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26 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2006 Independent label gives Aglukark creative freedom By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF NEW RELEASE: Oakville resident Susan Aglukark is excited about the upcoming release of her new album Red Blood Earth. Unlike her last three albums, Susan Aglukark's latest doesn't have the backing of a big-time music label. That's what makes Red Blood Earth "so liberating," says the three-time Juno Award winner and Oakville resident. "We really enjoyed the songwriting because it was from a different place. There were no conscious reasons to write for industry, for radio," she said of the album, which will be released across Canada Aug. 22. "Industry is all about keeping the machine rolling, but it's not the driving force here." Instead, Aglukark says, this album "is about creating for the sake of creating." A native of Nunavut who has been living in Oakville the past seven years, Aglukark's music blends the Inuktitut and English languages with pop music to tell the stories of the Inuit of Arctic Canada. Much of her music is inspired by her upbringing, her travels and her "view of Canada as an Inuit from Nunavut," she said, adding her roots to her birthplace are "very strong." EMI Music Canada backed her last three records, but this time, Aglukark chose to release the album independently to bring her music in a different direction. "It's definitely a lot more basic, it's a lot more rootsy," she said. Her favourite track is I Will Return, which she wrote back in 2000. It's currently on rotation on Country Music Television and the Aboriginal People's Television Network. "I wrote it when I had reached a turning point in my career and professionally just decided I really enjoy what I do and I wanted to stay committed to this career," she said. "I decided I would just fight to keep it." Up until that point, Aglukark had already earned an impressive resume of musical recognition. In 1995, she picked up a pair of Juno Awards for Best New Solo Artist and Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording. In 1996, her album This Child earned Juno nominations for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording and Best Video. This Child, her debut album with EMI Music Canada, was released in 1995, and was followed by Unsung Heroes in 2000 and Big Feeling in 2004. Those albums, in addition to her first two, Arctic Rose and Christmas, have sold more than 400,000 copies in Canada to date. "I'll always be attached to This Child,"she said, "but I think at this point in my life, Red Blood Earth is my favourite album." While many of the songs share the stories of her culture and contain the political and social awareness of her previous work, that wasn't the focus this time. "I had a lot of fun putting this together, and it was the first time I felt like I'm creating for the sake of creating as opposed to writing because there's things to be said," said Aglukark, who was recently appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for her activism in the aboriginal community. "I'm still very committed to the aboriginal community, I've always been involved, but I don't think I went into this album thinking I have to speak up for people who need to speak up." Having just come off a few shows and festivals, Aglukark and her four-piece band have plans for a cross-Canada tour to promote the album in the spring. Red Blood Earth, which was produced by Chad Irschick and recorded and mixed at Inception Sound Studios in Toronto, is available across Canada Aug. 22. It's currently being sold in Oakville at the Native Art Gallery, 239 Lakeshore Rd. E. For more on Susan Aglukark, visit www.susanaglukark.com Discover New Products UP TO SAVE UP TO 21 SEER RATING UP TO ON COOLING COSTS* OAKVILLE TOWN CENTRE I 300 North Service Rd. W. at Dorval 50% 13 SEER RATING 15 SEER RATING AY LL DISPLS A MODEL MUST GO OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK *SEE STORE FOR DETAILS O.A.C. Oak Town Centre 1 QEW Dorval 905-844-1223 North Service Road