Get to know Juno breakthrough artist nominee Jessie Reyez

The Juno categories of breakthrough artist and group of the year have gone through a few different identities in their 44-year history, but what's never changed is the incredible pedigree of the categories' winners. A veritable who's who of now-established and future Canadian music industry icons have taken home these coveted Junos.

Breakthrough artist winners include Burton Cummings, k.d. lang, Colin James, Alanis Morissette, Jann Arden, Avril Lavigne, Michael Bublé, Feist, Drake, the Weeknd, and Alessia Cara. The list of breakthrough group winners is equally star-studded: Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Rush, Glass Tiger, the Tragically Hip, Nickelback, Alexisonfire, Said the Whale and A Tribe Called Red.

This year's crop of nominated artists and groups features an exciting and diverse array of musicians. From Toronto-based R&B singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez and Montreal-based electro-pop singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin to the Iqaluit-based folk-rock act the Jerry Cans and the Regina-based bluegrass band the Dead South, almost every music fan will find something to love in the nominees.

Think of the Junos as an opportunity to survey just a little bit more of the country's music scene, its depth and breadth, and then keep checking back every Thursday and Friday as CBC Music posts its handy primers for each artist and group, as well as some context to help deepen your appreciation of these great musicians.

Who: Jessie Reyez.

Where: Toronto.

Sound: Electronic/R&B/pop singer-songwriter.

Why she's nominated: The Colombian-Canadian singer-songwriter is the future. Empowered, brilliant and full of fire, Reyez was just 26 years old when she released her debut EP, Kiddo, one of the most fearless and daring albums of 2017. From her song "Gatekeeper" — a scathing indictment of the predatory nature of the music industry, and the still prevalent exploitation, sexual harassment and abuse of young women — to "Figures" — a blurry snapshot of heartbreak in all its vulnerable, angry, wry messiness — Reyez's trademark is devastating candour. She also featured on Calvin Harris' "Hard to Love," which has more than 27 million YouTube views so far.

Previously: Reyez busked, worked in bars and toiled in corporate jobs, though she's been writing songs since high school.

Fun fact: Reyez auditioned for a "girl group" in Toronto when she was 17. She didn't get it, but she did get some encouragement from music manager Tyse Saffuri.

Quote: "I am extreme. My highs are very high and my lows are very low, and it's pretty close to hell. I'm a Gemini, so it's inherent in my personality." — Clash, 2017

'Cotton Candy' (2017)

'Gatekeeper' (2017)

Editor's note: strong language warning.

'Figures' (2016)

Editor's note: strong language warning.

Wherever you are in the world, you can watch the 2018 Juno Awards broadcast live from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver on March 25 at cbcmusic.ca/junos