Nunavut's qiyuapik — the new solo project from Northern Haze's James Ungalaq — has announced his debut album, led by new single "alianairaalunga."
rebel music / E5-2143 is due August 18 via Aakuluk Music, the territory's first (and so far only) record label.
It follows Ungalaq's decades-long legacy in Northern Haze, who are widely considered to have made the first Indigenous-language rock album in North America with their 1985 self-titled debut. After the deaths of the band's Kolitalik Inukshuk and Elijah Kunnuk in 2007, Ungalaq, Naisana Qamaniq and John Inooya kept things going with an assist from Ungalaq's son, Derek Aqqiaruq, and new member Allan Kangok. Their most recent release is 2018's Siqinnaarut.
"I had that name when my mother registered me to school, however, they required a colonial or imperial name," Ungalaq said of the title of his first solo offering, which is derived from his disc number. "My name on the block is E5-2143. To me it is my inventory number, someone accounted for their responsibility for my existence at that point. Raw in flesh, words have more meanings than one, resilient is a whole lot in meaning. My name is Silu, Qiyuapik, Kangukuluk, Panikpak, Niaaukittuq, Kingusiuq."
Rousing lead track "alianairaalunga" draws inspiration from the notion of "celebrating our life here and now," according to the artist. "Celebrate food and drinks and family and love and life. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote it, I just love life and little more than everyone else on short ends. When I look like I'm beat, I get back up. Always that one chance to celebrate like a king."
Watch the "alianairaalunga" video below, where you'll also find the album tracklist.
rebel music / E5-2143:
1. qainna qilaut
2. alianairaalunga
3. angajusakulu
4. atiilu
5. panniuq
6. silatugami
7. tukisi qilaut
rebel music / E5-2143 is due August 18 via Aakuluk Music, the territory's first (and so far only) record label.
It follows Ungalaq's decades-long legacy in Northern Haze, who are widely considered to have made the first Indigenous-language rock album in North America with their 1985 self-titled debut. After the deaths of the band's Kolitalik Inukshuk and Elijah Kunnuk in 2007, Ungalaq, Naisana Qamaniq and John Inooya kept things going with an assist from Ungalaq's son, Derek Aqqiaruq, and new member Allan Kangok. Their most recent release is 2018's Siqinnaarut.
"I had that name when my mother registered me to school, however, they required a colonial or imperial name," Ungalaq said of the title of his first solo offering, which is derived from his disc number. "My name on the block is E5-2143. To me it is my inventory number, someone accounted for their responsibility for my existence at that point. Raw in flesh, words have more meanings than one, resilient is a whole lot in meaning. My name is Silu, Qiyuapik, Kangukuluk, Panikpak, Niaaukittuq, Kingusiuq."
Rousing lead track "alianairaalunga" draws inspiration from the notion of "celebrating our life here and now," according to the artist. "Celebrate food and drinks and family and love and life. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote it, I just love life and little more than everyone else on short ends. When I look like I'm beat, I get back up. Always that one chance to celebrate like a king."
Watch the "alianairaalunga" video below, where you'll also find the album tracklist.
rebel music / E5-2143:
1. qainna qilaut
2. alianairaalunga
3. angajusakulu
4. atiilu
5. panniuq
6. silatugami
7. tukisi qilaut