New tracks “Kaukuarjuk” and “The Great Angakkuq (feat. Kevin Qamaniq-Mason)” out now

\What does it sound like when the ancestors sing back? Acclaimed Inuit throat-singing duo Silla returns with two powerful singles — “Kaukuarjuk” and “The Great Angakkuq (feat. Kevin Qamaniq-Mason)” — that reach across generations and genres to embody Indigenous resurgence, kinship, and sonic evolution.

Comprised of Charlotte Qamaniq (Iglulik) and Cynthia Pitsiulak (Kimmirut), Silla has been captivating audiences with their genre-defying fusion of katajjaq (Inuit throat singing), hard rock, electronic, IDM, and post-industrial textures since 2005. Currently based in Ottawa, the duo has received two JUNO nominations and two Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards for their work with Silla and Rise. With these new singles, they assert themselves not only as keepers of tradition — but as creators of future worlds.

The Award is given annually to an artist whose exemplary work produced away from the spotlight of the moment and without fanfare, has been been a notable source of inspiration to others in the arts and/or whose visionary contributions to the arts and broader communities have been made in under-acknowledged or ‘behind the scenes’ roles.

Beverly Glenn-Copeland has had a significant impact across many spheres over his fifty-year career as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and transgender advocate. As an artist, he has masterfully blended genres and expanded musical horizons, pushing boundaries and using his passion for nature and science, to craft a distinct sound. As a trans artist with a diverse cultural heritage, he has been a passionate supporter of Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+ communities both in Canada and abroad.

"I am extraordinarily honoured to know that I have been chosen for the 2023 Robert Johnston Visionary Artist Award,” says Glenn-Copeland. “We live in challenging times and it means a great deal to me in this, my 80th year, to know my work has served as an inspiration to others.”