Inuit to win it
Tanya Tagaq scoops 2014 Polaris Prize for ‘Animism’
The Björk collabarator and Inuk throat singing extraordinaire beat off competition from the likes of Drake, Mac DeMarco and Arcade Fire.
Tanya Tagaq, Canada’s most prolific Inuk throat singer, has been announced as the winner of the 2014 Polaris Prize, beating off the likes of Drake, Mac DeMarco and previous winners Arcade Fire. The award is given to the best Canadian full-length album of the year, and previous winners include Caribou, Feist, and last year’s winners Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Best known internationally for her collaborations with Björk, Tagaq has won numerous awards in the past for her representation of Canadian aboriginal culture, and for her new spin on Inuk throat singing. Traditionally performed by two women as a duet, Tagaq does it solo. Scooping the Polaris this year for her third album ‘Animism’ could be a big breakthrough moment for Tagaq, who was perhaps one of the more obscure artists from the shortlist.
Making use of the platform of her acceptance speech, and in line with her politically minded ‘Animism’, Tagaq took the opportunity to cause a little controversy. She encouraged people to wear and eat seals and to “fuck PETA” before leaving with the $30,000 prize.
Watch the trailer for Tanya Tagaq’s Polaris Prize winning album ‘Animism’ below:
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