Inuktitut (album)

Inuktitut
Studio album by
Elisapie
ReleasedSeptember 15, 2023
GenrePop
Length43:35
LabelBonsound
Elisapie chronology
Eaux turbulentes
(2020) 		Inuktitut
(2023)

Inuktitut is the fourth studio album by Inuk-Canadian singer-songwriter Elisapie, released in 2023.[1] The album consists of ten Inuktitut language covers of classic pop and rock songs that Elisapie described as connected to a significant personal memory.[2]

Production

According to Elisapie, she had considered other songs for the project as well, including songs by Pearl Jam and Counting Crows, but chose to proceed only with songs that inspired moments of personal reflection when she relistened to them.[3] She has also stated that she viewed the project as an opportunity to build bridges between Inuit and non-Inuit cultures, stating that hearing a familiar song redone in an unfamiliar language helps to create curiosity and build personal alliances.[2]

She stated that her proudest moment during the recording sessions was when she successfully secured permission from Robert Plant and Jimmy Page to record her version of Led Zeppelin's "Going to California", as both Page and Plant are notoriously reluctant to license their music too frequently.[3]

Awards

Elisapie won the Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024,[4] and the album was a shortlisted finalist for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.[5]

Carolyne De Bellefeuille, Jessica Ledoux, Mali Savaria-Ille, Veronique Lafortune and Leeor Wild also received a Juno nomination for Album Artwork of the Year.

The album won the Félix Award for Interpretive Album of the Year at the 46th Félix Awards.[6]

Track listing

Inuktitut track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Isumagijunnaitaungituq" ("The Unforgiven")4:33
2."Sinnatuumait" ("Dreams")4:27
3."Taimangalimaaq" ("Time After Time")4:13
4."Qimatsilunga" ("I Want to Break Free")4:03
5."Qaisimalaurittuq" ("Wish You Were Here")4:42
6."Californiamut" ("Going to California")3:33
7."Uummati Attanarsimat" ("Heart of Glass")3:58
8."Inuuniaravit" ("Born to Be Alive")3:33
9."Taimaa Qimatsiniungimat" ("Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye")4:34
10."Qimmijuat" ("Wild Horses")5:59
Total length:43:35

Charts

Chart performance for Inuktitut
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[7] 14

References

  1. ^ "How Elisapie gave new meaning to 10 pop and rock classics by translating them into Inuktitut". Q, September 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Kerry Slack, "Juno-winning artist Elisapie 'thrilled' Inuktitut album is bringing connection with Indigenous languages". APTN National News, April 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Darcy MacDonald, "Elisapie on her album Inuktitut, and the classic songs that resonate with her and her community". Cult MTL, October 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "Junos 2024: full list of winners". CBC Music, March 23, 2024.
  5. ^ David Friend, "Calgary rock project Cindy Lee among acts shortlisted for Polaris Music Prize". Global News, July 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Louis-Philippe Labrèche, "Les résultats du Premier gala de l’ADISQ 2024". Le Canal Auditif, October 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "Elisapie Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.