Kelly Fraser

Kelly Fraser (August 8, 1993 – December 24, 2019)[1] was a Canadian Inuk pop singer and songwriter, whose second album, Sedna, received a Juno Award nomination for Indigenous Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2018.[2]

Kelly Fraser
BornAugust 8, 1993
Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada
DiedDecember 24, 2019(2019-12-24) (aged 26)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres
  • Inuit Traditional
  • pop
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Years active2010–2019
LabelsHitmakerz
Websitekellyfrasermusic.com

Life and career

Born in Igloolik, Fraser moved with her family at a young age to Sanikiluaq, Nunavut.[1] She was educated at Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa before completing an indigenous studies program at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in British Columbia.[3] Nunavut Sivuniksavut launched in 1985 and is Canada's oldest and first Inuit post-secondary programme,[4] where Inuit youth learn about the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.[5]

Fraser first attracted widespread attention in 2013 with a series of Inuktitut-language covers of pop songs, most notably Rihanna's "Diamonds", on YouTube.[6] She released her debut album, Isuma, in 2014.[6] Her songs include Inuktitut and English language, and musically, combine contemporary pop with traditional Inuit sounds.[6] Fraser was dedicated to sharing Inuit culture with a widespread audience and raising awareness of present-day issues and Inuit rights; many of these themes feature heavily in her music.[7][8] Her producer reported that she was working on another album, to be called Decolonize, when she died;[6][9] crowdfunding for the album was underway at that time.[10]

Fraser died at her home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on December 24, 2019, by suicide. According to her family she had suffered through "childhood traumas, racism and persistent cyberbullying".[6] Several candlelight vigils in her honor were held at The Forks on 4 January[10] and at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt, BC.[11]

Musicography

Isuma

Fraser's first album, released in June 2014, was recorded with her bandmates from Sanikiluaq, with seven original and three cover songs. The title means 'think'.[12]

Sedna

Sedna was released on February 25, 2017, by Nunavut's Hitmakerz record label.[3][13] The title of the album, known as ᓄᓕᐊᔪᒃ (Nuliaju) in Inuktitut, refers to the story of Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea, which Fraser decided to modernize in this album.[9] She said, "The goal of the album is to help heal those suffering from the effects of colonization, including the damaging effects of residential school and forced relocation. There is a great need for Inuit artists to directly speak to those affected from the past."[13]

The album included the song 'Fight for the Right', released as part of the 'no' campaign in the 2016 Nunavut municipal land referendum, which asked voters whether they were willing to allow the municipality to sell municipal lands.[14]

References
  1. Sinclair, Niigaan (2019-12-27). "Powerful singer brought Inuit culture to world". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  2. "Juno nominations shine a light on Nunavut performers". Nunatsiaq News. February 6, 2018.
  3. "Nunavut pop star's new album is heavy on beats, rhymes and life". Nunatsiaq News. April 20, 2017.
  4. "'Slap in the face': Nunavut government cuts funding to Inuit college | CBC News". cbc.ca. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  5. "Historical Events". Nunavut Sivuniksavut. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  6. "Inuk singer Kelly Fraser died by suicide amid 'hard' fight with PTSD, family says". Global News. December 30, 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  7. Blake, Emily. "Indspire winner Kelly Fraser has a lot to say". CBC News.
  8. "Inuit musician Kelly Fraser remembered for her advocacy, energy and passion".
  9. "How Kelly Fraser is revitalizing Inuktitut with Rihanna". New Fire. CBC Radio. August 14, 2017.
  10. 'Prayers And Tears For Inuk Singer-Songwriter; Fraser, 26, Killed Herself Christmas Eve', Winnipeg Sun (5 January 2020), A4.
  11. Lirette, Dominika (January 10, 2020). "'She was such a bright light': Former classmates, teachers at B.C. school honour life of Kelly Fraser". CBC.
  12. "Nunavut's Kelly Fraser releases first CD, 'Isuma'", CBC News (10 June 2014).
  13. "Kelly Fraser Music". kellyfrasermusic.com. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  14. Michele LeTourneau, "Sanikiluaq singer releases second album", Nunavut News (6 May 2017).
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