‘Animism’, the new studio album from Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq will be released in the UK on January 26th via Six Shooter Records.
The album opener, a brave and expressive cover of classic Pixies’ track ‘Caribou’ – a song named after the Reindeer that make up an important part of traditional Inuit diet.
On September 22, ‘Animism’ was awarded Canada’s esteemed Polaris Music Prize. In true underdog fashion, Tagaq beat out major high profile names that included Arcade Fire and Drake. Tagaq’s show-stopping performance that evening forever changed the way our Northern neighbors, and many beyond, look at what music can be. Afterward, The Polaris Prize Organization called it “...the most memorable performance in our history of very memorable performances. Epic.”
View Tanya Tagaq’s groundbreaking performance HERE.
‘Animism’ is one of the most startlingly unique, original, powerful and uncategorizable albums to ever break into Canadian popular culture, or any popular culture for that matter. The genre-defying work features Tagaq’s fusion of electronics, avant-garde composition, classical expressionism, Inuit throat singing and highly political undertones, underlining the struggle for Aboriginal rights in Canada. ‘Animism’ is dominated by Tagaq’s vocals; yet features very few lyrics.
Tagaq first appeared on Bjork’s Medulla (2004) album and was featured in a mesmerizing segment of that tour. She has gone on to collaborate with the world-renowned Kronos Quartet and released two Juno-nominated solo records (Sinaa and Auk/Blood).
Every so often, an artist comes along who makes us rethink what forms music can take by creating something truly innovative while simultaneously invoking thought, provoking establishment, creating a deeper connection with our surroundings and eliciting a surprising response from within ourselves.Tanya Tagaq’s ‘Animism’ has done just that and it is about to be unleashed here.
‘Animism’ tracklist:
- "Uja"
- "Caribou"
- "Umingmak"
- "Genetic Memory"
- "Rabbit"
- "Howl"
- "Tulugak"
- "Flight"
- "Fight"
- "Damp Animal Spirits"
- "Fracking"
