Pamyua

Artist Information

Biography

For booking, questions, or if you just want to chat, please click the contact button.

We call it Tribal Funk and World Music... And so will you!

It is our enchanting Inuit harmonies, the sound of the didgeridoo, and the thunderous roll of the African djembe that causes a rich explosion of cultures.

We as Pamyua perform in many ways, one as an a cappella group in which traditional Inuit songs are mixed into a unique classification of sound. To experience the fullness, you must hear and see us perform with the various styles and arrangements of the ultimate new world-groove.

The well-mixed sound re-interrupts what cultural music is all about. We're creating a sound that has it's own culture - it's African - it's Inuit. We have created a sound that will make you believe that there is an actual musical tradition for our mixed heritage. Enjoy!


Here's a little bit of our history:

The Alaska founded group Pamyua started ten years ago as a dream by two brothers to share the ancient stories of their people through music and dance. Stephen and Phillip Blanchett, who are of Yup’ik Inuit and African American decent, quickly gained the attention from music lovers of all types.

The third member to join the group, Ossie Kairaiuak, grew up traditional dancing in Chefornak, Alaska. Pamyua was then officially formed and became publicly recognized throughout Alaska as ambassadors of modern Yup’ik culture.

It was in 1996 when Pamyua met Karina Møller. The Greenlandic Inuit singer joined the group and they immediately started performing as a quartet traveling internationally in Europe, Asia, North and South America.

At the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in March of 2003 the group was chosen to represent Native American music. The Celebration of American Music was held at Times Square Studios, NY. Pamyua lived up to their reputation as a highly energized and entertaining group. The concert was just prior to the release of their anticipated third album, Caught in the Act, which won Record of the Year at the 2003 Native American Music Awards.

The quartet has taken stage in many venues across the world stealing hearts and gaining listeners with their fresh and unique sound. Pamyua masters the ability to mix traditions from across all boundaries while still holding on to their Native roots.

Instrumentation

We are 4 vocals, key boards, guitar, bass, drums, African djembe, didgeridoo.

Discography

2005, Drums of the North
2003, Caught in the Act
2001, Verses
1998, Mengluni

Buy Albums! Copy link in new browser window:

www.cdbaby.com/all/pamyua

Or Send Check or Money order to 4432 E. 4th Ave Anchorage, AK 99508 Payable to Pamyua

DIGITAL:
iTunes
MusicNet
MSN Music

Pamyua: Mengluni (The Beginning)
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=65170983

Pamyua: Verses
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=65171680

Pamyua: Caught In The Act
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=65173129

Pamyua: Drums of the North
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=79305195



FOR BOOKING, Questions, Or Just Wanna Chat please press the contact button

Also Check us out on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/17955425

Audio

• Cauyaqa Nauwa (My Drum)
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• Starlight
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• Greenlandic
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• Uivarranga (Goose Hunt)
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• Incomplete
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• Siku (Ice)
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Pamyua of Alaska [+ Show ]
  

  Jewel isn’t the only sexy chick singer to emerge from Alaska! Pamyua (Yup’ik Eskimo for ‘end’ or ‘en...Jewel isn’t the only sexy chick singer to emerge from Alaska! Pamyua (Yup’ik Eskimo for ‘end’ or ‘encore’) features Karina Møller, the Eskimo Britney Spears, along with her Yup’ik husband Phillip Blanchett, Stephen Blanchett and Ossie Kairaiuak, of African American/Inuit heritage.

• Opening for Gregory Hines [+ Show ]
  

  Pamyua laid bare the soul of Yup'ik and Greenlandic music, honoring their heritages and taking them ...Pamyua laid bare the soul of Yup'ik and Greenlandic music, honoring their heritages and taking them into the future. Songs echoed the Arctic tundra while embracing a world-music style kissed by Australian didgeridoo, Caribbean and African-American rhythms. The quartet's a cappella harmonies were stunning.
  
  Pamyua's Yup'ik songs and (Gregory) Hines' tap dances may seem worlds apart, but they share one element: the desire to keep healthy traditional arts that are strands in the changing tapestry of American culture.
  

• Top 10 Alaskan Artists In The Century [+ Show ]
  

  Brothers Phillip and Stephen Blanchett joined Ossie Kairaiuak and opened their throats in a new song...Brothers Phillip and Stephen Blanchett joined Ossie Kairaiuak and opened their throats in a new song, Native Alaska dance tunes blended into street-corner American pop harmony. The charismatic group is the most positive advertisement we can think of for Alaska spirit, imagination, expression and affirmation.

• Eskimo Soul and World Music [+ Show ]
  

  In Alaska, the band Pamyua sells more CD’s than Michael Jackson and Madonna. The popularity is groun...In Alaska, the band Pamyua sells more CD’s than Michael Jackson and Madonna. The popularity is grounded in a unique combination of the Inuit ancient singing and drumming traditions, with the use of modern soul and pop. There is pride and strength behind the band, which sees themselves as ambassadors for an ethnic culture in the high north.

Setlist

Our sets are typically 45 minutes to an hour.

We don't do any covers. Our set list ranges from traditional Inuit drumming and dancing to reggae. All music has tribally driven grooves.

SELECTED SONG DESCRIPTIONS

Cauyaqa Nauwa (My drum, where is it?)
Traditional Yup’ik dance song rearranged into an upbeat world music jam. It features didgeridoo, djembe and the vocal harmonies. It originates from the tundra villages of the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta. The song promotes maintaining the invaluable traditions of the Yup’ik people.

Uivarranga (Goose Hunt)
Yup’ik song composed by Teddy Sundown The chorus repeats “it is circling me, it is constantly circling me, so I pull out my lever action rifle and, they’re coming this way and that way, so I shoot them down.” The two verses mention two different kinds of geese, an emperor goose and a Canadian goose.

Siku (Ice)
Inspired from a traditional western Greenlandic melody and features vocalist Karina Moeller.

Basic Requirements

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