By
THIRSTY
The
Jerry Cans come from Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic. Their new release, Inuusiq (“Life”) reflects the sounds of
their homeland and their Inuit culture. The members of the group are: Andrew Morrison
(Vocals/Guitar), Nancy Mike (Accordion/Throat Singing). Gina Burgess (Violin), Brendan
Doherty (Bass) and Steve Rigby (Drums).
NANCY MIKE: We wanted to pay homage to the natural sounds of our life.
But we also want it to be clear that we listen to Bob Marley and stream pop
tracks. We have opinions about popular music. Sometimes, that’s challenging for
people to hear. We try to bring modern sounds to folk forms. When we’re
addressing young people and their challenges, we try to make music that balances
traditional and modern life.
ANDREW MORRISON: We are very happy to talk about what’s happening between
indigenous and non-indigenous communities. There’s a big historical shift
that’s underway. The music can be hard to understand, but it gives an access
point to a really brilliant, beautiful culture.
From
the earthiness of throat singing to the Celtic fiddle, The Jerry Cans are
breaking new and important ground in celebrating their Inuit culture in a
modern way and in speaking out for other indigenous people in their native
Canada. For those reasons and for their original music, Stay Thirsty Magazine is proud to name them our SPOTLIGHT ARTISTS for Summer 2017.