Manitoba Artists Poised for Top Honours at Covenant Awards

Manitoba artists are poised to bring home top honours at this year's Covenant Awards, which recognize Christian music in Canada. The Color, Barbara Joy, Jaylene Johnson, Messanjah, and more picked up multiple award nods, which will be handed out at the 40th annual gala on January 24. Manitoba-based artists landed over 30 nominations this year. 

Winkler-based pop rock outfit The Color landed numerous nods this year, including Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Recorded Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, Pop/Rock Album of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year for Jordan Janzen.

Singer/songwriter Barbara Joy picked up nominations for Children's Song of the Year, Country Song of the Year, and Souther Gospel Song of the Year.

Christian rap artist Kevin Manness, aka Messanjah, is up for Rap Song of the Year and Urban/Rap Album of the Year.  

JUNO-nominated singer/songwriter Jaylene Johnson is up for Gospel Song of the Year for her co-write with Brian Doerksen.

Other nominees include Scribe Music, Jordan St.Cyr, Rosemary Siemens, Fresh IE, and The Already Dead

Former Manitoban Jon Neufeld, who is currently based in Oregon, is also up for hardware this year. 

The Covenant Awards are produced by Gospel Music Association of Canada, a not-for-profit that has been promoting the growrth and ministry of Christian music arts in Canada since 1974. Visit gmacanada.ca see all of this year's award nominees.

Manitoba artists have received 36 nominations in 19 categories for Canada's biggest award show in Christian music. 

GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Color

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Color
Jordan St.Cyr

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
First Day Of My Life - The Color

SONG OF THE YEAR
"In My Lifetime" - Jordan St.Cyr & Ben Calhoun
"Here Right Now" - Jordan Janzen, Bryan Fowler & James Shiels
"Let It Be Love" - Jordan Janzen, Matthew Armstrong, Micah Kuiper & James Shiels

RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
"Let It Be Love" - The Color
"In My Lifetime" - Jordan St.Cyr
"Here Right Now" - The Color

RADIO SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"In My Lifetime" - Jordan St.Cyr
"Here Right Now" - The Color
"Let It Be Love" - The Color

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jordan Janzen (The Color)
Jordan St.Cyr

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jordan St.Cyr

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"In My Lifetime" - Jordan St.Cyr
"Let It Be Love" - The Color

CHILDREN'S SONG OF THE YEAR
"Dragonfly" - Barbara Joy

COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR
"Heavenly Harvest" - Rosemary Siemens, Billy Sprague & Joe Beck
"Summertime, Summertime" - Barbara Joy

GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR
"If Jesus Is The Face Of God" - Brian Doerksen & Jaylene Johnson

POP SONG OF THE YEAR
"Let It Be Love" - Jordan Janzen, James Shiels, Matthew Armstrong & Micah Kuiper (The Color)
"Here Right Now" - Jordan Janzen, James Shiels & Bryan Fowler (The Color)
"In My Lifetime" - Jordan St.Cyr & Ben Calhoun (The Color)

RAP SONG OF THE YEAR
"Hallelujah" - Kevin Manness aka "Messanjah"
"Taste And See" - Tha Gate Keepa Featuring Scribe Music & D.Bishop

ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR
"Darkness" - Steve Green & Robert "Fresh IE" Wilson

SOUTHERN GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR
"Nothing But The Blood (Washes Over Me)" - Barbara Joy & Robert Lowry (Public Domain)

URBAN SONG OF THE YEAR
"Much Afraid" - Scribe Music

POP / ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"First Day Of My Life" - The Color
"The War Of You And Me" - The Already Dead

URBAN / RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"Send Help" - Scribe Music
"Hallelujah" - Kevin Manness aka "Messanjah"