a heartbeat, said his partner Amber Miller, who accepted the award.

"He opened for festivals at a moment's notice, most recently cancelling his own birthday party so he could play guitar for another musician so they could be in the spotlight," said Miller.

Nearly every person in the room stood to give applause when Miller walked off stage. 

The show-stopping moments continued when experimental hardcore band The Order of the Precious Blood took the time to dedicate their award to the music scene they came from.

The five-piece group, fronted by Paul Brake, won loud release of the year.

"A band like us doesn't exist in a vacuum," Brake said to the audience. "There's such a rich culture of this kind of music on the east coast."

Brake riddled the names of dozens of bands from Newfoundland and Labrador and other Atlantic Canadian provinces, adding that his band's award belongs to all of them.

In an interview after the event, the vocalist said he wanted to use his platform to lift up artists who feel as though they aren't recognized in the larger music industry.

"We want to make sure that … their names are heard in rooms that they wouldn't get spoken in otherwise," said Brake. "Once you get playing and you find your voice, the sky's the limit."

The remaining Newfoundland and Labrador winners from Sunday are:

• Ana Luísa Ramos, global music release of the year,

• Mark Fewer, instrumental release of the year,

• Quote the Raven, roots release of the year,

• Hurricane Music, artist management of the year,

• Jud Haynes, content creator of the year,

• Zach Snow, media person of the year,

• Wade Pinhorn, industry builder honorary award,

• and Korona Brophy, Stompin' Tom honorary award.

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