Québec-based Afro-Indigenous artist Joseph Sarenhes returns today with “Wendigo Hunt,” a hard-hitting new hip-hop single that channels ancestral legend into raw lyrical power. Released via The Orchard, the track is available now across all streaming platforms.
Driven by thunderous drums and razor-sharp bars, the track draws inspiration from the legendary Wendigo of Northern Indigenous storytelling, a powerful figure symbolizing fear, destruction, and the danger of losing oneself. On “Wendigo Hunt,” Joseph flips the narrative, transforming inherited fear into strength and emerging not as the hunted, but the hunter.
The idea for the song emerged from conversations with Elders in Joseph’s community of Wendake, who spoke about the importance of confronting fear rather than running from it. In this way, “Wendigo Hunt” becomes more than a mythological reference, it’s a metaphor for facing personal and collective struggles and transforming darkness into strength.
“Wendigo Hunt is a metaphor that showcases the transformation of an ancestral fear into modern power,” says Joseph Sarenhes. “It’s not just about multigenerational trauma, it’s about the small everyday battles and the fears that hold us back. This isn’t survival. It’s transformation, evolution, until the demons that chase us start running.”
Sonically, the self-produced track hits with primal intensity. Traditional pow-wow and hand drums were recorded specifically for the project, grounding the production in Indigenous rhythm while driving a relentless hip-hop pulse that underscores Joseph’s commanding delivery.
“Wendigo Hunt” marks Joseph’s first new release in a few years and signals the start of a series of self-produced works arriving throughout 2026, representing a defining artistic era for the Québec-based artist.
A dynamic MC, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, Joseph Sarenhes is known for blending hip-hop with rock, R&B, and traditional Afro-Indigenous rhythms drawn from his Guinean and Huron-Wendat heritage alongside cinematic production. While some of his work moves fluidly across genres, “Wendigo Hunt” puts the spotlight firmly on his commanding presence as a rapper.
Over the past several years, Joseph has built a reputation as one of Québec’s most compelling emerging voices. He has opened for global artists including The Black Eyed Peas and Rick Ross, while his immersive live performances often feature Indigenous and African dancers in traditional regalia, merging ancestral rhythms with contemporary performance to create visually striking, multi-sensory experiences. He will bring this powerful live experience to stages across Québec this summer with a series of festivals and special performances to be announced soon.
His growing impact has earned widespread recognition. Joseph was named Radio-Canada’s Musical Revelation of the Year (2023–2024), selected as an RBCxMusic First Up Featured Artist, and honoured as a Black History Month Laureate by the City of Montreal in 2024. That same year, he received the Revelation Diaspora Award at the Victoire de la Musique Guinéenne (VDMG) in Africa and delivered a featured performance at the Grand Gala Dynastie. His work has now surpassed 4.9 million global streams and video views, reflecting a steadily expanding audience.
As he steps into this new phase of his career, Joseph Sarenhes continues to shape a musical world where cultural lineage and contemporary sound collide. With more self-produced releases arriving throughout 2026, “Wendigo Hunt” offers a powerful first statement from an artist turning heritage and resilience into music built for today’s global stage.
