photo: Carl Lessard)

I knew very little about Mexican-American folk artist Lhasa de Sela, who records under the name Lhasa, before she appeared on the Polaris Music Prize long list last week, and in many ways, I feel that now I know even less.  She has amassed accolades the world over for her globally-inspired music, appeared on Tindersticks albums, performed in a circus with her two sisters in France, and was raised out of the back of a converted school bus that crisscrossed the U.S.  and Mexico.  Imagine the stories she could tell.

Or better yet, just have a listen to the bluesy, hushed tunes on her third, self-titled album.  The plaintive, simple, arrangements on Lhasa afford the listener the great pleasure of hearing the clarity and unique timbre of Lhasa’s voice.  These songs were recorded live to tape and capture the essence of the singer-songwriter.  It’s truly a magical album.

It’s been one of the more pleasant surprises from the albums I was unfamiliar with from the list.  Her inclusion just confirms my feeling that the Polaris people have gathered quite a diverse group of judges, coming from all walks and disciplines, who have brought to the table a vast cross section of Canadian talent, and the beneficiaries are people like me who enjoy new music, and may not have been able to find these artists on their own.  Between Francophone, Aboriginal, and English-speaking artists, and the diverse musical styles they represent, there’s a lot Canada has to offer itself and the world.  It may be a few days early to get all sappy and patriotic, but gawd-dammit, what I love about this country is just how freakin’ great our cultural stew is.

MP3: Lhasa “Love Came Here”
Myspace: Lhasa