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KIVALLIQ
As soon as he rolls out of bed in the morning Calvin Pameolik picks up his acoustic guitar and starts playing.

Nineteen-year-old musician Calvin Pameolik is trying to make a name for himself in the North. he recently played in Iqaluit's Alianait Arts Festival and has plans to perfrom in Kuujjuaq's Aqpik Jam. - photo courtesy of Calvin Pameolik

He strums a couple songs and then trudges downstairs to grab a cup of coffee before practicing some more.

The 19-year-old from Arviat said he spends a minimum of six hours a day working on his music.

"I'm always thinking about music and what songs I can write and record," he said.

Pameolik started playing guitar when he was about 10 years old and more recently got into singing and writing songs.

He describes his style of music as acoustic alternative mixed with some indie rock.

Pameolik's mother, who used to travel around Nunavut and Quebec playing in a band, and his brother are the ones who inspired him to pick up an instrument.

"(My brother) used to always play electric guitar in his room and it used to be really loud so I used to be very curious. How is that thing making that sound?" Pameolik recalled.

"I wanted to learn how to play it."

Once he got a good grasp of the electric guitar, Pameolik decided to try playing on an acoustic.

He liked the natural sound so much that it became his instrument of choice, although he also plays piano, bass, drums and little bit of harmonica.

The young musician said his writing is inspired by other artists' works. The first full song he wrote, called You'll Be, was influenced by the Beatles, he said.

It's about a girl who is worried about the world and Pameolik is telling her everything is going to be alright.

In January, Pameolik began working with fellow Arviat musician Abraham Eetak, who goes by the stage name Agaaqtoq.

The pair sing backup vocals and play guitar on each other's songs. They also rely on one another for advice about lyrics.

"We work really well together," said Pameolik. "We criticize each other's songs and we try to make it the best we can be."

Last month, Pameolik and Eetak were invited to play during Iqaluit's Alianait Arts Festival.

While in the city, Pameolik and Eetak did workshops with students and competed in the battle of the bands, in which they won second place.

Pameolik said this is the first festival he's ever played at and he was honoured to have been chosen to perform.

"It was a life-changing experience," he said.

"I met so many good people, so many great musicians, I've learned so much about music and I'd love to go back there next year."

In August, Pameolik will be travelling to Kuujjuaq to perform at Aqpik Jam. Next summer, he said, he plans to play at even more festivals.

Pameolik said he wants to reach out to Northern youth and be a role model to them.

So many teens have idols that live far away from them, he said.

"I want to make music that will connect to their ideas and problems in their life."

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