Byron Nicholai
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Byron Nicholai, Uqill’aq or Ukila is a Yup'ik musician from Toksook Bay, Alaska. He is best known for his viral videos singing in the Yup'ik language.
Overview
Nicholai grew up in Toksook Bay. In 2014, Nicholai started uploading videos singing in his Indigenous Yup'ik language on a Facebook page called "I Sing, You Dance".https://www.facebook.com/I.Sing.You.Dance {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} One video in particular went viral and amassed over 150,000 views, deeming some media to dub him the "Justin Bieber of Alaska".{{Cite web | url=https://vigdis.hi.is/en/events/byron-nicholai-tonlist-fra-nordurslodum/ | title=Byron Nicholai - Music from the Arctic }} In 2015, he performed for United States Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington, D.C. at the Arctic Council United States Chairmanship kickoff.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ktoo.org/2015/05/25/y-ks-facebook-phenom-helps-kick-off-arctic-council-chairmanship/ | title=Y-K's Facebook phenom helps kick off Arctic Council Chairmanship | date=25 May 2015 }}{{Cite web | url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos/17761939800 | title=Secretary Kerry and Admiral Papp Look on as Byron Nicholai Performs Song in Yup'ik at the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council Reception | date=21 May 2015 }}
In 2015, he released his first album, "I Am Yup'ik" or Wiinga Yupiugua, in Yup'ik.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ktoo.org/2015/11/01/toksook-bay-singing-drumming-phenom-releases-first-album/ | title=Toksook Bay singing and drumming phenom releases first album | date=November 2015 }} The album was a best seller in world music for New Zealand and Australia on Amazon Music.{{Cite web | url=https://www.adn.com/culture/article/yupik-teen-already-hit-facebook-makes-album/2015/10/30/ | title=Byron Nicholai of 'I Sing, You Dance' releases album of songs mixing modern and traditional }} He was also the subject of the ESPN 2016 documentary short of the same name.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5258442/?ref_=nm_knf_t3 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date= March 2022}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.ktoo.org/2016/02/27/toksook-bay-basketball-player-star-espns-yupik/ | title=Toksook Bay basketball player to star in ESPN's 'I am Yup'ik' | date=28 February 2016 }} The film made the 2016 Sundance Film Festival line-up.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ktoo.org/2015/12/09/i-am-yupik-film-makes-its-way-to-sundance/ | title='I Am Yup'ik' film makes it to Sundance | date=9 December 2015 }}
Since 2016, his style has ventured more into Yup'ik rap, hip hop, and R&B. He released the EPs "Still Here" in 2019 and "Assirtua (I'm Good)" in 2020. In 2022 he released his 2nd album called Ayagnera.
Awards
In 2014, Nicholai won the Alaska Federation of Natives President's Award. In 2015, Nicholai was awarded an Alaskan Spirit of Youth award.{{Cite web | url=https://www.spiritofyouth.org/nominees/byron-nicholai-2/ | title=Byron Nicholai }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.facebook.com/I.Sing.You.Dance I Sing, You Dance on Facebook]
- [https://www.instagram.com/byronnicholai/?hl=en Byron Nicholai on Instagram]
- [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ukila/1476798744 Ukila on iTunes]
- [https://soundcloud.com/ukila Ukila on SoundCloud]
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Category:21st-century Alaska Native people
Category:Musicians from Alaska
Category:American world music musicians