Hitmakerz artists reflect on their music’s impact during Indigenous History Month

Iqaluit, NU – June 30, 2023

Welcome to the first edition of the Hitmakerz newsletter! We will be connecting quarterly to share stories, updates, and new music releases directly to your inbox.

Hitmakerz artists reflect on their music’s impact during Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month. The occasion was first recognized by the House of Commons in 2009 under the name, “National Aboriginal History Month,” and was renamed in 2017.

The month is an opportunity to recognize the rich histories, stories, cultures, traditions, and experiences of Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. It is a time to learn more about Indigenous communities’ past: their relationship with the land, various cultural traditions, and the losses that followed Canada’s residential school system. It is also a time to recognize that Indigenous peoples are still here, resilient, and reclaiming space – oftentimes, through art.

This month, we spoke to three Hitmakerz artists who were nominated for Inuit Artist/ Group of the Year at the 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, who shared how their music and identity intersect.

2019 Indigenous Music Award winner, Angela Amarualik, released her sophomore album, Uvannik, last October – an album that combines English with Inuktitut, and catchy pop styles with traditional throat singing.

“Throat singing to me is reconnecting to our land, our nature, our ancestors, and most of all, our identity,” said Amarualik. “It brings me back to a time when Elders taught me how to sew, listening to their stories of outpost camps, laughter, sadness, change – sharing their lineal wisdom.”

“To have throat singing in some of my songs is such an honor, and to include authentically empowering and strong history behind every throat song [is] purely art.”

Brenda Montana, a musician and TikToker who has gone viral on the platform for her throat singing videos, said that exercising throat singing is an act of cultural preservation.

“Nowadays, not many Inuit throat sing anymore, but slowly it is becoming popular again,” explained Montana. “Throat singing means a lot to me and it is important that I include it in some of my songs [because] it means being able to keep part of my culture alive. I want to make our ancestors proud.”

Montana, who is known on TikTok as @inuksuk, also uses social media as a way to uplift and inform people about Inuit culture, from music to food to clothing.

“Through Tiktok, I usually use hashtags when I post a cultural video […] because people who are interested and have followed the tag will have a higher chance at seeing my videos. Hashtags I use are #inuittiktok, #indigenous, #indigenoustiktok, and #inuktut.”

Rapper and hip hop artist, Shauna Seeteenak, likes to discuss issues that have previously faced and are currently affecting Indigenous communities within her music.

“I tell stories sometimes through my music about what Indigenous people went through to educate not only those who are not Indigenous, but those who are also Indigenous,” said Seeteenak. “Not every Indigenous person knows [the history] because it is not taught in school or taught enough anywhere overall.”

Both Amarualik and Seeteenak shared encouragement towards young Indigenous people who want to pursue music.

“I like to help empower youth by my music and show them that dreams and goals are possible to accomplish, and show them that this is the way we are resilient and strong,” said Seeteenak.

“Your dreams and consistency will guide you, along with encouragement from others,” said Amarualik. “Understand that sometimes, you will get discouraged, but at the end of the day your passion is what drives you.”

Updates

2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards

It was an exciting season for the Hitmakerz family at the 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards. Four Hitmakerz artists were nominated for this year’s ceremony: Brenda Montana, Shauna Seeteenak, Angela Amarualik, and Joey Nowyuk were all nominated for Inuit Artist/ Group of the Year, while Nowyuk was also nominated for Roots Album of the Year.

“It feels awesome being recognized by SSIMAs,” said Nowyuk. “I hope to see a lot more Inuit in various awards in the future and also on the Indigenous Music Countdown.”

The awards show took place on June 6, 2023 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Amarualik performed her song, “Sanngijuq,” at the ceremony and was supported by song co-writer and artist Qattuu, Hitmakerz CEO Sarah Elaine McLay, Hitmakerz founder Thor Simonsen, and producer Tev Bourque, who were also in attendance.

Canadian Live Music Awards

Thor Simonsen, Samantha Claire Durrell, and Sarah Elaine McLay stand outside the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards on June 9, 2023.

Awards season continued on June 9, 2023 when Hitmakerz attended the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards. CEO Sarah Elaine McLay was nominated for the “Your Future Boss” award, while the label was nominated in the “Community Impact” category. The event took place at the Westin Harbour Castle Ballroom in Toronto, with McLay in attendance alongside Hitmakerz founder, Thor Simonsen, and project manager, Samantha Claire Durrell. After the show, the team met up with fellow Toronto-based Hitmakerz staff for a very Canadian get-together: dessert at Beavertails!

First Fusion Event Successful

Attendees at the first fusion event on May 25, 2023 discuss music and share their songs during the workshop session.

Hitmakerz’s first Fusion event happened on May 25, 2023 at the Coworkly office in Vanier, just outside of Ottawa. The event, titled “Beatmakers + Songwriters,” featured guests MaCMuwsA and Christian Guzmán Ramos, who participated in a fireside chat as well as lead a Q&A session and interactive songwriting activity. A near-full house of participants at the intimate event were engaged throughout, even sharing some of the songs they were writing with their peers. The Fusion series is a collaboration between the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, Edwards Creative Law, and Hitmakerz. More events are to come.

New Releases

THRIVE - Shauna Seeteenak
HULIJUT (TRUTH) - Shauna Seeteenak

Thank you for reading the June edition of the Hitmakerz newsletter. We will be in touch in the next quarter. In the meantime, visit the Hitmakerz website or follow us on social media for the latest news.

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

Hitmakerz artists reflect on their music’s impact during Indigenous History Month (Newsletter #1)