(headline image: Silla – Photo by Aqqalunnguaq Heilmann)
Inuit throat-singing duo Silla returns with two new singles, “Kaukuarjuk” and “The Great Angakkuq” (featuring Kevin Qamaniq-Mason), that reaffirm their role as cultural stewards and musical innovators. The tracks, released under their independent label Qamaniq Records, act as a bridge between ancestral tradition and contemporary expression.
Based in Ottawa, Silla is composed of Charlotte Qamaniq (Iglulik) and Cynthia Pitsiulak (Kimmirut), who have been active since 2005. Known for mixing katajjaq (Inuit throat singing) with elements of hard rock, electronic music, and post-industrial textures, the duo has earned two JUNO (top Canadian music award) nominations and multiple Indigenous music awards for their collaborative project Silla and Rise.
The singles preview two upcoming albums: Inua (out June 21), which centers on traditional material, and Sila Is Boss (out July 9), which reimagines those traditions with modern production.
“Kaukuarjuk” is a traditional throat song composed by Qamaniq’s brother, Kevin Qamaniq-Mason, and named after a powerful Angakkuq (shaman) whose name he inherited through the Inuit custom of tuq&urausiit (namesake kinship). Performed by Qamaniq and Pitsiulak in layered rhythmic counterpoint, the piece serves as a tribute to ancestral knowledge and evolving cultural identity.
Its counterpart, “The Great Angakkuq,” features Greenlandic producer Andachan and Kevin Qamaniq-Mason on vocals. Fusing synthwave, distorted guitar, and qiarvaaq, a lyrical form of throat singing, the track opens with footsteps in snow and crescendos into a cinematic soundscape. Lyrics written by Charlotte Qamaniq reference Inuit Nunaat (the Inuit homeland), emphasizing both emotional and territorial connection.
Visuals for the singles are provided by Josh Qaumariaq, an Iqaluit-born artist celebrated for his colorful depictions of Arctic wildlife. His artwork continues to accompany Silla’s evolving narrative, which combines Indigenous spirituality, memory, and modern aesthetics.
Catch Silla live at the following upcoming dates:
May 13 – National Arts Centre (Tapiriit), Ottawa
May 22 – REMAI Modern (Fireside Chat), Saskatoon
May 23 – REMAI Modern (Klik My Heels), Saskatoon
June 7 – Arts Court (Pique Summer Edition), Ottawa
“This is our way of honoring our ancestors,” Silla writes. “And inviting listeners to join us.”
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