Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie has released ‘Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass),’ a cover of the Blondie classic translated into Inuktitut. 

Subdued, gentle and poignant, ‘Uummati Attanarsimat’ replaces the iconic new wave sensibilities with a powerful expression of personal identity.

With any recognisable song, we all have our own associations, whether its memories linked to the musical tastes of parents, periods of adolescent rebellion, or just snapshots of influential moments in our life. For Elisapie, ‘Heart of Glass’ is childhood visits to Ivujivik, a small village in the far north of Quebec, and being a six-year-old hearing the song for the first time while captivated by the joyous energy of older siblings. While the original is universal, Elisapie’s version represents what she feels when listening to the song which is a tiny community isolated from the mainstream but still full of life. It’s for that reason that the song has been appropriately translated into Inuktitut, a language so close to her heart.

The accompanying video is directed by Philippe Léonard and consists of archival footage shot on Super 8 film. It intensifies the personal aspect of the cover and further puts spotlight on the warmth that can be emitted from Inuit winters.

Elisapie is from Salluit, Nunavik, and now based in Montreal. ‘Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)’ follows her 2018 album The Ballad of the Runaway Girl.

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