D-Sisive Wins ECHO Songwriting Prize

Toronto rapper D-Sisive has won the 2009 ECHO Songwriting Prize for his song "Nobody With A Notepad."

The man born Derek Christoff beat out Joel Plaskett's "Through And Through And Through," Land Of Talk's "Some Are Lakes," Sebastien Grainger's "Love Can Be So Mean" and Timber Timbre's "Lay Down In The Tall Grass" to win the award.

The ECHO Songwriting Prize is run by the SOCAN (the Society Of Composers, Authors And Music Publishers Of Canada) and is determined by a combination of expert panelists and public voting. The winner receives a $5,000 cheque.

"It feels great that I have great supporters and it makes me feel great to win something and know I'm not going to be Canada's Susan Lucci," said D-Sisive, who's album Let The Children Die also recently made the Polaris Music Prize long list. "I won something. Hooray!"

D-Sisive was quick to note the difference in size between this cheque and the ones he usually receives from the artists' rights organization, who collect licensing fees on behalf of songwriters.

"This is definitely a different kind of SOCAN cheque than what I'm used to," said D-Siggy, who says his SOCAN cheques usually range from $7 to $28. "Getting this award is going to make my next SOCAN cheque depressing."

The rapper was also quick to make sure his producer also got his fair share of recognition for "Nobody With A Notepad."

"I want to thank Mr. Muneshine Rob Bakker for the production," D-Sisive said. "If it wasn't for that monster of a beat, the international smash hit 'Nobody With A Notepad' wouldn't exist."

As for the competition, D-Sisive is actually planning a special tribute for one of them — Timber Timbre.

"I think that 'Lay Down In The Tall Grass' is absolutely amazing," he said of the Timber song. "He's definitely the person I thought was going to win. I've actually recorded a track that I edited over his song. I'm going to release it later this week."

The francophone edition of the award, Prix De La Chanson ECHO, has been awarded to Bernard Adamus for his song "La Question A 100 Piasses." Last year's winners were The Weakerthans and Karkwa.

D-Sisive will be releasing his next album, Jonestown, on Nov. 18.