Inuit soul music and culture comes to the Flathead
Pamyua performs in Whitefish Oct. 27. Through performance, Pamyua shares Inuit culture and history through the music, dance, and masks from many Alaska Native cultures and reinterpretation of traditional melodies with contemporary sounds of soul. (Photo provided by WTC)
Alaska ensemble Pamyua will showcase Inuit culture through modern performance for one night only in Whitefish on Oct. 27.
Described as “Inuit soul music,” Pamyua was formed by brothers Phillip and Stephen Blanchett when they stumbled upon a musical concept to blend Inuit drum and dance melodies with R&B vocal styling and arrangements. Joined by Ossie Kairaiuak and Karina Moeller, the quartet travels the world sharing their blend of cultural harmony, strongly influenced by their Yup’ik and Black heritage.
Presented by Whitefish Theatre Company, Pamyua shares Inuit culture and history through the music, dance, and masks from many Alaska Native cultures, as well as reinterpreting traditional melodies with contemporary sounds of soul.
Being of Yup'ik and Black heritage, Phillip and Stephen were raised with a sense of community and sharing. Their mother, who is Yup'ik, connected them to the wider community through participation in traditional harvesting ceremonies that included drum dances and songs about animals and daily life. Their minister father connected them to his community by taking them to an African American church in Anchorage where Philip said they essentially experienced “another village.” With their parents' influences and deep cultural pride in mind, the brothers wanted to create “music that means something, music that moves you from the soul.”
Pamyua is recognized worldwide for their contributions to the arts and for their work in music and cultural preservation.
Pamyua composed original music for the Discovery Channel show “Flying Wild Alaska. The group co-wrote and performed the theme song for the PBS Kids show “Molly of Denali.” Pamyua was also one of many indigenous partners to contribute original music to the National Geographic reality show “Life Below Zero: First Alaskans.”
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students with reserved seating. Tickets may be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org, by calling 862-5371, or visiting the box office located at 1 Central Ave.