Eva Deer says she hopes people dance through the holidays with her new album, titled ‘Tukaluguti.’ (Photo courtesy of Aaqitauvik Centre)
Eva Deer brings out the accordion for non-stop Christmas dancing
‘Tukaluguti’ billed as 45 minutes of Nunavik classics
Eva Deer’s new album is a family endeavour.
She partnered with her daughter Beatrice Deer to record the album, and on bass and guitar is her husband, Robert Deer. The project, titled Tukaluguti and released Dec. 5, is a 45-minute accordion album featuring Nunavik classics.
Eva Deer said her daughter Beatrice was the one to bring up the idea.
“She told me that I should do an album, that I should play the accordion,” Eva Deer said in an interview over the phone.
The album features fast-paced folk music as the holiday season kicks into gear. Eva Deer describes it as “continuous music, because it was made for dancing.”
“It is a time for celebration, so obviously the dancing is there,” she said. “In my community, dances are important, people dress up nice, their best clothes for those dances.”
Eva Deer has been playing accordion since she was a child. Through those years, she learned traditional folk songs to play when people gathered to dance over Christmas and New Year’s. She is now releasing an album interpreting those songs herself.
“Accordion is fast music, when people start dancing, we play fast so they enjoy,” she said.
She still remembers her first dance.
“I was 14 years old during the Christmas dance in Kangirsuk many, many years ago,” she said. “I enjoyed it so much, it was incredible.”
Now that the album is done, Eva Deer reflected on the hard work she put into it.
“I am glad it is finally coming out,” she said.
Good for her! There was a time when playing the accordion had become an adopted part of the culture—as also playing the fiddle. Old-timers may recall the fantastic fiddle playing in Iqaluit by Eddie and Steve Kikoak. Like Abe Okpik the brothers came from the western arctic. It would be great to revive this tradition.