Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Sep 05/05) - Vast distances and few technical resources make it an uphill struggle for young bands in the territory who want to break into the recording industry.

Yellowknife artist Rick Poltaruk talks to young musicians about do-it-yourself recording during a workshop held in conjunction with the End of the Road Music Festival in Inuvik. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Yellowknife musician Rick Poltaruk offered them a solution at the End of the Road Music Festival in Inuvik: do it yourself.

Poltaruk held a festival workshop where he advised musicians to achieve their goals in the recording industry by producing their own tunes, even on a tight budget.

"All you really need is a decent home computer and a microphone." he said.

"You can record your tunes and send them via e-mail to other producers for mixing. One of the biggest challenges you'll face is learning the software."

Alberta country sensation Corb Lund, who caught the end of the workshop, agreed.

"The resources are available for consumers to buy, you just have to find the right price," he said.

If money is an obstacle, Poltaruk suggested turning to the NWT Arts Council for grant funding to develop an album. The deadline for 2006 applications is Feb. 28.

Minimal equipment

"I didn't realize that with such a minimal amount of equipment you could make a marketable product," said Inuvik musician Dennis Allen, who also attended the workshop.

The Recording Artists Association of the NWT (RAANT) is another possible funding source for musicians looking to organize live performances. Guy Langois started the association to assist musicians working in the territories. Poltaruk, a longtime RAANT organizer, said the association offers $5,000 in annual grants to help stage events like the End of the Road Music festival in Inuvik.

They have also hosted and organized other events like Cabin Fever, Bushed and International Music Day in Yellowknife.

Poltaruk's own recording career started 40 years ago when he picked up a guitar at the age of 14.

His resume ranges from film acting to cartoon voice-overs.

"The first time I walked into a studio was in 1972," he said. "I was singing commercial jingles."

The veteran musician offered one more piece of advice: "Accept defeat and turn it into victory. If someone tells you that something is wrong, listen to them. They just might be right."