Aasiva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aasiva
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| Birth name | Colleen Aasiva Nakashuk |
| Born | 1997 (age 27–28) Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada |
| Genres | Acoustic Inuktitut music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, educator |
| Instruments | Inuit throat singing, ukulele |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | Aakuluk Music |
Colleen Aasiva Nakashuk (born in 1997), known by her stage name Aasiva, is a Canadian Inuk singer, songwriter, and teacher. Her unique music style is called indie folk. It features the ukulele, songs in the Inuktitut language, and traditional Inuit throat singing.
About Aasiva
Early Life and Musical Journey
Aasiva was born in Pangnirtung, a community in Nunavut, Canada. Later, she moved to Ottawa to study at Nunavut Sivuniksavut. This is a special program connected with Algonquin College.
Her Music and Albums
Aasiva works with the record label Aakuluk Music. In 2018, she released her first album, titled Aasiva. This album was very popular! It earned her nominations in two categories at the 2019 Indigenous Music Awards: Best Folk Album and Best New Artist. She even performed at the awards ceremony.
Her music on this album mixes different styles. It has folk, indie folk, and pop sounds. Aasiva combines the ukulele, Inuktitut lyrics, and Inuit throat-singing. On July 9, 2021, Aasiva released her second album, Niriunniq. Jace Lasek, a producer from the band Besnard Lakes, helped create this album.
Aasiva's music has also been featured on many radio shows. These include CBC Radio and Indigenous in Music and Arts.
Sharing Music and Culture
Beyond making her own music, Aasiva spends a lot of time teaching music. She works with young people across Nunavut. Nunavut News described her efforts as "a mission to teach ukulele to young Nunavummiut."
She regularly teaches children in schools and at festivals. She shares songs, how to play string instruments, and techniques like throat-singing. Aasiva believes these teaching efforts help keep Inuit culture alive. This is also why she chooses to sing in Inuktitut. She uses traditional Inuit musical techniques to "preserve the artform." She also supports bringing more music and learning chances to Nunavut. Aasiva sees music as a powerful tool. It helps people maintain and improve their mental health. It can also be a way to cope with challenges.
