Indigenous singers 'sound like Hän stars' in 1st studio-recorded album

An Indigenous singing group in Dawson City, Yukon finished recording their first studio album last weekend. 

The Hän Singers have been performing at local events in the community in Hän, the traditional language of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation, since forming in the early 90s. 

Allison Anderson, a lead member, said the process of recording an album started last fall when the group was approached by the executive director of the Dawson City Music Festival Association (DCMF). 

"Corbin [Murdoch] reached out to us and asked if we wanted to be a part of this amazing opportunity to record an album," said Anderson, adding that it was a dream come true for the group. 

The Hän Singers recorded 10 songs at DCMF's recording studio at 802 Third Avenue last weekend, and also worked on voice-overs and spoken word introductions for the songs. 

Anderson said once it's done, the album will contain songs the public has heard before and some new songs as well, including a track that features a recording of Charlie Isaac. Isaac is the son of Chief Issac, who led his people during the Gold Rush.

Anderson said the first time the group heard the recordings played back, they felt a sense of relief.

"We felt amazed. We were just bobbing our heads and rocking out to our own songs. It's like 'oh man we sound like Hän stars.'"

Anderson said to make the experience even better, her son Bear was in the studio with the group.

"It makes me feel very blessed in many ways that we're able to bring our young ones up with singing and dancing," she said. "Especially when … the generation before us, they grew up not singing these songs."

Dillan Taylor, another group member, said he felt intimidated by the experience at the start — but once the singing started, that feeling quickly turned into pride.

"It hit something deep inside," he said. "It really satisfies something in my very soul. I get goosebumps when we're all singing and there's lots of us. It's an [indescribable] feeling, really." 

Taylor also acknowledged the process was "a bit tiring."

Murdoch, the executive director of the Dawson City Music Festival Association, said it was an honour to work on the project with the Hän Singers. He also said it was a "no-brainer" that working with them should be the recording studio's first official project.