Lineup Part 3: 2023 Arctic Music Conference Panels! 🎤
We are thrilled to announce the panelists for the 2023 Arctic Music Conference. The Arctic Music Conference will hold 3 panels between March 24 and March 25. The panelists will discuss relevant topics related to the Arctic music industry and its musicians. The panels are Language, Culture, and Global Export, Overcoming the Arctic’s Barriers to Entry, and Impact of Climate Change on Northern & Remote Artists.
The Arctic Music Conference will take place virtually on Zoom, March 24 and 25, 2023. The Arctic Music Awards Ceremony, taking place on March 25, 2023 will also be livestreamed on Twitch.
To reserve FREE conference tickets, please go to: ArcticMusicConference.com
To vote for the Arctic Music Awards, please go to: ArcticMusicAwards.com (Open until March 22, 2023)
Panels:
Language, Culture, and Global Export
Robert Singerman (LyricFind Inc.)
Looee Arreak (Qaggiavuut Society)
Darryl Hurs (Indie Week)
Thor Simonsen (Nunavut Music)
Qattuu (Throat-singer and Artist)
Overcoming the Arctic’s Barriers to Entry
Alannah Johnston & Jaqqa Petersen (Alianait Arts Festival)
Tyson Schallmann (Nunavik Rocks Music)
Laura Lennert Jensen (Arctic Sounds)
Kevin Kelly (Travel Nunavut)
Merlyn Recinos & Rhoda Recinos (Arctic Fresh)
Impact of Climate Change on Northern & Remote Artists
Lisa Koperqualuk (Inuit Circumpolar Council)
Leanne Goose
Melody Brown Burkins (Dartmouth College)
Shauna Seeteenak
Kim Fry (Music Declares Emergency Canada)
Panelists
Panel 1: Language, Culture, and Global Export
Robert Singerman - LyricFind Inc.
Robert Singerman is an entrepreneur who represented & developed; managed and/or booked iconic talent (James Brown, Fela Kuti, Suzanne Vega, Gipsy Kings, R.E.M., Bad Brains, Sun Ra, Violent Femmes…) and labels, (Roadrunner, Fetish). He directed North America for Europe, Brazil & France’s music export offices, set up trade missions for many countries & aids new music tech, helping solve music community challenges. SVP International Publishing LyricFind, EVP .MUSIC, Founder CAB, (LATAM exec music conference and trade mission tour up to 6 countries from 2016 – 23). Partner/Board for category leading organizations, conferences (Mondo, SyncSummit) & companies Heaven11, Venue Pilot, Songtradr, YouBloom, speaks & presents around the globe & virtually on cutting edge issues. Main 19 year+ mission is giving music human translated, legal, subtitles; YouTube added closed captioning due to his work, Deezer added human translations of top 10 thousand anglophone songs in 4 major European languages recently through LyricFind and other dsps, platforms, including cars, coming soon. Be Present Everywhere pandemic sessions launched in many countries and conferences, thousands of delegates, hundreds of speakers and many deals through introductions and connections! Recently assisted LF and other partners in securing 2 major Canadian export grants and 2 EU grants, as well as an Indigenous Language Revitalization & Reclamation grant program through an Indigenous led organization, Red Music Rising.
Looee Arreak - Qaggiavuut Society
Looee is an Iqaluit-based, award-winning Inuktitut singer-songwriter, originally from Pangnirtung, Nunavut. She beautifully blends traditional and contemporary Inuit songs, with inspiration from Gospel and choral music genres.
Looee incorporates themes of hope, strength, and love in her music. Her proudest accomplishment is representing Inuit in the Canadian recording of Messiah/Complex with Against The Grain Theatre and Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Johannes Debus! The project received a 2022 JUNO nomination in the Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble) category. Looee is a vocalist in this interpretation of Handel’s Messiah and featured on the album artwork wearing a custom Traditional sealskin outfit she hand-sewed herself.
Another great accomplishment was composing an original Inuktitut song, “I Know Who I Am”, in collaboration with arranger Laura Hawley, commissioned by Nipiit Katittut Voices United. The lyrics depict imagery of the north, while emphasizing inner strength and identity.
Passionate about Inuit language preservation and creativity, Looee performed on stages across the Canadian Arctic, including the Aqpik Jam, the Alianait Arts Festival, and tours throughout Nunavut and Nunavik, Quebec. She has three albums to her name and multiple new music projects currently in planning and production. She won Culture and Heritage’s Qilaut Inuktut songwriting contest, and performed at the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
As an author, Looee is scheduled to release three novels in the upcoming year. She is currently an artist-in-residence with NTI after winning first place in the Inuktut novel writing contest and recently collaborated with Inhabit Media on an educational children’s book, inspired by her numbers song.
Looee is an experienced designer and seamstress. She was costume designer for the Qaggiavuut! Society's Kiviuq Returns: An Inuit Epic, performed across Canada. Looee was recently appointed as the Executive Director of Qaggiavuut! Performing Arts in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Her music is popular on Inuktitut radio and is often covered by young Inuit musicians she has inspired.
Darryl Hurs - Indie Week
Darryl Hurs, Market Manager for CD Baby in Canada, has over 30 years of experience in various roles within the music industry, including venue booker, talent buyer, artist manager, instructor, and digital graphics and design specialist. He has also worked on branding/marketing projects for Live Nation and major artists. Darryl founded and manages Indie Week, was one of Canada's largest in-person music showcase festivals and conferences, which now hosts four annual online conferences and offers a free weekly webinar called Indie Weekly. He recently launched a new global online music community for artists and professionals called DIT (www.ditcommunity.com).
Thor Simonsen - Nunavut Music
Thor Simonsen is a Danish-Canadian artist and entrepreneur. Born in the Faroe Islands, Thor spent his childhood and teenage years in the Canadian Arctic. After graduating from high school in Iqaluit, Thor returned to Scandinavia to work in the music industry while earning his Bachelor's Degree in Design from the Danish School of Media in Copenhagen. An accomplished artist and music producer, Thor has released 2 solo albums, produced 10 albums for other artists, and acted as songwriter, co-producer, and executive producer on many more. In 2016, Thor co-founded Hitmakerz, a Nunavut-based record label with a mission to help create sustainable careers in the arts, with a special focus on Inuit and Indigenous artists. In 2022, he also founded Nunavut’s first territorial music association, Nunavut Music. As an author, Thor has self-published 2 books, written many eclectic blog posts, and his writing has been featured in prominent publications. Eternally curious, Thor is insatiable reader and seeker of truth. He speaks many different languages and is also an experienced graphic designer, art director, photographer, film producer, language trainer, performance coach, fitness model, real estate investor, and director on various organizational boards. Thor’s various business and artistic endeavours have earned him many wins and nominations for awards such as the JUNO Awards, Capital Music Awards, Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, Planet Awards, and Indigenous Music Awards. His unique, international and intercultural experiences have also allowed him to share his story with audiences across Canada and media outlets around the world.
Founded in 2022, the mission of Nunavut Music is to help Nunavut artists and industry workers create sustainable careers in music through professional development, administrative assistance, fundraising, performance opportunities, travel support, networking opportunities, and more. Other objectives include advocacy and representation at industry events, promotion to global markets, and strengthening of Inuit languages and culture through music. In short, Nunavut Music is designed to become a singular music development hub and contact point.
Qattuu - Throat-singer and Artist
As a soloist, Qattuu has experience performing internationally, representing her Inuit culture on world stages. She has performed in Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium when she was a designated throat singer attending Nunavut Sivuniksavut and went to the European Parliament to present cultural workshops and performances. In the Philippines, Qattuu was a soloist, representing all Inuit from Canada in a two week long conference held in Davao city, as well as Manila, where she held demonstrations of Inuit drumming and throat singing.
During the pandemic, Qattuu virtually performed in many places around the world through online concerts and festivals. She has led multiple cultural workshops at schools throughout Ontario and recently instructed a virtual throat singing workshop series with Qaggiavuut!
Panel 2: Overcoming the Arctic’s Barriers to Entry
Alannah Johnston & Jaqqa Petersen- Alianait Arts Festival
Known as the world's circumpolar stage, the Alianait Arts Festival takes place in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada in late June each year. These arctic days have 24-hour sunlight, a time of great celebration! Alianait sets the spotlight on Inuit and other circumpolar and indigenous artists while bringing together exciting world-class musicians, circus acrobats, dancers, storytellers, actors, filmmakers and visual artists from across the globe.
The Festival is entering its eighteenth year, and since its inaugural presentation in 2005, has become an acclaimed showcase of Inuit and world art. Since 2010, Alianait has also been presenting a series of concerts throughout the year and extends these shows to other Nunavut communities whenever possible.
Alianait’s mission is to help build a healthier Nunavut through the arts. We work proactively with local schools and community organizations to present family-friendly, alcohol-free events, and to facilitate outreach opportunities between artists and students and to help youth build skills through art and music.
Tyson Schallmann - Nunavik Rocks Music
Tyson Schallmann is a professional musician and music educator with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in music from Concordia University (2000). With over 20 years of teaching experience, including a private studio and teaching masterclasses throughout the province of Quebec, Tyson is the manager/owner of the Mile-End Drum Studio in Montreal. Since 2016, he has also served as a senior instructor and administrator at the Nunavik Rocks Music School in Nunavik, QC. This has afforded him the opportunity to travel to various remote arctic communities in order to teach music to the youth of the region. He is a passionate and dedicated music educator who enjoys teaching music to all levels of students.
Laura Lennert Jensen - Arctic Sounds
Laura Lennert Jensen is a singer and musician from Sisimiut Greenland. Laura is part of organizing the annual Arctic Sounds music festival, which showcases established as well as upcoming artists from both the Nordic and the arctic regions.
Arctic Sounds is an annual music festival in Sismiut, Greenland showcasing original artists from the Nordic Countries (Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Åland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) as well as artists from Inuit Nunaat (Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and Nunatukavut). A framework for co-creation, collaboration, mutual inspiration, networking, talks and meetings.
Kevin Kelly - Travel Nunavut
Kevin Kelly has over 25 years of tourism industry experience at all levels working in hotels and restaurants to DMO and destination development roles.
Travel Nunavut is a not-for-profit membership association that encourages tourism development by providing specialized knowledge and expertise in four key areas: marketing, research and communication, market readiness, and advocacy. We exist to support and promote our members’ products and services to the world.
Travel Nunavut seeks partnerships with governments, Inuit Associations, communities, and tourism operators to promote tourism opportunities that encourage sustainable economic growth, cultural preservation and sustainable social benefits for Nunavummiut.
Rhoda Recinos & Merlyn Recinos - Arctic Fresh
Rhoda Recinos
Merlyn Recinos
Rhoda was born and raised in Igloolik Nunavut in Canada’s beautiful high arctic. She is a wife, mother of four and was a teacher for sixteen years. Growing up Rhoda would often have to go without food. When she became a teacher, she noticed the children in the community were still hungry a lot of the time. So, she and her husband Merlyn, decided to do something about it. In 2016, to help Nunavut they started an online grocer to make affordable and nutritious food available.
After she realized the website was not reaching all the people in need, she knew they needed to build capacity and create jobs to improve the local economy. So, she decided to open a store in Igloolik and offer affordable prices and that was very successful. She also partnered up with a construction company and an airline to create more jobs for the people of the North.
Even after all of this she knew there was still more to do and they began working on a healthy hub concept for the communities that will support harvesting, packaging, and selling country food locally. Rhoda also recently opened a B&B in Igloolik, knowing how hard it is for visitors to have accommodations in the North when visiting or coming for work. She also takes care of their convenience store/coffee shop/takeout website up to date, for customers to keep track of their orders/specials.
Her dedication to improving food security throughout Nunavut remains unwavering.
Arctic Fresh is an Inuit owned social enterprise where more than 90% of our staff are Inuit. We see a North where the people and communities matter most, and all voices are heard. It’s not just about hiring Inuit but about empowerment, building capacity and together helping Nunavut succeed. Working in collaboration to create local economic growth ensures we are supporting the greater good of all Nunavummiut.
Over the last few years Arctic Fresh was developed, consistently grew, and became more established. We are proud to say we hit many targets in terms of improving food security, providing healthy affordable foods, and hiring mostly Inuit to work in our business. These milestones and foundation allowed us to develop other areas like training and mentoring to build capacity. This capacity development led to us launching a construction division and an aviation division. We are always looking to collaborate while innovating to create opportunities that foster positive sustainable change.
Our aviation division are committed to improving travel by creating convenient routes and affordable charter options throughout Nunavut. We currently run weekly scheduled flights from Iqaluit to Sanikiluaq and are now ready to offer more routes and viable charter options in the North.
Panel 3: Impact of Climate Change on Northern & Remote Artists
Lisa Koperqualuk - Inuit Circumpolar Council
Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk was born in Puvirnituq, Northern Quebec (Nunavik), Canada. Raised by her grandparents Lydia and Aisa Koperqualuk, her elementary schooling was done in Nunavik. With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Concordia University, Montreal, she holds a Master’s degree in Anthropology from Laval University, Quebec City.
Fluent in Inuktitut, English and French, Lisa acted as Communications Officer for Makivik Corporation for seven years and participated in various regional, national and international fora such as Inuit Circumpolar Council General Assemblies in Kuujjuaq 2002, in Barrow 2006 (as a delegate) and elected in July 2018 in Utqiaġvik as Vice-President International for ICC Canada.
Lisa is a member of the Kativik Environmental Quality Commission (KEQC) since 2010, an independent decision-making body responsible for evaluating and reviewing development projects in Nunavik. Created by virtue of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA), KEQC is governed by the JBNQA and the Environmental Quality Act of Quebec. As the co-founder and former president of Saturviit Inuit Women’s Association of Nunavik, the issues of social justice concerning Inuit women and children led her to spearhead a study looking into the situation of Inuit women in Nunavik based on their perspective. The Bring Hope and Restore Peace report raised issues expressed by Inuit women of Nunavik on housing needs, education and employment, violence and abuse and the justice system in Nunavik. Her mandate as Researcher with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls ended with the submission of the Final Report, Reclaiming Power and Place in June 2019.
Lisa served as ICC Canada’s Vice President of International Affairs from 2018-2022 before being acclaimed as President of ICC Canada at the 14th General Assembly in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik on July 18, 2022. As VP of International Affairs Lisa focused much of her work in the areas of international shipping regulations successfully leading the ICC to receive provisional status at the International Marine Organization (IMO) where Inuit are the first Indigenous People to be represented.
In Lisa’s current role as President of ICC Canada, she also serves as Vice-Chair of ICC International. In this international role, she promotes collaboration with the other three ICC offices in Greenland, Alaska, and Chukotka. Greenland currently holds the position of ICC International Chair.
She works for Inuit interests in self-determination advocating Inuit political and economic autonomy, social justice (particularly through Inuit law), and protection of the environment, culture and language.
Leanne Goose
Leanne Goose holds a degree in Arts and Cultural Management, Professional Communications, and is currently 3rd year in the Masters of Arts in Community Engagement in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. She is an Associate Professor at MacEwan University, Faculty of Fine Arts, teaching Indigenous Professional Arts.
Leanne is the President of the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, member of Indigenous Juno Committee and advocate in Indigenous music.
Melody Brown Burkins - Dartmouth College
Melody Brown Burkins, PhD, is the Director of the Institute of Arctic Studies in the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth. She also serves as the 2022-2026 UArctic Chair in Science Diplomacy and Inclusion and, last spring, was honored to be named an International Science Council (ISC) Fellow for her work to advance more inclusive, ethical science policy and diplomacy in the Arctic and around the world.
Shauna Seeteenak
Shauna Seeteenak is an Inuk hip-hop artist and political rapper, originally from Baker Lake, Nunavut. From the age of ten, she discovered that through song there was a way to express her emotions beyond talking and create a shared experience through her music. Currently based in Iqaluit, Shauna has made a name for herself in the industry and has collaborated with Inuit and international artists.
She is a genuine storyteller and centers her music on the truths and challenges facing Inuit, including mental health, sobriety, breaking stereotypes, overcoming barriers, surviving the north, and trying to heal. Shauna teamed up with the Iqaluit-based record label, Hitmakerz, to produce her debut album, Therapy Sessions, which was released in August of 2021.
Shauna has always loved the environment and wildlife. She wanted to pursue a career to work in the environmental field, so that she can help protect her land. Shauna attended the Environmental Technology Program with Nunavut Arctic College in 2017 and received her diploma in 2019, and has had many environmental experiences since then. Shauna wants to continue to protect her land, because it is precious and it helps with cultural revitalization.
Kim Fry - Music Declares Emergency Canada
Kim Fry lives by the Atlantic ocean in Kjipuktuk/Halifax in Mi'kma'ki. She is a co-founder, board member and coordinator for Music Declares Emergency Canada which she helped her 20 year old musician daughter Brighid Fry (Housewife/Moscow Apartment) start up during Covid. Kim has worked on energy efficiency and climate and before her recent move Eastward, she lived in Tkaronto (Toronto) for 27 years where she was an elementary school teacher, union activist, climate justice activist, environmental campaigner, storyteller and music manager.
Kim managed and later co-managed her daughter’s band for four years where she applied her activist skills towards understanding the music industry and under her watch, Moscow Apartment (later Housewife) released 2 EPs and two singles and won several national awards eventually signing an international record deal with Hazel Street Records/Orchard/Sony.
Kim spent over a decade as an activist and environmental educator/naturalist working for a number of Environmental Organizations (including Greenpeace) after doing two degrees in Environmental Studies at York University. She also holds a Masters in Teaching and taught with the Toronto District School Board. Kim was the recipient of the national David Suzuki teaching award (environmental inquiry) and an Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario award for her environmental leadership. For the last two years, Kim has been coordinating the Canadian chapter of Music Declares Emergency Canada as a volunteer and organized the first ever Canadian Music Climate Summit. With a certificate from Falmouth University in the UK and a Greener Future as an assessor for Greener Festivals and a participant in the Creative Climate Leadership program, Kim has become one of the go-to people in Canada for thinking about actions the music industry can take to address the climate and ecological crisis. When she has time, Kim is working on a novel about the climate emergency.
To reserve FREE conference tickets, please go to: ArcticMusicConference.com
To vote for the Arctic Music Awards, please go to: ArcticMusicAwards.com (The voting deadline is March 22, 2023)
For PR, bookings, or more information, please contact: amcama@hitmakerz.com
Acknowledgment
The events were made possible with support from Hitmakerz, Nunavut Music, and the Government of Nunavut. We also acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and Canada’s private radio broadcasters
About Hitmakerz
Founded in 2016, Hitmakerz is a full-service record label based in Nunavut. Specializing in creating world-class Inuit and Indigenous music, Hitmakerz has studios in Iqaluit, Ottawa, and Toronto. A social enterprise, their mission is to create viable careers in the arts for Inuit and Indigenous artists through music, media, and education, as well as to empower artists to share their stories and strengthen their culture. For more information, go to hitmakerz.com