Jerry Cans members release Iqaluit band's 3rd album on their own label

Iqaluit's Inuktitut-singing band The Jerry Cans has released its third album on an independent record label started by three of the band's members.

The album, Inuusiq/Life, comes from Aakuluk Music, which was recently launched in Iqaluit by accordionist and throat singer Nancy Mike, vocalist and guitarist Andrew Morrison and drummer Steve Rigby.

"It's mostly to support Inuit and Indigenous musicians," said Mike.

The venture is born out of the band's "frustrated" attempts in the past at getting its music out to listeners, Mike added.

"When we were asking for other record labels to take on our music, they often said, 'We do really like your sound but we can't understand what you're singing about' and they would refuse to take us on," she said.

"We wanted young people in Nunavut that have that access, to  be able to sing in their own language and produce music in their own language and  have that support system."

The label is currently working with three young artists to produce and promote their own music, but Mike says it hopes to expand its talent roster.

The label is also trying to get arts funding from the Government of Nunavut, the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Arts Centre.

While Inuusiq/Life was recorded in Toronto, Mike says Aakuluk Music hopes to have its own recording studio in Iqaluit.