This series is dedicated to sharing the stories of incredible artists working across a diverse range of formats. We have some exciting people scheduled for Source Material.
Singer songwriter and Multi Instrumentalist - Rob Elo
Rob Elo is an alternative R&B/soul singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Yellowknife, NT. Originally hailing from Vancouver Island, BC, Rob has become a staple of the Northern music scene, recently representing the NWT on the national stage at Breakout West 2025.
A versatile performer, he is a frequent face in the live music scene including Folk on the Rocks, Snowking Winter Festival and so much more. When he isn't fronting his own soulful projects, Rob lends his talents to various ensembles, including Hard Times, The Co-Op, and The Raggedass Swing Band. You can also catch an intimate look at his craft in the premiere episode of the new series, Northern Tracks.
Come join us as Rob talks about the origins of his name, The oppertunities Yellowknife holds, and his love for music.
https://www.robelomusic.com
https://www.instagram.com/rob.elo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcVyjz_ySiL_WEOcd23ngNA
29 Mar 2026
Fibre Artist Erin Suliak
Based in her birthplace of Yellowknife, NWT Canada, Erin Suliak is a multi-disciplinary artist. Her creative practice includes visual arts and performance. Current fields of inquiry include textile art and fine craft, modern quiltmaking and sculpture. Her work often incorporates found and reclaimed materials and reflect on her northern birthplace, memory, and home.
Erin’s artwork has been acquired and supported by the Yellowknife Heritage Committee, NWT Arts Council, and the INAC - Contaminants and Remediation Directorate 'Artists on Site' program. Her work has also been published in the journal Curated Quilts, and her quilts have been juried into international quilt shows.
Erin talks about how used textiles aren't just supplies they’re stories, with history that add layers of meaning and unexpected creativity to her work and so much more.
You can find her piece "Lush" displayed at Yellowknife's Visitor Centre.
https://www.erinsuliak.ca/
26 Mar 2026
Multidisciplinary Artist Benjamin Norman Mujuni
Benjamin Norman Mujuni is an architectural designer and multidisciplinary artist who has been honing his craft since the age of seven. A versatile performer with a primary focus on Krump, Benjamin balances his own competitive practice with a deep commitment to mentorship. As an instructor at Bella Dance Academy, he empowers youth to use movement as a tool for creative expression and mental well-being. From the drafting table to the dance battle, Benjamin is a dedicated champion of the arts and a driving force in the local creative community.
11 Mar 2026
Mutli Artist Olivia Mater Full Episode
Olivia Mater is a multi-disciplinary artist and storyteller who finds her muse in the pulse of the natural world. As a photographer and singer, she works to reveal the hidden layers of our shared reality, uncovering the stories within stories.
Olivia talks about all her different creativity endeavours from painting, photography, to singing and how Yellowknife is the perfect place for it.
https://www.instagram.com/livwildart/?hl=en
https://www.oliviamaterphotography.com/
https://livwildart.wordpress.com/
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LivWildArt
11 Mar 2026
Comedian Sky Plowman - Full Episode
Skye Plowman is a seasoned bartender based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. During the pandemic, Skye gained local recognition for her video series, transitioning her mixology skills to her home kitchen to keep the community’s spirits high. Whether she’s behind the bar or behind the microphone, Skye remains a firm believer in the power of service to foster community.
Skye chats about being your own worse critic, finding the humor in the human condition, her theatre background and treating her work as a performance.
8 Mar 2026
Musician/Actor Orville Maciel - Full Episode
Meet Orville Maciel aka Swankie the Villain, the Mississauga-born artist bridging the gap between underground lyricism and viral charisma. From headlining stages in Shanghai to the Toronto circuit, Orville has built a global reputation for deep storytelling in soulful, eclectic melodies. He doesn’t just capture ears, he captures attention. With a knack for playing diverse characters, Swankie has turned his lighthearted creativity into a digital powerhouse, racking up more than 10 million views and counting.
Join us this episode as Orville shares the many sides of his art from the origins of his acting to the art of freestyle rap.
21 Feb 2026
Drag King Thunder Normz - Full Episode
Thunder Normz is a cornerstone of Yellowknife's queer community and a driving force behind it's vibrant drag scene. Though tireless work as a performer, organizer and mentor, Thunder has created inclusive space for 2SLGBTQIPA+ folks to express themselves, connect with others, and thrive.
We caught up at the Underground just before the final curtain call of his residency to discuss the origin of the "Thunder" persona, the power of community support, and what it means to have chosen family.
15 Feb 2026
Classical Soprano Diana Rockwell - Full Episode
Raised in Yellowknife, NWT, Canadian soprano Diana Rockwell is a vibrant and dynamic emerging artist. First trained as a multidisciplinary artist with a long history of dance, instrumental, and musical theatre performance, she now finds her home on operatic stages across Canada.
In this episode Diana talks about the importance of asking questions, collaborating, the joy of performing on stage and so much more!
https://www.dianarockwellsoprano.com
https://www.instagram.com/dianalrocks
12 Feb 2026
Musician Lester Slade - Full Episode
Lester Slade is a traveling songwriter based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, whose stripped-down sound blends folk, Americana, and alt-country. From the stages of the Netherlands to Canada's East Coast, Slade delivers honest, clear-eyed storytelling that is as intimate as it is expansive.
We joined Lester Slade on Houseboat Bay to talk about his DIY mentality, the hustle of independent music, and his new endeavour, Lasso Records, is the direct result of that mission: a home for music made on one's own terms.
https://www.lesterslade.com
https://lesterslade.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.instagram.com/zaclesterslade
1 Feb 2026
Singer-Songwriter Ben Cornel - Full Episode
Ben Cornel is a Yellowknife-based singer-songwriter whose music captures the raw, quiet beauty of the North. From the warmth of a rising sun to the stillness of a subarctic night, Ben’s sound serves as a sonic tribute to the landscapes and loved ones that define 'home.'
We join Ben at the Sundog Trading Post to chat about his creative journey, his evolution as an artist and so much more.
Catch Ben Cornel live at The Still Dark Festival Feb 5-8, 2026.
https://www.facebook.com/bencornelmusic
https://www.instagram.com/bencornelmusic
https://linktr.ee/bencornelmusic
27 Jan 2026
Upper Mall Rats Full Episode
Rat Piss, Rat Mike, Ratchu and Muskrat Baby together known as The Upper Mall Rats were originally cast in the Real Housewives of Niven until their husbands kicked them out of the house for good. They have since turned their attention to liberating centre square mall, "from 50th ave to 49th street, centre square will be free!"
They join us on this episode to chat about Rat Piss's love life, Ratchu's beard , Rat Mike's love for double cheese pizza, and Muskrat Baby's sketchy origin. Oh and we talk just a little bit about their music.
You can catch them playing February 5-8, 2026 at the Still Dark Festival here in Yellowknife.
18 Jan 2026
Beadwork by Christine Dunbar
Christine Dunbar is an Inuvialuit artist born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories with family connections to Inuvik, Aklavik, as well as Utqiagvik, Alaska. By blending the intricate tradition of beadwork with her professional background in graphic design and environmental science, Christine creates a unique visual language. Christine shares the story behind her beadwork and the name Auntie Beading.
We also discuss the meaningful "crossover" between her career in environmental science and her beadwork and so much more!
https://www.instagram.com/auntie.beading
https://www.nwtarts.com/search/artists/christine-dunbar
12 Jan 2026
Mixed-Media Artist Andrew Jossa
Yellowknife-based artist Andrew Jossa is a master of the "unseen" elements that make a performance unforgettable. By blending their technical mastery as a sound tech with the fluid aesthetics of liquid light and the complexity of jazz fusion, they create a multi-sensory environment.
Join us for an in-depth conversation as we trace Andrew’s journey from Yellowknife to jazz studies and back againWe explore their unique philosophy on being the 'unseen member' of a band and dive into the mesmerizing world of their visual media work, specifically their signature liquid light projections.
https://www.facebook.com/andrewjossa
https://www.facebook.com/backbayproductions/
https://linktr.ee/coldfusionyk
*All music in this episode was performed by Andrew Joss and Cold Fusion
5 Jan 2026
Bead Work Artist Louise Speakman
Louise Speakman is a traditional beadwork artist who creates contemporary looks. She particularly loves making beaded earrings, incorporating caribou tufting, quillwork, and smoked hides in her designs. A Sahtu Got’ine artist living in Yellowknife, she started beading in 2021 with the help and support from family and friends. After sharing her artwork on social media, Louise started selling some of her pieces later that same year.
Join us as we chat about her journey of healing, indigenous excellence and more.
www.instagram.com/lou.beads
29 Dec 2025
Artist Robyn Scott
We join Robyn Scott, a Yellowknife artist, educator, and public speaker, at her studio and chat about showing up, finding your way and a purpose filled life. Her paintings combine vivid colour, texture, and layered backgrounds with realistic northern subjects, reflecting the beauty and spirit of life in the North.
https://www.robynscott.ca/
22 Dec 2025
Lutenist Tyler Hawkins
Tyler Hawkins is a versatile guitarist in Yellowknife. Here at The Gallery on 47th Street, we will chat about his journey with this majestic instrument, the symmetry in compositions of the Baroque era and how music can transport you to a different time.
Tyler is known for playing the guitar in several different Yellowknife bands, but for this lifelong guitarist, the migration to the lute has been a game-changer, opening up an exciting new path.
13 Dec 2025
Musician Benji Straker
Yellowknife Musician Benji Straker talks about his project Hughes, family, creating a music scene and breaks down his creative process. This project is a folk/alternative sound weaving heartfelt, ambient melodies with his compelling vocals and soulful guitars.
Hughes' introspective lyrics explore the his human experience and self-discovery, offering listeners a serene journey.
The self-titled album is out now! https://linktr.ee/hughesmusic
11 Dec 2025
Singer Songwriter Justine Giles
Justine Giles is here in Yellowknife and we are at her cozy cabin. She was here for the month of November for The Folk on The Rocks Artist residency. We have talk about the pressure of it all and the beauty of how it all just work out sometimes. We can't wait to see her back here in Yellowknife for Folk on the Rocks Festival 2026.
Justine's also performs her recent singles "Past Life" & "Part of Me" live
https://www.justinegiles.com/
11 Dec 2025
Wood Artish Mike Mitchell
Get to know Mike Mitchell, local Yellowknife Wood “Artish.” Mike’s artwork is featured in the exhibit “51 Years in the Biz” at the Yellowknife Visitors centre for the next 3 months.
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