Twin Flames (band)

Twin Flames is a Canadian band from Ottawa, Ontario led by husband and wife Jaaji and Chelsey June,[1] whose music blends both First Nations and Inuit music with folk rock.[2] They have toured extensively across Canada, remote Arctic communities, Greenland, France, Australia, and the United States.[2]

Twin Flames
Background information
OriginOttawa, Ontario, Canada
GenresFirst Nations, Inuit, Folk Rock
Years active2015–present
Websitewww.twinflamesmusic.com
MembersJaaji
Chelsey June
Mike Giamberardino
Troy Huizinga
Jason Watts

History

Jaaji, whose background is Mohawk and Inuk, was raised in Quaqtaq, Quebec. Chelsey June, who is Métis of Cree and Algonquin heritage, is from Ottawa.[1] They were active solo artists for a year when they met at a live showcase for indigenous musicians sponsored by the APTN.[3] In 2015 after marrying and deciding to work together, they released their debut album Jaaji and Chelsey June.

Twin Flames won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year at the 12th Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2016.[4] In 2016 they also participated in a Mental Health Awareness tour of Nunavut.[5]

They followed up in 2017 with their second album, Signal Fire, and again won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year at the 13th Canadian Folk Music Awards.[6]

In 2018 the band received seven nominations for Signal Fire at the Native American Music Awards, the most nominations for a single musical act in the award's history. They won for Best Folk Recording and Duo of the Year.[7]

In 2019 they released the song "Human", UNESCO's official song to celebrate the International Year of Indigenous Languages.[8] The song was included in CBC Music's 2019 Canadian Music Class Challenge.[9]

In 2021 their cover of The Tragically Hip's "Grace, Too" was featured in the second season of the CBC Television series TallBoyz.

Discography
  • Jaaji and Chelsey June (2015)
  • Signal Fire (2017)
  • Omen (2020)

Awards and nominations
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016Canadian Folk Music AwardsAboriginal Songwriters of the Year[3]Won
Native American Music AwardsBest Folk Recording[10]Nominated
Native American Music AwardsDebut Duo of the Year[10]Nominated
Indigenous Music AwardsBest Folk AlbumNominated
2017Canadian Folk Music AwardsAboriginal Songwriters of the Year[11]Won
Indigenous Music AwardsBest Folk Album[12]Nominated
Canadian Folk Music AwardsVocal Group of the Year[13]Nominated
Canadian Folk Music AwardsWorld Group of the Year[13]Nominated
Independent Music AwardsIndigenous Artist/Group of the Year[14]Nominated
Teweikan Music AwardsBest Folk Band[15]Nominated
Teweikan Music AwardsEmerging Artists of the Year[15]Nominated
Teweikan Music AwardsAlbum of the Year[15]Nominated
2018Native American Music Association AwardsBest Folk Recording[7]Won
Native American Music Association AwardsDuo of the Year[7]Won
Native American Music Association AwardsRecord of the Year[7]Nominated
Native American Music Association AwardsSong of the Year[7]Nominated
Native American Music Association AwardsBest Music Video[7]Nominated
Native American Music Association AwardsBest Americana Recording[7]Nominated
Native American Music Association AwardsBest Historical/Linguistic Performance[7]Nominated
Indigenous Music AwardsBest Folk Album[16]Nominated
Indian Summer Music AwardsFolk Album of the Year[17]Nominated
Indian Summer Music AwardsBest Native American Vocal[17]Nominated
Indian Summer Music AwardsPop Song of the Year[17]Nominated
2019Native American Music Association AwardsBest Indie Single of the Year[18]Nominated
Native American Music Association AwardsBest Concept for a Music Video[19]Won
2021Canadian Folk Music AwardsIndigenous Songwriter(s) of the YearNominated
Canadian Folk Music AwardsVocal Group of the YearNominated
Summer Solstice Indigenous Music AwardsRecording Artist of the Year[20]Nominated
Summer Solstice Indigenous Music AwardsRadio Song/Single of the Year[20]Won
Summer Solstice Indigenous Music AwardsPop/Rock/Alternative Album of the Year[20]Won
Summer Solstice Indigenous Music AwardsMusic in the Arts[20]Won
2022Native American Music AwardsBest Group/Duo of the Year[21]Nominated
Native American Music AwardsPop Recording[21]Nominated
Native American Music AwardsBest Pop Video[21]Nominated
Native American Music AwardsBest Contemporary Vocal Video[21]Nominated

Band members
  • Jaaji – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chelsey June – lead vocals, spirit flute
  • Mike Giamberardino – bass, synth
  • Troy Huizinga – lead guitar, keyboard, background vocals
  • Jason Watts – drums, background vocals

Family

Jaaji is the cousin of musician Beatrice Deer.[22]

References
  1. "Twin Flames found a common musical language despite polar opposite backgrounds". Unreserved, May 27, 2016.
  2. "Folk duo Twin Flames stranded in Rigolet, cancels part of Labrador tour". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, November 9, 2017.
  3. "Twin Flames bring their warmth to Canadian Folk Music Awards". Ottawa Citizen, July 26, 2018.
  4. "Canadian Folk Music Awards Announce 2016 Winners". Exclaim!, December 4, 2016.
  5. "'Natural high:' Twin Flames on love and sobriety in the music scene". CBC North, September 10, 2016.
  6. "Canadian Folk Music Awards Announce 2017 Winners". Exclaim!, November 20, 2017.
  7. "Ottawa's Twin Flames win big at Native American music awards". CBC News Ottawa, October 13, 2018.
  8. "Twin Flames hope to use music to revitalize Indigenous languages, storytelling". CBC North, August 5, 2019.
  9. "Canadian Folk Music Awards Announce 2017 Winners". CBC Music, June 18, 2019.
  10. "Native American Music Awards 2016 Winners". Native American Music Awards, 2016.
  11. "Results 2017". Canadian Folk Music Awards, 2017.
  12. "Twin Flames". Indigenous Music Awards, 2017.
  13. "Ottawa's Twin Flames up for three 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Ottawa Sun, September 21, 2017.
  14. "Canadian Music Week announces 2017 Jim Beam Indies with Indie88 nominees". Canadian Beats, March 27, 2017.
  15. "Les grands honneurs à la musique autochtone". La voix des premières nations, October 2017.
  16. "Twin Flames". Indigenous Music Awards 2018.
  17. "Twin Flames rock the stage at Shell Theatre with Gord Downie tribute". Fort Saskatchewan Record, April 11, 2019.
  18. "NAMA 2019 Nominee Music By Category". Native American Music Association Awards, September 23, 2019.
  19. "NAMA 2019 Nominated Music Videos". Native American Music Association Awards, September 23, 2019.
  20. "Ottawa acts nominated for Indigenous music awards". Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, May 12, 2021.
  21. "2022 Native American Music Awards Nominees". Native American Music Association Awards, January 20, 2022.
  22. "Nunavik’s Jaaji Uppik finds his voice". Nunatsiaq News, March 31, 2014.
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