Living in a town with no record label nearby can be like purgatory for young musicians. Godson wants to open new spaces for Yellowknife artists with his label, Ice Vibe Recordz.

Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 22/05) - Yellowknife rapper Aaron "Godson" Hernandez raised his profile in the Canadian music industry this month.

Hernandez released his sixth CD, The Track Dealer, in more than 100 CD Plus stores across Canada. The songs are already getting airplay on college radio. The second in a musical trilogy, the CD has sold well in Yellowknife since its 2004 release.

Having found a wide distribution network for his own material, Hernandez is now producing and promoting other young artists.

He's expanding his independent label, Ice Vibe Recordz, while working on the front line of the industry as manager of CD Plus in the Centre Square Mall.

"Distribution is the hardest challenge for a new artist," Hernandez says.

"A local record label will put Yellowknife on the map as a living, breathing music centre."

Ice Vibe Recordz is producing discs by two Yellowknife musicians, rhythm and blues singer Annya Laurent and rapper J-Fletch.

The label is also releasing Diamond Cuts, a compilation CD featuring songs by Leela Gilday, Diga, Gumboots and Pat Braden among others. It will debut in July.