The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Breakthrough Songwriter Award, Nemahsis (Anglophone Winner) and Rau_Ze (Francophone Winner), presented by the SOCAN Foundation, with support from Amazon Music. The award reveals Canadian emerging songwriters on the rise, highlighting their current achievements and spotlighting their bright futures on the global stage.
The non-French-language winner is Nemahsis (published by Universal Music Publishing Canada). A Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter, Nemahsis has earned international recognition for her powerful voice and deeply personal storytelling that explores identity, belonging, and the lived experience of being a hijabi Muslim woman. Her debut album Verbathim (2024) received critical acclaim and praise from icons such as Stevie Wonder and Elton John. In 2025, she completed a sold-out North American tour and won two JUNO Awards, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Recently named Women In Music’s Artist of the Year, Nemahsis continues to redefine independence in music, blending pop, R&B, and alternative sounds with narrative depth, cultural clarity, and authenticity. For her, the honour carries a personal resonance: “Being recognized by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is such an honour,” she said. “I write from a place of vulnerability and truth, and this award reminds me that there’s space for my story. I’m deeply grateful for the encouragement at this moment in my journey.”
The French-language winner is Montreal duo Rau_Ze (published by Disques 7ième Ciel), comprised of Rose Perron and Félix Paul. Blending R&B, neo-soul, jazz, funk, and hip-hop, their music is praised for its authenticity and irresistible groove. Winners of the ADISQ 2024 Félix for R&B/Soul Album of the Year, the Prix Félix-Leclerc 2025, and named Révélation Radio-Canada 2024–25, Rau_Ze’s debut album Virer nos vies tackles themes of love, mental health, and feminism with depth and passion. With more than 125 performances – including appearances at major festivals such as Francos de Montréal, FEQ, and Osheaga – the duo recently signed with Wagram Music’s WLab to launch their European career. Reflecting on this recognition, Perron and Paul said, “It’s such a great honour to receive this award. Thank you to the artists (including the fellow nominees) who inspire us and motivate us to keep composing. Thanks as well to everyone who voted and continues to support our journey. See you soon!”
Established in 2017, the Breakthrough Songwriter Award has previously recognized artists including Aaron Paris, Fredz, Eli Brown, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Mustafa, Ariane Roy, Charlotte Cardin, Jessie Reyez, Lowell, and Les Louanges. This year’s winners – one in each of the French-language and non-French-language categories – were selected from a pool of 35 candidates, narrowed down to 12 finalists by a jury of music industry professionals, with thousands of fan votes also contributing to the final tally.
Reflecting on this year’s selection, CSHF Executive Director Nick Fedor emphasized the importance of recognizing the next cohort of music-makers: “This award celebrates and supports the next generation of Canadian songwriters, reflecting our mission to honour both the legacy and the future of Canadian music. We are proud to recognize their contributions to the craft and extend our congratulations to this year’s recipients.”
Each winner will receive a $7,500 cash prize, tied to a customized career development plan, along with global exposure through Amazon Music playlisting and resources, thanks to the support of the SOCAN Foundation and presenting partner Amazon Music.
The Breakthrough Songwriter Award winners will be recognized at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Legends Induction Series events, taking place Oct. 17, 2025, at Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre and Nov. 17, 2025, at Montréal’s Espace St-Denis. Tickets for the Toronto event are on sale via Ticketmaster here. Tickets for the Montréal event on November 17 are available here.