Beatrice Deer – Arranged
Today, acclaimed “Inuindie” singer-songwriter Beatrice Deer returned with the release of her new single + visualizer, “Arranged.”
The indie rock track is a stirring showcase of her signature sound, rooted in vivid and emotionally rich storytelling. Featuring Johnny Saunders, “Arranged” draws from Inuit history, reflecting on the once-common practice of arranged marriages. Guided by Deer’s radiant vocals, the song echoes stories passed down by Elders: a young couple meeting as strangers and learning to respect one another, eventually growing into a deep, enduring love. The result is a moving meditation on tradition, strength, and the unexpected tenderness that can rise from even the most challenging beginnings.
Beatrice Deer says, “There are many, many stories from our Elders who were betrothed from birth and had to honor the agreement made by their parents when they came of age in spite of their deep dismay. Stories of young men and women who’ve never seen each other were made to marry each other. In many of these rough beginnings are stories of learning to respect each other and their vows, and eventually love each other deeply until the very end.”
“Making this track was fun because it’s kind of a unique story about difficult arranged marriages turning into happy endings,” Deer continues. “I wrote it in first person perspective imagining how the woman and the man felt about the arrangement their parents made. Then on the recording side, it was a challenge because I needed an Inuk male singer for the duet that can deliver vocally with the right vibe. All the Inuit men singers aren’t based in Montreal. Luckily Johnny Saunders from Kuujjuaq was in Montreal for an event and was free one afternoon so I grabbed him and took him to the studio. I’m so very happy with how the song turned out. I hope listeners who are going through a rough patch in their relationship will be inspired to work through their differences and disagreements and work things out, unless it’s abusive. If it is, leave and go find the right one to spend forever with.”
Beatrice Deer is an acclaimed Inuit singer-songwriter based in Montreal. Half Inuk and half Mohawk, Beatrice was born and raised in Nunavik, Quebec, in the small village of Quaqtaq. Her award-winning songs are crafted upon deeply personal lyrics and blend indie rock and modern folk with traditional Inuit stories and throat singing. A beloved figure in Arctic Canada, Deer has performed worldwide, from the Venice Biennale to Norway’s Førde Traditional and World Music Festival to the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Her bandmates and collaborators, all longstanding members of Montreal’s music community, have worked with diverse and dynamic musical acts such as Leif Vollebekk, Land of Talk, Stars, The Barr Brothers, Bell Orchestre, Little Scream, The Besnard Lakes, and Suuns.
Beatrice Deer’s illustrious career is marked by a string of remarkable achievements and accolades that underscore her immense talent and profound impact on the arts community. From winning the 2018 Canadian Folk Music Award and the 2019 Indigenous Music Award for Best Folk Album, to her co-composition of the musical score for the acclaimed Giant Bear, which won a 2020 Canadian Screen Award, her contributions to music and film are extraordinary. Deer’s stellar trajectory continued with the receipt of the Prism Prize and an appointment as an Apple Ambassador in 2021, alongside her notable appearance as a finalist on Quebec’s popular televised talent show, Talents Bleus. Her compositional prowess reached new heights with her creation of the musical score for Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice, recognized with multiple awards including IMDB Short Cuts’ Best Canadian Film at TIFF and a shortlisting for an Oscar nomination. Her chart-topping single “UQAUTINNGA” from the album SHIFTING (2021) reached #1 and solidified her status as a prominent figure in the music industry, while in 2022, she was invited to sing for the pope on the Plains of Abraham during his visit to Canada. In 2023, Beatrice won the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Award for Inuit Artist of the Year and in 2024, she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, further highlighting her profound impact.
Beyond her musical talents, Beatrice Deer’s exceptional contributions to the arts community were honoured when she was named “Woman of the Year” by The Montreal Council of Women in 2023. And in the same year, alongside her remarkable skill in fashion, she was commissioned to tailor an outfit for Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, for the coronation of King Charles III.
Beatrice Deer is excited to return with new music in 2026.
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