2021 AWARD NOMINEE
Artistic Video
The Northstars
Monsters
Melodic storytellers The NorthStars are an energetic yet laid back hip hop duo from Nemaska, Quebec. Heavy hitters in the Northern Cree Music scene, members Elton J. Salt and Gary Jolly deliver an authentic experience, fusing gritty dark beats with bright acoustic pop notes. Beasts on the mic, rap singer songwriters Salt and Jolly aim to make change and inspire a generation through an authentic approach and performance.
The NorthStars were first catapulted into the Canadian music scene in 2012 when their song “Our River”, off of their debut mixtape, gained significant traction leading to considerable media coverage including attention from CBC North, James Bay Cree Communications Radio and Champ FM Radio. This led to multiple tours of the Cree Nation touring circuit, and steady exportation into the national music market. In 2014, The NorthStars connected and collaborated with N’we Jinan; a travelling music studio program, to create songs and videos for N’we Jinan’s Volume 1, a music project that featured over 70 Cree Nation youth. The album peaked at #1 on the iTunes charts in the hip-hop category.
The NorthStars’ debut 2015 released album, “Dreams” climbed to the #9 spot in the Canadian Hip-Hop Category and has received over 10,000 thousand streams on their SoundCloud page. “Nightmares”, an 11-song album, introduces a refined and mature evolution of The NorthStars that is raw and emotionally charged. A follow up to the journey of “Dreams”, “Nightmares” is a contrasting view of the struggles and daily challenges they and their community face. This album journeys from ballads of home and sacrifice to energizing dance hits. Seeking to uplift and spark change with this record, The NorthStars eloquently invite their audience to remove the proverbial blindfolds and see things for what they are.
The NorthStars were first catapulted into the Canadian music scene in 2012 when their song “Our River”, off of their debut mixtape, gained significant traction leading to considerable media coverage including attention from CBC North, James Bay Cree Communications Radio and Champ FM Radio. This led to multiple tours of the Cree Nation touring circuit, and steady exportation into the national music market. In 2014, The NorthStars connected and collaborated with N’we Jinan; a travelling music studio program, to create songs and videos for N’we Jinan’s Volume 1, a music project that featured over 70 Cree Nation youth. The album peaked at #1 on the iTunes charts in the hip-hop category.
The NorthStars’ debut 2015 released album, “Dreams” climbed to the #9 spot in the Canadian Hip-Hop Category and has received over 10,000 thousand streams on their SoundCloud page. “Nightmares”, an 11-song album, introduces a refined and mature evolution of The NorthStars that is raw and emotionally charged. A follow up to the journey of “Dreams”, “Nightmares” is a contrasting view of the struggles and daily challenges they and their community face. This album journeys from ballads of home and sacrifice to energizing dance hits. Seeking to uplift and spark change with this record, The NorthStars eloquently invite their audience to remove the proverbial blindfolds and see things for what they are.
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