Aasiva
Colleen Aasiva Nakashuk | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada |
| Other names | Aasiva |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, educator |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Known for | Inuit throat singing, ukulele music, singing in Inuktitut |
| Notable work | Aasiva (2018), Niriunniq (2021) |
Colleen Aasiva Nakashuk (born 1997), professionally known as Aasiva, is an Inuk singer-songwriter and educator from Canada. Her distinctive indie folk sound incorporates the ukulele, lyrics in Inuktitut, and traditional Inuit throat singing techniques.
Life and career
Originating from Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Aasiva relocated to Ottawa to pursue studies at Nunavut Sivuniksavut, a program linked with Algonquin College. She is an artist signed to the label Aakuluk Music, through which she launched her first album, Aasiva, in 2018. This debut work received nominations for Best Folk Album and Best New Artist at the 2019 Indigenous Music Awards, where she also appeared as a performer. Her musical style merges elements of folk, indie folk, and pop, featuring the ukulele alongside Inuktitut vocals and throat-singing traditions. On July 9, 2021, she unveiled her sophomore album, Niriunniq, with production handled by Jace Lasek of Besnard Lakes.
Her music has been broadcast on various radio outlets, including CBC Radio and Indigenous in Music and Arts.
In addition to her performing career, Aasiva is dedicated to fostering music education throughout Nunavut. She teaches ukulele and throat-singing to young people in schools and at cultural festivals, supporting Inuit heritage preservation. This aligns with her focus on performing in Inuktitut and employing customary musical methods. She highlights music’s importance in promoting mental well-being and serving as a tool for emotional resilience.
External links
- Articles with short description
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- No local image but image on Wikidata
- Date of birth missing (living people)
- Living people
- 21st-century Canadian actresses
- 21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters
- 21st-century Canadian women singers
- 21st-century Inuit women musicians
- 21st-century Inuit writers
- Canadian women folk singers
- Canadian folk singer-songwriters
- Canadian Inuit women
- Canadian voice actresses
- Canadian women singer-songwriters
- Inuit from Nunavut
- 21st-century Inuit musicians
- Actresses from Nunavut
- Singers from Nunavut
- People from Pangnirtung
- 1997 births
- 21st-century Inuit actresses
- 21st-century Inuit women writers