Tanya Tagaq

Tanya Tagaq is a groundbreaking Inuk throat singer, composer, author, and activist known for redefining a traditional Inuit vocal practice into a bold, contemporary art form. Born in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, she began experimenting with throat singing as a teenager and developed her own distinctive solo style while studying visual arts in Halifax.

Her debut album Sinaa marked her emergence as a powerful voice in the music world, and her critically acclaimed album Animism won the prestigious Polaris Music Prize and a Juno Award. With follow-up albums like Retribution and Tongues, Tagaq continued to push artistic boundaries, blending elements of punk, classical, and electronic music with raw, emotional vocalizations.

Tagaq has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Björk, Kronos Quartet, and Buffy Sainte-Marie, and has performed on international stages from Carnegie Hall to global music festivals. Her work often centers on themes of Indigenous rights, climate change, and cultural survival. One of her most impactful performances featured the names of missing and murdered Indigenous women, raising national awareness of the crisis.

Beyond music, she is also a celebrated author. Her debut novel, Split Tooth, merges memoir, myth, and poetry, and received critical acclaim and multiple literary award nominations. Tagaq has been recognized with the Order of Canada and several honorary doctorates for her contributions to Canadian culture and Indigenous advocacy.

Tanya Tagaq’s work challenges and inspires. Through her fearless creativity, she brings vital stories and voices to the forefront, making her one of the most important and influential artists of her generation.