Qattuu & Angela Amarualik Are For Your GRAMMY® Consideration! (Newsletter #2)
Iqaluit, NU – November 1, 2023
Welcome to the latest edition of the Hitmakerz newsletter! We will be connecting quarterly to share stories, updates, and new music releases directly to your inbox. In the meantime, visit the Hitmakerz website or follow us on social media for the latest news.
Qattuu & Angela Amarualik Are For Your GRAMMY® Consideration!
Two Hitmakerz artists are For Your GRAMMY® Consideration! Qattuu’s Midnight Sun and Angela Amarualik’s Uvannik are both considered for Best Regional Roots Music Album.
“When I first got notified by email, I screamed out of excitement and joy,” said Qattuu. “To know my music is being heard on such a level is an honor.”
When an album is For Your Consideration, it has met all entry eligibility requirements and is included on the first ballot sent out to the Recording Academy’s Voting Members. These members include music artists, producers, engineers, and songwriters. Members then vote on which albums they believe should receive nomination in the upcoming GRAMMY Awards®.
Nominations will be announced on November 10, 2023.
Midnight Sun is Qattuu’s debut solo album. The eight-track project was released in February of this year, fusing traditional Inuit throat singing (katajjaq) with contemporary music genres. It was produced and co-written by Grammy-, Juno-, and Polaris Prize-winning music producer Chris Birkett, whose previous work includes Sinéad O'Connor and Sting. Midnight Sun was largely recorded at his studio in Toronto, Ontario.
Qattuu currently resides in Ottawa, Ontario and has roots in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. She has been involved in both music scenes. Her passion began at the age of 6, when her mother showed her a cassette tape of an Inuk singer performing throat singing. Largely self-taught, Qattuu honed her craft over many years. As a child, she remembers crying from the physical pain in her throat as she learned the technique. Though, she remained determined to learn the ancient art of katajjaq.
Angela Amarualik’s album Uvannik was released in late 2022. The artist’s sophomore album takes on a darker tone as Amarualik goes through a journey of self-discovery in life’s saddest and happiest moments. The album was recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Birkett.
This is Amarualik’s first album since her debut was released back in 2018. The self-titled album received three nominations at the 2019 Indigenous Music Awards, including one win in the category of Best Inuit, Indigenous Language, or Francophone Album. That year, she also performed at the ceremony. Born and raised in Igloolik, Nunavut, Amarualik currently lives in Laval, Quebec.
“To be considered a GRAMMY nomination is definitely a feeling,” said Amarualik. “I owe it to all the Inuit artists, whose work carries strength, struggles, beauty, reality, and truth. Qujannamiik!”
Updates
Announcing Our New COO
Congratulations to Samantha Claire Durrell, who began her journey as Hitmakerz’s Chief Operating Officer at the start of the month. Durrell began at Hitmakerz in fall 2022 as a Social Media and Production Intern, before transitioning into a full-time Project Management position. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Creative Industries program in June 2023.
“I feel incredibly honoured and humbled to be fulfilling this role as COO at Hitmakerz,” said Durrell. “I want this company to continue to have an impact on the community, where the public feels like they are involved and a substantial part of anything we host or create.”
In her new role, she will work on and manage a variety of projects while also proposing new endeavours for the company.
“I recognize that this position comes with a lot of responsibility because we are trying to build an exceptional brand and a lasting legacy,” said Durrell.
First Virtual Night Audition A Success
Hitmakerz held its first Virtual Audition Night on October 24. The Zoom-hosted event was an opportunity for emerging musicians to showcase their talent in front of Hitmakerz staff. The event was organized and hosted by Hitmakerz Talent and Events Manager, Giuli Saucedo.
“We felt honoured that artists showed up with nothing but enthusiasm and positive energy,” said Saucedo.
Performers showed off their musical skills to Hitmakerz CEO, Sarah Elaine McLay, and COO, Samantha Claire Durrell, who provided their feedback on a panel. Hitmakerz staff also shared more information about further opportunities with the label.
“From the event's conception, we made the very conscious decision that it should be very casual and conversational to break the barrier between labels and artists,” said Saucedo. “We wanted artists to feel comfortable in being vulnerable enough to share their stories and perform songs that mean a lot to them.”
Big Night in Ottawa
Hitmakerz and its artists made a mark in Ottawa during back-to-back music events last month. On September 14, Hitmakerz co-curated a City Sounds Live concert with the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and Vanier BIA. The free outdoor concert featured performances from Qattuu and Hyper-T, alongside Brenda and Stuart Qiyuk. A crowd filled the parking lot as the musicians performed.
Immediately following the concert, Hitmakerz held their second Fusion workshop. The event was built in collaboration with the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, Independent Music Business (Edwards Creative Law), Vanier BIA, and Ontario Creates. The workshop was titled “Improvisation + Live Sound” and featured artist Qattuu, producer Tev Bourque, and educator and musician Jordan Robinson. Participants watched live demonstrations from Qattuu and Bourque and listened closely to a lesson from Robinson. Some attendees got on stage to improvise music together, through singing, playing guitar, and beatboxing.
New Releases
Thank you for reading the fall edition of the Hitmakerz newsletter. We will be in touch in the next quarter. In the meantime, please visit the Hitmakerz website or follow us on social media for the latest news.
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About Hitmakerz
Creative Partnerships for Positive Impact. Hitmakerz is an innovative social enterprise that champions artists to share their stories, strengthen their culture, and develop sustainable careers in creative industries. For more information, visit www.hitmakerz.com.