Owen Pallett Talks Polaris Music Prize Nomination

Owen Pallett's not only been short-listed for the Polaris Music Prize before, but he won the inaugural award for his He Poos Clouds album back in 2006.

He now has a one in 10 chance of winning the prize for a second time, and could have Heartland declared the most artistically awesome record made in Canada this year.

We caught up with Pallett, who was mopping his sweaty brow under the stinking heat in Toronto, to talk about what this all means. 

CHARTattack: How do you feel right now?
Owen Pallett: Pretty good. Pretty beaten down by the heat.

It's your second time on the short list, which is pretty amazing, and you're challenging some repeat short-listers as well. If you win what will you do with the money?
Owen Pallett: I don't know, man. Probably pay some bills. I've just been doing my taxes for the last four years. You know how nice the people from the Canada Revenue Agency are?

Really?
So nice. Talking to them on the phone, I'm like, "Yeah, I'm four years behind." Well, I'm not four years behind anymore. Yeah, I'll probably pay some bills and see what happens.

If you don't end up winning, who would you like to see win?
Well, there's four bands — four records on the short list I haven't even listened to — and The Besnard Lakes, I've only maybe listened to about half of that record once. I sound like I'm dismissing it, I love that band.

Yeah, the other records are really amazing. But I'm also really happy Tegan And Sara and Shad and The Sadies are all nominated this year. I feel like somebody's got good taste. I'm sad that the Crystal Castles record didn't make it on.

How does it feel being on a second time? If you win, that's be quite something.
I don't know. I kind of feel if I did, I'd be setting myself up for a massive backlash.

Oh, don't say that.
But it's true, though, you know. I mean, even first-time winners have to suffer a lot of accusations of being overrated or their records being overrated. It's fine.

It's a tricky thing when it comes to critical praise, you know. When people say your record's good, it doesn't actually make it any better or worse, you know what I mean?

I've seen lots of people put out a record and have it pass with flying colours, and another person will put out a record and have it panned across the board, but those reactions don't make the records any better or worse, you know?