Inuk artist Elisapie is an acclaimed musician, broadcaster, filmmaker, activist, and actor, whose deeply resonant voice has its roots in her homeland of Nunavik, the northernmost region of Quebec. This remote territory, steeped in the Inuktitut language and shaped by the harsh yet breathtaking Arctic environment, forms the bedrock of her creativity. Always surrounded by the best musicians from the Montreal indie and folk scenes, she brings her culture and her language to life for everyone. Her 2023 album, Inuktitut, revisits ten iconic pop and rock classics—ranging from Blondie’s Heart of Glass, to other beloved hits—rendering them in her mother tongue. The result is haunting, powerful, and, as recognised at the 2024 Juno Awards, worthy of the Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year accolade.
Elisapie was born and raised in a small village called Salluit. In this community, accessible only by plane, Elisapie was brought up by an extended, caring, yet slightly dysfunctional, adoptive family. She lived through the loss of cousins who ended their lives, experienced young love, witnessed firsthand the effects of colonialism, and danced the night away at the village’s community centre. Elisapie’s unconditional attachment to her territory and her Inuktitut language remains at the core of her creative journey. This millenary language embodies the harshness of the environment and the wild beauty of the Inuit territory.
As she prepares to captivate audiences at Womadelaide, we caught up with Elisapie for a spirited conversation. She delved into the emotional weight of her music, the healing power of song, and how she carries the Arctic’s beauty and urgency with her.
Your music is irresistible- listening to it gave us goosebumps. Performing these classics in Inuktitut, do you sense a shift in the audience when they hear something so familiar yet entirely new?
Elisapie: It’s such a special project. These aren’t my own songs originally, so I had to bring them into a very personal space—genuinely feel them—to make them mine. I never imagined this album would take me to so many places or connect with so many people. I sense the audience thinking, “Wait, I know this song!”—yet it sounds so different. And that moment of recognition, combined with the Inuktitut lyrics, becomes a very unique, almost magical experience.
Hearing your rendition of Heart of Glass took us back to our own youth, but it also felt entirely new. What was the most surprising revelation for you during the creative process
Elisapie: I’m honestly surprised by how I’m not even close to getting tired of playing these songs live. Yes, they’re classics—big hits—but there’s also a lot of personal memories and emotions stored in my body that surfaced through this project. When I started recording, I found myself crying without warning. It was as if each track was unearthing memories I hadn’t realised were still there. Choosing which songs to include was like panning for gold—listening, feeling a spark, then letting that spark guide me. Each song told a personal story.
You’re from the Arctic, a place Irresistible has visited and found heartbreakingly affected by climate change. As an artist, how do you balance urgent messages about our planet with joy and poetry. How do you manage that contrast?
Elisapie: Where I come from, we’re no strangers to survival. We’ve faced intergenerational trauma, colonialism, and environmental threats. Despite all that pain, there’s an immense beauty and generosity in our culture. We’re very spiritual, very connected. Music is how I process it all. I channel sadness, anger, resilience, and hope—often at the same time. It’s vital for me to create, to celebrate our women, our stories, our strength. That energy helps me heal, and I hope it resonates with others who need that healing, too.
It sounds like you hold multiple emotions in one space—sadness, joy, anger, pride—all at once. Does that reflect your creative mindset?
Elisapie: Absolutely. On stage, I can be calm one moment and then let out a huge rush of emotion the next. I feed off the band’s energy, the audience’s reaction, and these songs that carry so much history. Every performance is different because every day, we feel differently. But there’s always a sense of release—of letting it all out. And when the audience feels it too, it’s like we’re all on this intense journey together.
You’ve mentioned how vital it is for you to empower women. Can you share more about that?
Elisapie: For too long, women have been placed in tiny boxes, especially Indigenous women. We’re expected to be quiet or to fit certain roles. Yet we have such power, such a depth of experience. I’m proud to be part of a growing wave of women who are reclaiming our voices. Through my music, I hope to show that we can be both vulnerable and fiercely strong—that our stories deserve to be heard on the biggest stages.
Your music has healed you and no doubt healed many others who hear it. Do you feel that collective sense of healing in your performances
Elisapie: Yes, very much so. It’s an exchange of energy. My healing resonates with someone else’s. That’s why I believe in performing live—why I’m so excited about Womadelaide. When I see the audience moved by something I’m singing, it’s like we’re sharing a moment that goes beyond language. And because these songs carry both my personal experiences and the weight of my community’s stories, it’s a very real, very visceral connection.
Finally, what can Australian audiences expect at Womedelaide
Elisapie: They can expect raw energy, honesty, and a lot of heart. We’re going to rock out, for sure. I want everyone to feel the music—really feel it—and to leave with a piece of my world, the Arctic, in their hearts. We’re ready to give everything on stage, and I hope the crowd will join us in that moment of connection and celebration.
Thank you for your time and for being such an inspiring force.
Elisapie: Thank you for giving me this space. I love that you’re shining a light on women’s voices—our stories, our art. It’s so important to make room for that, especially for Indigenous women. We have so much to share, and platforms like yours help us connect with people who might not otherwise hear these stories.
WOMADELAIDE
7-10 March 2025
Botanic Park/ Tainmuntilla
