Inuk-led band rocks Montreal’s underground music scene

Niivi Sinuupa looks out at the crowd Friday at Montreal’s La Sotterenea. (Photos by Cedric Gallant, special to Nunatsiaq News)

Nunavimmiut singer-songwriter Niivi Sinuupa stepped on the stage Friday at La Sotterenea in Montreal for a charity event and brought a huge metal sound to the crowd.

“There are always shows that are super important to us, like this one,” said Sinuupa, alongside her bandmates in an interview inside the venue with walls adorned by signatures of previous bands that played there.

The show was part of a two-day event commemorating Lilith Fair, an all-female music festival organized by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. The festival toured across the United States and Canada between 1997 and 1999.

Friday’s concert in Montreal was organized by McGill University’s Collective for Gender Equality and Jam for Justice.

The goal was to donate all earnings from the event to the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and the Canadian-Palestinian Foundation of Quebec.

“These are the causes that I am fighting for, and what my music is about,” said Sinuupa.

Drummer Gaël Parnas-Zver records himself as he plays a set full of power and intensity Friday in Montreal.

She and her band were the last on stage Friday night. With fewer than 100 people in the audience, the energy in the room felt intimate but a thunderous energy came flying out into the crowd as they hit their first note.

Powerful vocals came from Sinuupa and guitarist Kiril (Kirk) Koshkin was entrancing with his ferocious playing. Drummer Gaël Parnas-Zver held down the rhythmic fort, while bassist Ollie Cappello vibed to the chaos of the music.

The sound was huge, and the crowd showed how pleased they were through their moshing.

Sinuupa called out to the audience during the set asking if there were any Inuit in the room, before covering the classic Nunavik song Quviasuppunga, by Charlie Adams.

Nobody answered her call, but she said she knew that if Inuit were there they would be dancing and singing with her.

The set also featured two new songs which will feature in the band’s upcoming album currently in the works.

Sinuupa said she and her band intend to release the album in spring and plan to do a tour over the summer.