Mustafa, Ariane Roy Win Slaight Music's Emerging Songwriter Award
Presented by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, the prestigious Award honours one emerging Anglophone and Francophone songwriter annually. Pictured: Mustafa (l) and Ariane Roy.
By FYI Staff
Mustafa and Ariane Roy have been named winners of the 2021 Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter Award, presented by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Established in 2017, the Award honours Canadian songwriters in their early career. One Anglophone and one Francophone winner are determined by a music industry jury. In addition to receiving a cash prize and access to songwriting camps, the winners will attend the SOCAN Awards in Toronto next spring.
Toronto-based poet and recording artist Mustafa released his debut album When Smoke Rises in May 2021 and it is shortlisted for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize. The Quebec City-based Ariane Roy was nominated in the pop EP category of the GAMIQ Awards for her 2020 debut release Avalanche, and one of her compositions reached the finals of the Prix de la chanson SOCAN 2021.
Past winners of the Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter Award include Lowell (Anglophone), Les Louanges (Francophone), Jessie Reyez (Anglophone) and Charlotte Cardin (Francophone).
Dua Lipa at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on September 1, 2025. Tom Pandi/Scotiabank Arena 
Dua Lipa at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on September 1, 2025. Tom Pandi/Scotiabank Arena