Released August 21st, 2026
By Dizzy Zylstra
Do you remember The Jerry Cans? In 2018, the Nunavut rock band rocked out at the Junos with their song “Ukiuq,” which showcased their unique blend of Canadian rock transformed by the Inuktitut language and the northern Lands and Skies they called home. While The Jerry Cans have since disbanded, Andrew Morrison, the lead singer and guitarist, has been continuing that journey with a new project called Echoes Of…
In 2024, Echoes Of… was formed as a collective of Northern artists who released their debut album, Euphemisms, that blended Inuktitut and English vocals with a strain of folk rock that included psychedelic and pop influences.
In August, Echoes Of… released their second album, Last Days. This album takes a new journey through the North. Where The Jerry Cans’s music and Euphemisms were rock-focused, this album is a musical journey that incorporates more ethereal tones driven by piano and classical stringed instruments. Dreamy describes most of the music you’ll hear on this album, punctuated by the beautiful vocals of Qiyuapik and Terry Uyarak.
The album starts with an instrumental piece, “Soothe Your Soul Vol. 1,” a piano-led piece with new age vibes that eases you gently into the album. It’s followed up by “Soothe Your Soul Vol. 2,” which remixes the first song with the vocals of Qiyuapik. The album carries this theme throughout: each song is presented with and without vocals, which makes the album an awesome choice for students looking for something to listen to while studying. Last Days provides a gentle ambient landscape that focuses and guides the mind. You can hear the gentle lapping of the Arctic Ocean on a distant shore, feel the shifting of snow dunes, and see an arctic fox in your mind’s eye as these songs carry you on an adventure that is as otherworldly as it is welcoming.
I found the song “Colours 2,” with Terry Uyarak, to be especially mesmerizing and evocative. The composition combines and mixes spoken word with musical vocals with a whimsical and rising instrumental section that feels refreshing and pure, like dipping into a mountain stream.
I highly recommend giving this album a listen. For university students, this is music we can listen to while studying, reading, and writing. Dancers should also give Last Days a listen, because there are some themes and rhythms within the album that deserve to be explored through movement. Visiting the North is difficult, yet through this album, we can get a taste of Turtle Island’s northern expanses. We can let the Arctic medicine wash over us and carry us through the stresses of life here in Amiskwaciy-waskihikan.
