MAUGERVILLE, N.B. — New Brunswick roots rock band Engage is entering a significant period of growth with 11 nominations across two independent music awards programs and the release of its new single, “Unbattered,” the first offering from the group’s upcoming album The Master Plan.
The Maugerville-based band has secured five nominations at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards and six at the International Singer Songwriters Association Awards. The recognition comes as Engage continues expanding its catalogue and developing its production capabilities following its formation in 2020.
“Unbattered,” written by frontwoman Carla Bonnell, also represents a new stage in the band’s recording process, with Bonnell taking on sound engineering responsibilities for the track.
Engage Receives Five Josie Music Awards Nominations
Engage’s five Josie Music Awards nominations span several categories, including 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 place the New Brunswick group within a field selected from more than 101,000 submissions worldwide.
The Josie Music Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 20 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. It will follow the JMA Music Conference on Sept. 19 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, where programming is expected to include educational sessions, performances and music-industry networking.
For Engage, the nominations add international exposure at a time when the band is preparing to introduce more material from The Master Plan.
ISSA Awards Bring Six More Nominations
Engage has also received six nominations connected to the International Singer Songwriters Association Awards.
As a group, Engage is nominated for Band of the Year and Band Single of the Year for “Unbattered.”
Carla Bonnell Recognized Across Four Individual Categories
Bonnell received four additional nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Songwriter of the Year, Musician of the Year and Sound Engineer of the Year.
The ISSA Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Atlanta on Aug. 22, 2026.
The sound engineering nomination reflects an expanding role for Bonnell, who has spent the past year developing her engineering skills under the mentorship of longtime collaborator Jim Zolis of Zolis Audio.
Bonnell handled engineering duties on “Unbattered,” while Zolis was responsible for the mix and master. The work adds production and engineering to Bonnell’s existing responsibilities as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter.
‘Unbattered’ Leads Upcoming Album ‘The Master Plan’
Written by Bonnell, “Unbattered” centres on resilience and perseverance, themes conveyed directly through the song’s lyrics.
“I’m not the girl you shattered,” she sings, “I am the one that remains unbattered, and I will rise for another round,”
Bonnell is a SOCAN member and was recently inducted into the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame, with a gala scheduled for Oct. 17 in Fredericton.
The current Engage lineup also includes Rick Bartlett on guitar and vocals, Vernon Daigle on bass, and Greg Mansfield on drums and percussion.
Bartlett has received recognition of his own this year, winning Best Male Artist/Vocalist at the Itisnow Radio 2026 Music Awards earlier this spring.
Awards Recognition Builds on Engage’s Growing Catalogue
The latest nominations follow several earlier achievements for the New Brunswick group.
Engage’s debut album, The Time Has Come, received a Bronze Award for Band Album of the Year from the International Singer Songwriters Association. Its follow-up project, Master Plan: Side “EH,” subsequently generated additional nominations.
The upcoming The Master Plan album is expected to continue that progression, with “Unbattered” serving as its lead release.
Band Already Working on Third Studio Album
Even before completing the current album cycle, Engage is moving ahead with additional recording. The group recently recorded three tracks intended for its third studio album.
That work indicates the band plans to maintain a steady release schedule as it seeks to build on its growing recognition within the independent music sector.
With two awards ceremonies approaching, 11 nominations secured and new material in development, Engage heads into the fall with its broadest awards exposure to date while continuing to expand its songwriting, recording and production work from its New Brunswick roots.