The Trade-Offs front-runner, Josh Qaumariaq has been playing music since he was eighteen. Born and raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut, which he still calls home, Josh and co-founder Jeff Maurice began a collaboration that back in 2012 led to the formation of The Trade-Offs. Inspired by the likes of Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Buddy Guy and Gary Clack Jr, Josh draws on his experiences from Nunavut and the struggles they face to write his soulful songs. With a mix of English and Inuktitut, The Trade-Offs sing the Arctic blues about universal themes such a light and darkness, closeness and isolation, as well as addressing more difficult topics that the North face every day.