Friday, Nov. 5 marks a big day for Inuk rapper Jocelyn Arreak, who performs under the name Aocelyn.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 when her first album, titled Lovely, will be released.

Of the eight tracks, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 partial to a tune called Wrong Guy, formerly titled Adore You.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 for couples. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 got a nice beat, pretty good lyrics, probably the best one I ever had,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Aocelyn SA国际影视传媒� pronounced SA国际影视传媒淎w-slinSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� wrote most of the lyrics for the album.

Thor Simonsen, CEO of Hitmakerz, the label that signed Aocelyn, did the arranging and mixing of the songs.

The project was in the works since 2020.

SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 wait for it to come out. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 my very first album,SA国际影视传媒� said Aocelyn, 22, who resides in Pond Inlet.

Chief among her musical influences is rapper Eminem.

SA国际影视传媒淚 remember when his (first) album came out, no one knew about him. It gives me hope. If (my album) doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 succeed, it still gives me hope. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what I learned from him.SA国际影视传媒�

Eminem was bullied, she added. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 something she can relate to.

SA国际影视传媒淚 look like a white person to some people. ISA国际影视传媒檓 part Black, so they would be racist against me and say stuff about me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淢y dad made me tough SA国际影视传媒� sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.SA国际影视传媒�

But sheSA国际影视传媒檚 aware of how harmful bullying can be. She got to know the late singer Kelly Fraser, whose family revealed after her death that she was tormented by relentless online harassment.

Aocelyn, 22, shared some of her own struggles with Fraser years ago.

SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 the one who discovered me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪he called me strong one time because I was going through so much bullying. They would laugh at me and things like that.SA国际影视传媒�

So the accomplishment of releasing an album is a major milestone and a way to overcome her detractors. While her current ambition is to rise to prominence as a musical superstar, she has plans to become a priest by the time sheSA国际影视传媒檚 30. Religion is an important part of her life, and part of what gives her strength.

SA国际影视传媒淚 only care about what God thinks,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Her short-term goals include enrolling in the music program at Algonquin College in Ottawa in January. She aims to grasp the foundations of media, film and music through the eight-month program.

She also has ambitions to go on tour across Nunavut, and sheSA国际影视传媒檇 like to do it with Hitmakerz alumni Shauna Seeteenak and Angela Amarualik.

SA国际影视传媒淎ngela is my childhood friend,SA国际影视传媒� she said of Amarualik, as they both grew up in Iglulik.

Of Seeteenak, a fellow rapper from Baker Lake, she said, SA国际影视传媒淚 like her. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 cool.SA国际影视传媒�

The tour would give Aocelyn an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience, something she has yet to do.

I Wish I was a King, the first single off of Lovely is her second release overall. It follows Adventure Awaits, which hit the airwaves in 2019.

Watch I Wish I was a King here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MwzageUB70

In September, Aocelyn was one of several artists to attend the Hitmakerz compound in Ottawa for a week of training as an entertainer. While there, she also shot the video for I Wish I was a King, which sees her and her backup dancers flaunting their moves.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey were so nice, professional, welcoming. They were really good people. I miss them already, I miss hanging out together,SA国际影视传媒� she said of her time in Ottawa.

Simonsen refers to Aocelyn as a SA国际影视传媒渦nique artist, not only in Nunavut but in Canada.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淪he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have much professional training, but sheSA国际影视传媒檚 got a great ear and very interesting ideas,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭his helps make her songs sound very different from anything else. Jocelyn is also extremely driven, focused, and open to new challenges. I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something that all artists need if they want to make it pro.

SA国际影视传媒淒rive is way more important than skill SA国际影视传媒� you can teach skill, but you canSA国际影视传媒檛 teach drive, perseverance, and determination.SA国际影视传媒�