Inez Jasper

Inez Jasper
Background information
Birth nameInez Point
Born (1981-05-19) May 19, 1981 (age 43)
Chilliwack, British Columbia
GenresPop, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, nurse
InstrumentVocals
Years active2009–present
LabelsLets'emot Music
WebsiteInezJasper.com

Inez Jasper (née Point), also known as Inez,[1] (born May 19, 1981) is a Canadian musician,[2] 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.[3]

Biography

Inez Jasper

Inez Jasper was born and raised in Chilliwack, British Columbia. She is of Sto:lo, Ojibway and Métis heritage.[2] She is the daughter of Mark Point, a former Skowkale First Nation chief,[4] and the niece of Steven Point, a former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.[5]

She was educated as a registered nurse, and works as a community health nurse for Stó:lō Nation Health Services.[6] She has two children,[4] and in 2010 her husband Otis Jasper served as the chief of Soowahlie First Nation.[2]

She released her debut single "Sto:lo Strong" in 2005, before releasing the full-length album SingSoulGirl in January 2009.[2] She toured extensively to support the album, and won awards at both the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and the Western Canadian Music Awards.[2] 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.[7]

She was named a National Aboriginal Role Model by the National Aboriginal Health Organization in 2008.[2]

Discography

Studio albums

Studio albums by Inez Jasper
Year Album title Release details
2009 Singsoulgirl
  • Released: Jan 9, 2009
  • Label: Lets'emot Music
  • Format: CD, digital
2013 Burn Me Down
  • Released: Aug 1, 2013
  • Label: Lets'emot Music
  • Format: CD, digital

Singles

Selected songs by Inez Jasper
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" (ft. Jon C) Burn Me Down Lets'emot Music (Aug 1, 2013)
"Fallen Soldier" (ft. Fawn Wood) Lets'emot Music (Aug 1, 2013)

Guest appearances

Selected songs featuring Inez Jasper
Year Single name Primary artist(s) Album Release details
2013 "Me & U" (ft. Inez Jasper) 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

See also

References

  1. ^ "Inez on the rez". Chilliwack Times. July 25, 2013. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Feinberg, Jennifer (April 8, 2012). "Inez Jasper: A powerhouse of talent". Chilliwack Progress. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  3. ^ "More music awards for singer Inez". Chilliwack Times. September 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  4. ^ a b "About Inez Jasper". InezJasper.com. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  5. ^ "This girl is on fire". Chilliwack Times, February 13, 2014.
  6. ^ "Inez Jasper, 2010 Juno nominee and Aboriginal People's Choice winner, balances music and motherhood". Vancouver Observer, March 9, 2010.
  7. ^ Feinberg, Jennifer (September 17, 2014). "Inez wins pair of awards last weekend". Chilliwack Progress. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
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