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INUVIK
Tanya Tagaq can only be called a unique, full-throated singer.

Internationally-renowned throat singer Tanya Tagaq, centre, performed at the Great Northern Arts Festival July 16. Pictured with Tagaq are her long-time musical collaborator Michael Red, and Marnie Hilash, the executive director of the festival. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Within a minute or two of her July 16 performance at the Great Northern Arts Festival, she had much of the audience nearly hypnotized with a riot of sound mixing techno-rock and traditional throat singing.

"I hope it wasn't too out there," she said shyly afterwards.

She smiled as she was assured it was not.

Tagaq describes her music in terms that almost border on synesthesia, a condition where some people can see music as colors. She said that often happens to her as well, but she also views her music in terms of flavours.

"I've seen flashes of light in my head when I've been working," she said. "I'll think 'I want lemon' and I can picture it."

"I know it sounds really weird, but I sometimes think of a song as a sandwich that comes together," she said with a chuckle. "That's how I started making music. I had all these sandwiches in my head.

"It sounds so strange, I know, but I just wanted to get them out. It's a never-ending menu of songs in my head."

Offstage, Tagaq undergoes a fascinating, if almost bewildering, transformation. She seems to grow in stature as she performs; dominating the stage with a powerful presence and raw energy that seemingly allows her to grow to gigantic stature.

Afterwards, Tagaq is revealed to be a diminutive sprite who looks much younger than her 38 years.

She explained that her stage persona isn't who she really is. That's why she never watches video of her own performances afterwards.

"It's just too intimate for me to watch," she said. "That's not who I really am."

It was 13 years ago at the Great Northern Arts Festival that she made her major debut. That performance led to touring with Icelandic singer Bjork and major exposure and fame.

"I can't believe it was that long ago," she squealed in mock dismay.

Tagaq grew up in Nunavut, mostly in Cambridge Bay, listening to traditional music while also cultivating an appetite for modern music, especially rock.

She gave a shout-out to someone who mentioned the iconic Canadian band Rush after the show as she graciously accommodated person after person who wanted to talk to her. Many of those people remembered her from her performance in 2000.

Then, she was performing with her long-time collaborator, Michael Red, who likely has the most unique perspective on the art they produce.

He's as much a part of the show as she is, as he spins the music she improvises to.

He's just as entertaining as well, although somewhat hidden behind the sound system. Red laughed at that, as did Tagaq, who asked whether he was "shaking his bootie" again, although in somewhat more graphic terms.

"The man has some serious moves," she said with a giggle.

He blushed with some embarrassment at that.

"As far as classifying her music, I wouldn't know where to start," he said. "I'm pretty certain we're the first people together to mix her style of singing with electronics."

He debated as to whether their collaborations could be called performance art.

"I wouldn't say that, and I wouldn't classify it as that. I don't think of it in terms like that," Red said after mulling over the question thoughtfully. "From my perspective, as long as we touch a certain amount of people, that's what we're after.

"I think it's fair to say that everywhere we go, we touch a certain amount of people. Other people might not like it, and I get that."

Indeed, small numbers of the audience trickled out as the performance went on. Many wore somewhat puzzled expressions on the face openly.

Tagaq said she was pleased to have had a role, however small, in the powerful resurgence of throat singing now happening in Nunavut.

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