Walk Of Fame Initiative Names Dancehall Duo Allydice As Grand Winner

By External Source

Canadian-Jamaican dancehall sibling sister act Allydice is the grand prize winner of this year’s Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musicians Program.

As the Grand Prize winner, the duo will receive a cash prize of $20,000, private studio recording time at Metalworks Studios and other perks. Second prize winner Breagh Isabel from Halifax takes home a cash prize of $6,000, and the remaining three finalists each receive cash prizes of $4,000.

The Walk of Fame RBC program is considered to be one of Canada’s most successful initiatives supporting aspiring Canadian musical artists. The five winners receive a package of cash and benefits valued at more than $100,000.

For the first time in the program’s history, musicians from each province and territory entered for a chance to be a part of this program. Of the more than 1400 applicants, five acts will participate in this year’s development program. They are:

Grand Prize Winner: Allydice from Mississauga, Ontario

Second Prize Winner: Breagh Isabel from Halifax, Nova Scotia

Finalist: Maya Malkin of Montreal, Quebec

Finalist: Bold As Lions of Winnipeg, Manitoba

Finalist: Elijah Bekk of Faro, Yukon

Allydice, featuring identical twin sisters Kayle and Kayla Allydice, have been honing their craft for 13 years. They describe their original sound, inspired by reggae and dancehall, as music for the people. The duo is currently working on an EP set for release in the Fall of 2021. 

Also announced today, Ben Klick of West Kelowna, BC, is the recipient of the 2020 Canada’s Walk of Fame / Metalworks Institute Scholarship. Klick will receive $10,000 towards tuition of any full-time campus or online diploma program or online certificate course bundle at Metalworks Institute. The Institute offers a range of programs specializing in music performance, audio engineering, electronic music, live event and concert production, stage lighting and video, music business, music mixing and mastering and more. Each year, Metalworks invites past and current applicants of Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Program to apply for this scholarship. Klick is a 2016 finalist of the Program.

Commenting on the program, RBC VP Valerie Chort stated: “Our support of the RBC Emerging Musician Program is just one way we bring RBC’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper to life. Through this program, we are supporting Canadian musicians in their aspirations of bridging the gap between emerging and established.”

For their part, Allydice enthused: “Winning the grand prize for this program has reinforced our belief never to give up regardless of how many setbacks you may have. It reminds us that someone is always watching even when you think they aren’t. To be chosen as the winner gives us a great sense of pride and accomplishment and we are thankful to RBC as well as all the partners and judges at Canada’s Walk of Fame for listening to our message and receiving it wholeheartedly. With the prize money, we intend to reinvest into our music career through studio time, video production, and marketing.”

In turn, Jeffrey Latimer, CEO, Canada’s Walk of Fame stated that “It is such an honour and thrill to be working with incredible industry professionals who really care about the next generation of music in Canada. We are committed to not only giving new voices a chance to shine but are creating a network for them to thrive with confidence as they navigate and grow in this competitive and important career path.”