At age 7, Nelson Tagoona took up playing the guitar. At 15, he was composing his own songs.
Today, at 21, the Inuit throat boxerās life is firmly rooted in music. He has a powerful message for todayās youth about finding their voice, and he delivers it through his high-energy performances.
Growing up in an isolated community, Tagoona struggled with bullying and mental health issues. He found his own voice by combining beatboxing ā a vocal style that simulates percussion sounds -- with throat singing. A form of musical performance that is unique to Inuit culture, throat singing requires the performer to control air through inhalation and exhalation to create a rhythm, chant or melody.
Though he wasnāt the first to coin the term, Tagoona has helped pioneer the hybrid musical genre.
With 300 performances under his belt to date, Tagoonaās compositions have been heard in front of live audiences at concerts and in classrooms across Canadaās North. In YouTube videos of his shows, Tagoonaās energy is boundless, as he encourages his rapt audience to sing along.
āIn a lot of my songs Iāve always talked a lot about believing in yourself, being courageous and not being afraid and having a lot of heart,ā he tells CTVNews.ca in an telephone interview from Nunavut. āNo matter how dark your days have been, youāll see that shining light once again.ā
As a child growing up in Nunavutās Baker Lake, music was an āoutlet,ā Tagoona says, a place to run away from life. āAnd then it turned into my life.ā
Tagoona lost his father and many of his friends to suicide. He also struggled with bullying, depression and a constant feeling of alienation. The theme of loss permeates his music, but in front of a classroom of students, Tagoonaās overall message is clear and personal: Believe in yourself and fight for your happiness, he tells them.
āThere are things that really break you down in life and thatās the fuel to my music,ā Tagoona says. āWhen Iām composing my music, Iām in tears, and Iām really shaking and Iām nervous ... scared even.
āBut by the time Iām done the piece, I can really see how it went from negative, dark ā¦ to being full of life, full of courage, full of positivity.ā
Tagoona said music helps him move on from the past.
āInstead of looking back at all that has happened, Iām looking ahead at what we can change,ā he says. Fans relate to Tagoona, and take his music to heart. Often times after a show, audience members come up to walk around with him and chat about difficult topics.
āSome of the fans Iāve met lost both parents to suicide,ā he says.
Tagoona says he engages with youth in aboriginal communities because he understands where theyāre coming from. Heās been there himself.
āIn Nunavut, a lot of these towns donāt have much,ā he says. āYouth who live in a remote community have a different perspective on life than those in the cities because itās a completely different lifestyle.ā
But Tagoona also says that city-dwellers can learn a lot from that lifestyle, which among other things, involves hunting and fishing.
āComing back from the land, you are super grateful for what you have, even if itās an empty house,ā he says. āI feel like everyone on the planet should experience this at least one time so they could understand that society today is actually pretty spoiled.
āA lot of people have it made, but theyāre ungrateful.ā
Tagoona is proud of his role model status with youth, and takes it seriously.
As a member of the National Centre for the Artsā Music Alive program, Tagoona is frequently invited to perform at public events and for youth. The Music Alive program sends teaching musicians to work with children and youth in northern communities, including Iqaluit, Igloolik, Rankin Inlet, Pangnirtung and Kugluktuk.
Tagoona also works with Blueprint for Life, a non-profit organization that conducts hip-hop workshops with vulnerable youth to help boost self-esteem and tackle issues like violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault and suicide.
Next up for Tagoona are shows in Ottawa, Toronto and his hometown of Baker Lake.
Tagoona has yet to cut an album or obtain a manager, but all in due time, he says. Heās a perfectionist when it comes to his music, and isnāt afraid to wait until the time is right.
āI throw myself out there as far as I can, and Iām not afraid of where Iām going to land.ā
