The first Joséphine des Artistes prize was awarded to the singer November Ultra by the president of the jury, Keren Ann, at the end of an evening which allowed the ten winners of the prize list to express themselves on the radio. FIP.
In all, 315 albums competed, among which a first selection of 40, made by specialized journalists, had passed the first barrier.
The ten finalists were decided by a jury made up of artists, sound engineers and music professionals, chaired by singer-songwriter Keren Ann.
Within this selection, highlighted since the spring, the albums of artists as varied as Orelsan, Malik Djoudi or Laurent Bardaine, among others.
It was finally the singer November Ultra, 33, whose first album
Bedroom Walls
was released in April, who won the votes of the jury, after a long collective deliberation.
It is to Christophe Palatre and Frédéric Junqua, two veterans of the music industry, that we owe the creation of this new prize, a French version of the British Mercury Prize.
“We are very happy with the prize list,
explain the two men at the award ceremony.
This one, which brings together song, rap, contemporary and jazz, crowns the hybridization of musical genres and famous musicians who are also smugglers and researchers.
As such, the pop of November Ultra meets the specifications set by the creators of the prize.
Before signing a first album under his name, November UItra knew the collective experience of the group, and also worked on collaborations with others.
The president of the jury, Keren Ann, told us how happy she was to have worked with people who know music to listen to it all day long.
“This award allows us to measure the richness of French musical production today,” she explains.
“An album is also the work of a team, the choice of good collaborators, and the ability to manage and delegate.
I agreed to be the president of the jury for this prize because it crowns daring choices, and could become the equivalent of the Goncourt prize for music.
