Jaydin Nungaq was an Inuksuk High School valedictorian just a few months ago.

Now the graduate is schooling himself in rap, hip-hop and spoken-word recording projects in his growing bedroom studio.

Found on streaming sites like SoundCloud, YouTube, Apple and Spotify under the name Young Keen, Nungaq, 18, is investing his summer job income to expand his collection of instruments.

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 planning to add a saxophone to his microphone, speakers, guitar, keyboard and computer, which stir his creative juices daily for hours.

SA国际影视传媒淢usic is my life SA国际影视传媒� all that stuff, it really just reflects who I am as a person,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to make stuff that is really highly developed and super good quality.SA国际影视传媒�

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 teaching himself to play guitar and piano on his keyboard by watching instructional videos on YouTube.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 a committed person,SA国际影视传媒� he says, citing American rapper Logic as one of his major influences.

As youth outreach coordinator with the Department of Family Services, he and a colleague established a camp this summer that allowed local kids to watch movies, play on the turf and go to the park. Backpacks were handed out afterwards to help them prepare for a return to school.

SA国际影视传媒淭his was a group of kids that we were able to connect to and get to know them more as individuals,SA国际影视传媒� Nungaq says, adding that he wants to help them build confidence and motivation.

He says he tells youths that education can also mean opportunities to get involved in programs like Skills Canada, to travel and to socialize.

SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e young and you have all that energy that you can throw on to all these activities,SA国际影视传媒� he says.

While in high school, Nungaq was able to partake in a pre-COVID trip to Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands. He also boarded a plane to Toronto to participate in a two-week dance camp, as hip-hop and contemporary dance are among his other passions. Fellow dancers at the event were Indigenous students from various parts of Canada, so he learned about their cultures and history and he shared his as an Inuk.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was absolutely amazing,SA国际影视传媒� he recalls.

Before the camp wrapped up, they performed their dance routine at the Sony Centre in Toronto in front of about 100 people.

SA国际影视传媒淎s I got older, I realized that I actually loved to dance because it just made me happy. It got me to connect with people who I thought ISA国际影视传媒檇 never talk to,SA国际影视传媒� he says.

In the future, Nungaq would love for his musical and dance talents to raise his profile on the entertainment scene.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the next five to 10 years, ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping that ISA国际影视传媒檓 travelling the world and ISA国际影视传媒檓 making more connections with bigger artists, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 able to come back to my city when ISA国际影视传媒檓 a little more wealthier from my passion in music,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淚 hope to give back to my community. I hope to make a bigger impact to Nunavut overall, and I hope to help myself and my family, especially with this musical career because I strive for success and happiness every day with this.SA国际影视传媒�