Northern Haze

Northern Haze is a Canadian rock music group from Igloolik, Nunavut, whose self-titled 1985 debut album is believed to have been the first-ever indigenous-language rock album recorded in North America.[1]

Northern Haze
OriginIgloolik, Nunavut, Canada
GenresPsychedelic rock, hard rock, heavy metal
Years active1984-2007
2017-present
LabelsAakuluk Music
Associated actsThe Jerry Cans
MembersJames Ungalaq
Naisana Qamaniq
John Inooya
Derek Aqqiaruq
Allan Kangok
Past membersKolitalik Inukshuk
Elijah Kunnuk

Formed in 1984 by Kolitalik Inukshuk, Naisana Qamaniq, James Ungalaq, Elijah Kunnuk and John Inooya, musicians from Igloolik who had collaborated in various bands since the 1970s, the band released the self-titled album in 1985 through the CBC Northern Service.[2] The band played various festival dates, including at Folk on the Rocks and Expo 86, to support the album.[2] They continued for many years afterward to play concert dates in Canadian Arctic communities, but could not afford to record a followup album due to the extremely high cost of doing so in remote Arctic communities;[3] they did, however, record some individual singles.[2]

In 2007, the band broke up after the deaths of Kunnuk and Inukshuk.[3] In 2012, the independent label Supreme Echo Records released Sinaaktuq, a compilation of the original album and the non-album singles.[2]

In 2017 Aakuluk Music, the record label owned and operated by Nunavut-based band The Jerry Cans, reissued the 1985 album and convinced the band to reunite.[3] With new members Derek Aqqiaruq and Allan Kangok, the band worked with record producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda to record Siqinnaarut, which was released in 2018.[3] The album was a Juno Award nominee for Indigenous Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020.[4]

References
  1. "Northern Haze returns with new album 'Siqinnaarut,' their 1st in 33 years". CBC North, November 4, 2018.
  2. "Arctic Metal Veterans Northern Haze Unleash 'Siqinnaarut,' First Album In 33 Years: Premiere". Billboard, November 20, 2018.
  3. Ben Rayner, "Legendary Nunavut rockers Northern Haze release first album in 33 years". Toronto Star, November 21, 2018.
  4. Melody Lau, "Alessia Cara and Tory Lanez lead the 2020 Juno nominations". CBC Music, January 28, 2019.
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