Looee Arreak
Biography
Looee is an Iqaluit-based, award-winning Inuktitut singer-songwriter, originally from Pangnirtung, Nunavut. She beautifully blends traditional and contemporary Inuit songs, with inspiration from Gospel and choral music genres. Looee has performed on stages across the Canadian Arctic, equally at home performing solo, in duet with James Arreak or with her band and choir.
Looee, a prolific performing artist in her chosen field, is passionate about Inuit language preservation and creativity. Her music is in constant play on Inuktitut radio and is covered by young Inuktitut musicians who look up to her as a mentor. Her songs are lyrical, full of beautiful sound and capture themes of hope, strength, resilience, playfulness and a love of family and land.
As an author, Looee is scheduled to release novels in the upcoming year. In 2021, she became an artist-in-residence with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. for winning first place in the Inuktuuqta! Inuktitut Writing Prize, funded by their Nunavut Tunngavik Foundation. She has also recently collaborated with Inhabit Media on an educational children’s book, inspired by her numbers song.
Looee is an experienced designer and seamstress. She was the costume designer for the Qaggiavuut! Society's Kiviuq Returns: An Inuit Epic, which performed across Canada.
Credits/experience
ALBUMS
I Will Rise Again (2018)
Inuktitut Christmas (2016)
Qulliit (2016)
Don't Give Up (1995), Recorded as Looee Nowdlak
COLLABORATIONS
2021 - Kuvianattuksovut itigangit (How Beautiful Are the Feet) - Messiah/Complex (Ensemble Album - Against The Grain Theatre and Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Johannes Debus)
2017 - I Know Who I Am - Composition by Looee Arreak & Laura Hawley for Nipiit Katittut Voices United
AWARDS/NOMINATIONS
2022 | Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble) (Messiah/Complex) | Junos - Nominated
2016 | Qilaut Songwriting Contest | Nunavut Department of Culture & Heritage - 3rd Place
Regular live performances touring through the Arctic and Canada.
Festival performances including:
- Alianait Arts Festival - Iqaluit, Nunavut
- Aqpik Jam - Nunavik
- Nunavut Community Festivals
2021 - Qaggiq Festival - Artistic Director
1999 - Looee sang with Susan Aglukark, OC at the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
2021 - Looee became the Executive Director of the Qaggiavuut Society to continue the organization’s work in supporting performing artists with training and opportunities.
Looee is regularly commissioned to teach Inuit youth in Nunavut communities, and facilitates musical youth training and master workshops, through the Qaggiavuut Society. Her workshops centre around choir, singing and Inuktitut songwriting.
2017 - Kiviuq Returns: An Inuit Epic - Principal Writer, Assistant Director, Costume Designer
2022 - Slash/Back (film) - Loop Group/Inuktitut Translator
2020 - Messiah/Complex (visual album) - Nunavut Soloist
2020 - Ukaliq & Kalla (tv series) - Narrator
2020 - Anaana's Tent Nunavut Day Special (tv series) - Self, Performer
2020 - Anaana's Tent (tv series) - Self, Musician