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Inez Jasper (née Point), also known as Inez, is a Canadian musician, whose music blends pop, dance, hip hop and traditional First Nations music.
She is most noted as a two-time nominee for the Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year, in 2010 for her album Singsoulgirl and in 2014 for her album Burn Me Down.
Biography
Inez Jasper was born and raised in Chilliwack, British Columbia. She is of Sto:lo, Ojibway and Métis heritage. She is the daughter of Mark Point, a former Skowkale First Nation chief, and the niece of Steven Point, a former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
She was educated as a registered nurse, and works as a community health nurse for Stó:lō Nation Health Services. She has two children, and in 2010 her husband Otis Jasper served as the chief of Soowahlie First Nation.
She released her debut single "Sto:lo Strong" in 2005, before releasing the full-length album SingSoulGirl in January 2009. She toured extensively to support the album, and won awards at both the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and the Western Canadian Music Awards. At the APCMAs, "Breathe" won Single of the Year, SingSoulGirl won Pop Album of the Year, and Jasper won Best New Artist.
She subsequently released two non-album singles, "Make U Mine" in 2011 and "Dancin' on the Run" in 2013, before releasing her second album Burn Me Down in August 2013. The album again won the award for Pop Album of the Year at the APCMAs, and was again a Juno Award nominee for Aboriginal Album of the Year. Jasper was also named Best Producer/Engineer at the APCMAs in 2014.
She was named a National Aboriginal Role Model by the National Aboriginal Health Organization in 2008.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album title | Release details |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Singsoulgirl |
|
| 2013 | Burn Me Down |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Album | Release details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Sto:lo Strong" | KAYA mixtape/Singsoulgirl | First release (April 2005) |
| 2009 | "Breathe" | Singsoulgirl | Lets'emot Music (Jan 9, 2009) |
| 2011 | "Make U Mine" | Non-album single | Rockstar Music Corp (Feb 1, 2011) |
| 2013 | "Dancin' on the Run" | Non-album single | Lets'emot Music (May 15, 2013) |
| "The Takeover" | Burn Me Down | Lets'emot Music (Aug 1, 2013) | |
| "Fallen Soldier" | Lets'emot Music (Aug 1, 2013) |
Guest appearances
| Year | Single name | Primary artist(s) | Album | Release details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Me & U" | Drezus | Red Winter | Rezofficial Music (May 17, 2013) |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards | Singsoulgirl | Pop Album of the Year | Won |
| Best Album Cover Design | Won | |||
| "Breathe" | Single of the Year | Won | ||
| Inez Jasper | Best New Artist | Won | ||
| West Coast American Indian Music Awards | Best Vocals | Won | ||
| Best R&B | Won | |||
| 2010 | Western Canadian Music Awards | Singsoulgirl | Aboriginal Recording of the Year | Nominated |
| Juno Awards | Aboriginal Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Western Canadian Music Awards | Burn Me Down | Aboriginal Recording of the Year | Nominated |
| Juno Awards | Aboriginal Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards | Best Pop Album | Won | ||
| Inez | Best Producer/Engineer | Won |