Polaris Nominee Radio Radio Turn Fans on to Acadien-French Ryhmes

You can sit around debating the merits of the Polaris Prize all you want, but everyone can agree that the $20,000 cash prize helps out artists like hip-hop group Radio Radio the most. "Definitely a lot of hype and interviews like this," have come from the nomination, agrees Gabriel Louis Bernard Malenfant. "The word is spreading."

While the Montreal-based trio was surprised by the Polaris nod for their second disc, 'Belmundo Regal,' Malenfant says they were unaware of the gravity of the situation. "We were more surprised as we moved on and found out this was a pretty big deal -- the amplitude of the thing," he admits.Their ignorance can be chalked up to the dual culture industries that exist within Canada. "[Quebec has] their own star system," he says, "their own industry, their own Hollywood. They got it all."



While the group has maintained strong followings in Quebec, Ottawa and even Louisiana, audiences in English Canada are just turning on to their electro-rap beats and Acadian-French rhymes. "It's like we brought a pie to a Canadian music industry party and we got a good rep. Now people are asking what the recipe is."

If there's any nervousness within the group, though, Malenfant isn't letting on. "I try not to base my feelings on winning prizes," he says nonchalantly. "But yeah, we're feeling good." He also says that the group has lined up a special guest for their awards ceremony performance, but wouldn't let on as to who it would be.

Beyond Polaris, the group has a lot of touring planned before they head down to Louisiana to start work on the follow up to 'Belmundo Regal.' "Hopefully, sometime next year we'll have a new album out," says Malenfant.