Elisapie is back with a project that invites both dancing and reflection. The Inuk singer has just released “Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass),” remixed with Hologramme and part of the upcoming EP “Inuktitut (Remixes).” This time, Blondie’s iconic song travels north, transforming into an Inuit-language anthem and becoming a bridge between nostalgia and the dance floor.
Far from being a simple remix, the project was born from a special commission for the 60th anniversary of the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art. There, Elisapie was able to experiment with sounds, visuals, and performance in a format that challenged her as an artist and brought her even closer to her audience. The result: a vibrant piece where tradition and modernity coexist fearlessly.
With “Inuktitut (Remixes),” Elisapie not only celebrates the strength of her culture, she also demonstrates that music can unite very different realities in a single accord. Her voice and vision continue to transcend borders and demonstrate that authenticity will always be the best currency.
You’ve just released a new version of “Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)” with Hologramme. What motivated you to revisit this song and transform it into a remix?
A: I feel that bringing Blondie’s song to the north and making it an Inuit song was such a revelation for me. Music is alive and constantly moving with us, and making this dancey is what also brought me joy; we can cry and dance at the same time. It makes it much more powerful.
This collaboration comes in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art. How did this special commission influence the creative process?
It was for me an opportunity to try and push the boundaries of creativity. I love being pushed as an artist. It was a beautiful experience. I want more installations like performances! Being able to touch the audience and being surrounded by them. And being one with them, a thrill!
The music video was artistically directed by Caroline Monnet. What were you trying to convey visually with this narrative of geometric patterns and intense emotions?
I wanted the audience to have their own interpretations. They make up what they feel with what they see. Caroline, with her contemporary and indigenous woman perspective and mine, was definitely an inspiration; art meets feminine expression, fearless, vast, and freeing.
“Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)” is the first preview of a new EP, “Inuktitut (Remixes).” What can we expect from the other remixed versions?
To go a little further in the dance!
Your album “Inuktitut” received a Juno Award, a Polaris nomination, and multiple accolades. What did it mean to you to see the Inuit language resonate so strongly on the international scene?
I still am amazed by how many layers there were to unfold, releasing this album, so personal and so freeing for me. And that it resonates with so many people everywhere shows me the power of music.
From Leonard Cohen to Blondie to Pink Floyd, you’ve reinterpreted classics in Inuktitut. How do you choose which songs to translate, and what is your personal relationship with them?
They were chosen only if I felt so connected to the memory behind the song, to the point where I cried a lot. Remembering someone, a trauma, or a sad time is so much easier to do through a song.
As an artist, what challenges and satisfactions have you found in bringing the Inuit language to the center of global contemporary music?
It is a challenge in a very Anglophone-oriented world. We always have to push more, but we find ways to prove that languages are like the many colors of nature; they all have a meaning and need to be heard, and they have a lot to offer!
You’ve performed more than 90 concerts in Canada and toured Europe, the United States, Australia, and Japan. Which experiences from these tours have most influenced your career?
I can’t really compare where I felt more connection, the power of live performances, connecting to all crowds!
How do you feel about the reception from international audiences when they hear you sing in Inuktitut?
I’m starting to understand only recently that we all have a heart, and my job is to get through to people, feel what I feel, and connect that to others.
In February 2026, you will have a performance at the Hopkins Center for the Arts in New Hampshire. What can you tell us about that show and your tour?
I get to share my experience and use these songs as a way to tell our story, to connect all the emotions that we have in us. To unite.
Finally, what other projects are on the horizon for Elisapie that you’d like to share with us?
A few films… producing and hopefully soon directing a short animated film with the National Film Board, and the next year, writing some new music!
Photo Credit: Vladim Vilain
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