Press, Awards, Testimonials
Press
2024 Nunavut News: Sanikiluaq relaunches summer music festival
2024 CBC News: Taloyoak band, Nickelback producer set up recording hub in Arctic community
2023 Nunatsiaq News: Pangnirtung artist nabs 2 Summer Solstice music nominations
2023 Tinnitist: Arctic Music Conference & Awards Show Heats Up
2023 That Eric Alper: Arctic Music Conference and Arctic Music Awards Lineup Released
2023 Nunatsiaq News: Fans get to choose winners for Arctic Music Awards
2023 CTV News: Nunavut plans to support Inuit language, culture with new music industry association
2023 Nunavut News: Nunavut Music Association founded
2023 Nunatsiaq News: Association to support Nunavut artists set to launch this spring
2022 Nunatsiaq News: NUPOP concert highlights week of music development workshops
2022 CBC Radio Ottawa: Hitmakerz label puts spotlight on Inuit artists from Nunavut
2022 Ottawa Region Giving Guide 2022: Three Future Leaders share their experiences
2022 Radio-Canada: La parole aux premiers peuples (the word to the first peoples)
2021 Ryerson University: Promoting Indigenous culture, building sustainable careers in the music industry
2021 Nunavut News: Kinngait Elders record Inuktitut songs dating back more than 1,000 years
2021 Arctic Journal: Project preserves oral traditions
2021 Nunatsiaq News: Inuit artists gather in Ottawa for collaboration-filled week
2021 CBC Radio Ottawa: Nunavut artists soak up 'creative energy' at Ottawa music retreat
2021 Nunavut News: One-week creative hub has Nunavut Hitmakerz artists excited
2021 Roots Music: Hitmakerz connecting Inuit artists with industry heavy hitters
2020 SOCAN Magazine / Words & Music: Advocating For The Nunavut Sound
2019 Above & Beyond/Arctic Journal Showcasing Nunavut’s Musical Talent
2019 Nunavut News: Iqaluit musician teaches ukuleles to youth in three communities
2019 Canadian Beats: Angela Amarualik releases video for “Sapingillunga”
2019 Nunavut News: Angela Amarualik earns Indigenous Music Award
2019 Nunatsiaq News: Up-and-coming Inuit singer shares her struggles with shyness
2018 CBC’s The National: Inuit singer-songwriter Kelly Fraser | Fight for the Rights
2018 Above & Beyond: Nunavut Hitmakerz – Inspiring a new generation of artists
2017 Northern Public Affairs: Nunavut Hitmakerz: Giving Young Nunavummiut A Voice
2017 Nunatsiaq News: Growing music-makers here at home
2017 Nunatsiaq News: New guide offers help and hope to potential homeowners
2016 CBC News Nunavut 'Chasing their dreams:' Nunavut Hitmakerz hold music workshops
Awards & Accolades
2023 “For your Grammy Awards® Consideration” - Angela Amarualik - Best Regional Roots Music Album
2023 “For your Grammy Awards® Consideration” - Qattuu - Best Regional Roots Music Album
2023 Arctic Music Awards and Arctic Music Conference: FACTOR Success Story 2022-2023 Annual Report
2023 Nominee: Breakout West Industry Awards: Hitmakerz “Community Excellence”
2023 Indigenous HipHop Awards: Hip Hop Album of the Year – Therapy Sessions, Shauna Seeteenak
2023 Recommended for Polaris Music Prize – Qattuu “Midnight Sun”
2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak
2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Angela Amarualik
2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Joey Nowyuk
2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Brenda Montana
2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Roots Album of the Year – Joey Nowyuk
2023 Winner: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Angela Amarualik
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Angela Amarualik
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Angela Amarualik
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Angela Amarualik ft. Qattuu
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Music Video of the Year – Angela Amarualik
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Album of the Year – Angela Amarualik
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Brenda Montana
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Aocelyn
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Aocelyn
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Aocelyn
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Music Video of the Year – Aocelyn
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Album of the Year – Aocelyn
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Music Video of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak
2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Album of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak
2022 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Looee “Mumik&alirunnuk (Haali Jaali)”
2022 #5 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Jacob Okatsiak “Fly High”
2022 Guest Lecturer: Toronto Metropolitan University, Digital Media Entrepreneurship, Toronto, ON
2022 Speaker & Panelist: Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, Ottawa, ON
2022 Speaker & Panelist: Resource Fair, House of Paint Festival, Ottawa, ON
2022 Speaker & Panelist: Tourism & Cultural Industries, Sealing and Fur, Nunavut Trade Show, Iqaluit, NU
2022 Indigenous HipHop Awards: Hip Hop Album of the Year – Therapy Sessions, Shauna Seeteenak
2022 Indigenous Hip Hop Awards: Breakthrough Artists of the Year – Therapy Sessions, Shauna Seeteenak
2022 Curated Hitmakerz playlist in partnership with Canada Council for the Arts and Arctic Arts Summit
2022 Capital Music Awards (Ottawa Music Industry Coalition) – Hitmakerz “Community Impact Award”
2022 #8 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Aocelyn “Wrong Guy”
2022 Nominee: Juno Award: Best Classical Album – Messiah’s Complex', Looee
2022 Nominee: Native American Music Awards: Single of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak “Better with You”
2022 Nominee: Native American Music Awards: Best Folk/Americana Video – Joey Nowyuk “Nalligigakku”
2022 Nominee: Native American Music Awards: Best Traditional Vocal Album – Joey Nowyuk “Nalligigakku”
2021 Winner: BRCC Business Award – Special Achievement Award – Hitmakerz
2021 Speaker & Panelist: Lyrics, Languages, and Music, Indie Week, Toronto, ON
2021 Music video featured in imagineNATIVE film festival – Joey Nowyuk/Shauna Seeteenak “Pray”
2021 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Joey Nowyuk/Shauna Seeteenak “Pray”
2020 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Joey Nowyuk “Nalligigakku”
2020 Winner: Indigenous Music Award: Best Music Video – Joey Nowyuk
2019 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Ajungi feat. Angela Amarualik
2019 Nominated: Indigenous Music Award: Best Producer – Angela Amarualik
2019 Winner: Indigenous Music Award: Best Indigenous Language Album – Angela Amarualik
2019 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best New Artist – Angela Amarualik
2019 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best Folk Album – Aasiva “Aasiva”
2019 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best New Artist – Aasiva
2019 Keynote Speaker – Northern Perspectives Conference, Winnipeg, MB
2018 #3 in Pop Album Sales, iTunes Canada – Aasiva “Aasiva”
2018 Nominee: Juno Award: R&B/Soul Recording of the Year – Human, Jhyve
2018 Nominee: Juno Award: Best Indigenous Album – Sedna, Kelly Fraser
2018 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best Pop Album – Sedna, Kelly Fraser
Testimonials
“Hitmakerz has challenged me to follow my dreams of becoming an independent artist and is making it a reality.” – Qattuu (Artist)
“Hitmakerz has taken me to the next level. It's so vital to have this kind of support as an artist.” – Looee (Artist)
“Hitmakerz gave me the confidence that I can become who I dream to be. Hitmakerz is a great help and is very professional.” – Aocelyn (Artist)
"I love working with Hitmakerz. They have introduced me to some awesome Indigenous talent, a new generation of artists who will help make a better world." – Chris Birkett (Music Producer for Buffy Sainte Marie, Quincy Jones, Peter Gabrieal Sting, etc.)
“[Hitmakerz] has opened my eyes to a whole new way of life in the North. The opportunity Hitmakerz is providing artists is really quite special and something I can be proud of being a part of.” – Dale Penner (Music Producer for Nickelback, Loverboy, SM6, etc.)
“Working with Hitmakerz has helped me to achieve a sense of purpose with my work. Knowing that we are working together to spread Inuit music is a great feeling.” – Teaville Bourque (Music Producer, Professor of Music Industry Arts program, Algonquin College)
“Interning at Hitmakerz was a wonderful opportunity for me to exercise and enhance the skills I learned through post-secondary education. I am grateful for my time immersed in the Hitmakerz workplace and am happy to have had the opportunity to be part of the Hitmakerz family.” – Kendra Seguin (Intern, Summer 2022)
“My time with the company was a journey; many times, they have thrown me straight into different projects, and I could not be more thankful as it helped me get more of a sense of how the job works and not hold my hand through the entire process. I was fortunate enough also to help create an experience that one can get from one job. Overall my experience at Hitmakerz was something that I would not trade for anything else.” – Alison Au (Intern, Winter 2023)
"Forever and always, thank you for everything, Hitmakerz." – Chris Vasilakos (Intern, Fall 2023)