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JAIRUS SHARIF ‘BASIS OF UNITY’

WINNER OF THE MERIDIAN PRIZE 2026

The Calgary-based artist, recognized for a deeply personal and adventurous album exploring grief, memory, spirituality and connection.

The Meridian Prize in partnership with FACTOR has named Jairus Sharif’s Basis of Unity the winner of its inaugural award, recognizing an album of exceptional artistic achievement from Western and Northern Canada. In addition to the award, Sharif receives a $5,000 honorarium and a prize package from Blundstone for the album, which was released by Telephone Explosion Records.

Basis of Unity is a strikingly personal record. Written and recorded in the aftermath of profound loss, the album grew out of Sharif’s reflections on grief, memory, healing and the possibility of communicating across the distance between life and death. He composed, performed, produced and recorded the record himself, building its five long-form tracks from saxophone, percussion, electronics, drone, field recordings and radio interference. The result is difficult to place within a single genre. Free jazz, electronic music, ambient sound and improvisation all inform the record, but Sharif uses those traditions as raw material for something distinctly his own. The album also features a distinguished guest appearance from Malcolm Mooney, the original vocalist of Can, on “Looking Down (We Be).” See and hear more from Jairus HERE.

The Meridian Prize was established to recognize albums that demonstrate clarity, depth, originality and integrity, and that represent a complete creative statement and a defining point in an artist’s practice. The inaugural jury found those qualities throughout Basis of Unity, an album that is both deeply rooted in Sharif’s own experience and daringly expansive in its musical language. “This is a celebration”, states Sharif. “Even though there’s so much intensity in a grieving process, this is a way to celebrate the triumph of making it through.”

The name “Meridian” refers to a line of orientation, as well as a point of culmination. The prize was created to recognize important work being made across Western and Northern Canada and to draw attention to the breadth of artistic practice emerging from a region that stretches across more than 6.8 million square kilometres. The inaugural 10 nominees reflect that diversity, representing different communities, musical traditions and approaches to recording. Sharif’s Basis of Unity becomes the first album to receive the prize.

The recipient is selected by way of independent jury comprised of various festival and radio programmers, independent record-store staff, culture critics and curators.

“Jairus has made an album of extraordinary singularity. It is deeply ambitious and holds an immense sense of purpose,” says Michael Dawson, Executive Director of the Meridian Prize. “With that said, the amount of talent, vision and creativity encapsulated in all 10 nominated albums is truly profound. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of the nominees for their phenomenal work and for allowing their records to stand for the prize. I would be remiss if I didn’t also extend a heartfelt thank you to the jurors for their commitment, care, and thoughtful consideration throughout the process. Their dedication to listening, willingness to engage openly, and championing of exceptional artistry is at the heart of The Meridian Prize.”

The Meridian Prize is an annual chronicle of exceptional music from Western and Northern Canada: albums that take creative risks, develop their own language and remain with listeners long after they have finished playing.

The first chapter belongs to Jairus Sharif and Basis of Unity.
The Meridian Prize congratulates Jairus Sharif on becoming its inaugural recipient.

The Meridian Prize is an annual award recognizing an album of exceptional artistic achievement from Western and Northern Canada. It celebrates works of clarity, depth, originality and integrity, honouring albums that stand as complete creative statements and mark a defining moment in an artist’s practice. Selected by an independent jury of festival and radio programmers, independent record store staff, culture critics and curators, the prize spotlights recordings that expand musical language and carry lasting cultural significance.

The name Meridian refers both to a line of orientation and a moment of culmination. The point at which artistic intent, execution and meaning align. As a line of orientation, it draws attention to the diverse geographies and cultural landscapes of the West and North, where some of the most vital and enduring musical work in Canada takes shape. As a moment of culmination, it recognizes albums whose artistic vision has been fully realized. By honouring works defined by risk, coherence and lasting artistic value, the Meridian Prize recognizes albums that have lasting contributions to Canada’s musical canon.

2026 Nominees

Artist: Begonia
Album: Fantasy Life
Release Date: 10.24.25

Artist: Cassia Hardy
Album: In Relation
Release Date: 05.23.25

Artist: Emma Goldman
Album: all you are is we
Release Date: 04.28.25

Artist: Fontine
Album: Good Buddy
Release Date: 10.07.25

Artist: Foxwarren
Album: 2
Release Date: 05.30.25

Artist: Home Front
Album: Watch It Die
Release Date: 11.14.25

Artist: Jack J
Album: Desert Blue
Release Date: 11.01.24

Artist: Jairus Sharif
Album: Basis of Unity
Release Date: 02.28.25

Artist: Living Hour
Album: Internal Drone Infinity
Release Date: 10.17.25

Artist: William Prince
Album: Further From The Country
Release Date: 10.17.25