Maugerville, New Brunswick roots rock band Engage is gaining wider recognition on the independent music circuit after its latest single, “Unbattered,” earned Bronze for Band Single of the Year at the International Singer Songwriters Association Awards.
The award comes as Engage prepares to release its upcoming album, The Master Plan, and follows a strong awards season showing that includes five nominations at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards and six nominations at the ISSA Awards. Together, the honours represent a significant milestone for the New Brunswick group, which has steadily expanded its catalogue and industry profile since forming in 2020.
‘Unbattered’ Leads Engage’s Latest Awards Recognition
“Unbattered,” written by frontwoman Carla Bonnell, serves as the lead offering from The Master Plan. The track combines the band’s roots rock approach with a message centred on resilience and determination.
Bonnell delivers that theme directly in the song: “I’m not the girl you shattered,” she sings, “I am the one that remains unbattered, and I will rise for another round.”
The Bronze award also highlights an expanding production role for Bonnell. Over the past year, she has studied sound engineering under the mentorship of longtime collaborator Jim Zolis of Zolis Audio.
Bonnell handled the engineering duties on “Unbattered,” while Zolis completed the mixing and mastering. The work adds another responsibility to Bonnell’s existing roles as the band’s vocalist, guitarist and songwriter.
Her production development has also received industry recognition, with Bonnell nominated for Sound Engineer of the Year at the ISSA Awards.
Carla Bonnell Receives Four Individual ISSA Nominations
Beyond the band’s nominations, Bonnell has secured four individual ISSA nominations: Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Songwriter of the Year, Musician of the Year and Sound Engineer of the Year.
She is also a SOCAN member and is set to be inducted into the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame, with a gala scheduled for Oct. 17 in Fredericton.
Engage, meanwhile, has also been nominated for Band of the Year at the ISSA Awards, adding to the Bronze already secured by “Unbattered.”
Josie Music Awards Nominations Expand Engage’s International Profile
At the Josie Music Awards, Engage is nominated in five categories: Album of the Year Folk/Americana (Duo/Group), Group of the Year Folk/Americana, EP of the Year Multi Genre, EP of the Year Americana/Folk and Fan’s Choice (Duo/Group).
The nominations come from a field of more than 101,000 submissions worldwide, providing Engage with exposure beyond its New Brunswick base.
The Josie Music Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 20 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Programming will begin a day earlier at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, where the JMA Music Conference will feature educational programming, performances and industry networking.
Band Members Build Recognition Across Independent Music Scene
Alongside Bonnell, Engage features Rick Bartlett on guitar and vocals, Vernon Daigle on bass, and Greg Mansfield on drums and percussion.
Bartlett has also received individual recognition this year. He won Best Male Artist/Vocalist at the Itisnow Radio 2026 Music Awards earlier this spring, adding another honour to the band’s growing list of achievements.
The recognition surrounding “Unbattered” builds on Engage’s previous releases. Its debut album, The Time Has Come, received a Bronze Award for Band Album of the Year from the International Singer Songwriters Association.
The follow-up project, Master Plan: Side “EH,” generated additional nominations and helped establish the foundation for the broader awards attention the band is receiving this year.
Engage Looks Beyond ‘The Master Plan’ to Third Studio Album
While The Master Plan remains the band’s immediate release focus, Engage is already moving forward with additional studio work.
The group recently recorded three tracks for its third studio album, maintaining a steady writing and recording schedule as its profile grows.
For Engage, the combination of 11 nominations, the Bronze award for “Unbattered” and Bonnell’s expanding role in music production marks a notable period of development for the Maugerville-based group.
With the Josie Music Awards approaching and The Master Plan on the way, Engage enters the fall with its strongest awards-season showing to date and growing recognition within the independent roots, folk and Americana music communities.