Tanya Tagaq

b. 1977, Ikaluktuutiak (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut, Victoria Island, Canada. Gillis was raised in an Inuit community and studied at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax. Gillis discovered traditional Inuit throat singing. This multiphonic and percussive form is usually performed by two people. Gillis had to learn a solo variation for herself and then taught others. This allowed her to be able to sing with a duo. Gillis was in 2000 at the Great Northern Arts Festival, where her paintings were displayed. She was unexpectedly asked to sing and was recommended by Bjork. She joined the Icelandic singer on her 2004 tour and appeared on Medulla’s 2004 album. Gillis has performed with Shooglenifty, the Kronos Quartet and Carnegie Hall. She is often accompanied in performance by Filipe Ugarte, and his duo Ugarte Anaiak. She was part of the Canada Council’s Sonic Weave Tour in 2003 and visited the UK as part of the Shaman Voices Tour. Gillis won the Best Female Artist award at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards 2005. Gillis has pushed the boundaries of the form, and has greatly increased its audience potential. Allmusic

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