Twin Flames (band)

Twin Flames
Background information
OriginQuebec, Canada
GenresFolk
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, native american flute, Irish hand drum
Years active2015–2025
Members
  • Sunchild Deer-Okpik (Jaaji Okpik)
  • Chelsey June
Past members
  • Mike Giamberardino
  • Troy Huizinga
  • Scott Norris
  • Jason Watts
Websitetwinflamesmusic.com

Twin Flames was a Canadian folk music duo based in Quebec.

History

The band was formed in 2015, releasing their debut album Jaaji and Chelsey June the same year.[1] Their second album, Signal Fire, followed in 2017.

In 2019, Twin Flames released the song "Human", chosen by UNESCO as the official song to celebrate the International Year of Indigenous Languages.[2] They released Omen in 2020,[3] and in 2023 issued Twin Flames Unplugged Live, a collection of seven re-recorded songs.[4] Their final LP, Hugging the Cactus, was released in 2024.[5]

In June 2025, Sunchild Deer-Okpik, also known as Jaaji, was arrested and charged with seven alleged sexual offences said to have occurred between January and May 2000. The charges include sexual assault, sexual touching of a young person while in a position of authority, and forcible confinement.[6]

In August 2025, the duo announced that they were separating and that Twin Flames had come to an end, concluding nearly a decade of recording and touring together.

Band members

Current members[7]

  • Sunchild Deer-Okpik (Jaaji Okpik) – vocals, guitar (2015–2025)
  • Chelsey June – vocals, Native American flute, Irish hand drum (2015–2025)

Former members[8][9]

  • Mike Giamberardino – bass, synthesizer, background vocals (2019–2021)
  • Troy Huizinga – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboard, bass, synthesizer, background vocals (2019–2022)
  • Scott Norris – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, synthesizer, background vocals (2021–2022)
  • Jason Watts – drums, background vocals (2019–2022)

Discography

  • Jaaji and Chelsey June (2015)
  • Signal Fire (2017)
  • Omen (2020)
  • Twin Flames Unplugged Live (2023)
  • Hugging the Cactus (2024)

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards Aboriginal Songwriters of the Year[10] Won
Native American Music Awards Best Folk Recording[11] Nominated
Native American Music Awards Debut Duo of the Year[11] Nominated
2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards Aboriginal Songwriters of the Year[12] Won
Indigenous Music Awards Best Folk Album[13] Nominated
Canadian Folk Music Awards Vocal Group of the Year[14] Nominated
Canadian Folk Music Awards World Group of the Year[14] Nominated
Independent Music Awards Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year[15] Nominated
2018 Native American Music Association Awards Best Folk Recording[16] Won
Native American Music Association Awards Duo of the Year[16] Won
Native American Music Association Awards Record of the Year[16] Nominated
Native American Music Association Awards Song of the Year[16] Nominated
Native American Music Association Awards Best Music Video[16] Nominated
Native American Music Association Awards Best Americana Recording[16] Nominated
Native American Music Association Awards Best Historical/Linguistic Performance[16] Nominated
Indigenous Music Awards Best Folk Album[17] Nominated
Indian Summer Music Awards Folk Album of the Year[18] Nominated
Indian Summer Music Awards Best Native American Vocal[18] Nominated
Indian Summer Music Awards Pop Song of the Year[18] Nominated
2019 Native American Music Association Awards Best Indie Single of the Year[19] Nominated
Native American Music Association Awards Best Concept for a Music Video[20] Won
2021 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards Recording Artist of the Year[21] Nominated
Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards Radio Song/Single of the Year[21] Won
Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards Pop/Rock/Alternative Album of the Year[21] Won
Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards Music in the Arts[21] Won
2022 Native American Music Awards Best Group/Duo of the Year[22] Nominated
Native American Music Awards Pop Recording[22] Nominated
Native American Music Awards Best Pop Video[22] Nominated
Native American Music Awards Best Contemporary Vocal Video[22] Nominated
Capital Music Awards Group of the Year[23] Won
TD Indigenous Songwriter Award Songwriter of the Year[24] Nominated
Canadian Folk Music Awards Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year[25] Won
Canadian Folk Music Awards Vocal Group of the Year[25] Won
2023 Arctic Music Awards Group of the Year[26] Won
Arctic Music Awards Indigenous Group of the Year[27] Nominated
Arctic Music Awards Single of the Year[27] Nominated
Arctic Music Awards Album of the Year[27] Nominated
Arctic Music Awards Music Video of the Year[27] Nominated
2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards Vocal Group of the Year[28] Nominated
2025 Capital Music Awards Group of the Year[29] Won

References

  1. ^ "Twin Flames have completed and released their new album, Omen, during COVID | Roots Music Canada". 14 September 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Twin Flames hope to use music to revitalize Indigenous languages, storytelling". CBC North, 5 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Twin Flames have completed and released their new album, Omen, during COVID | Roots Music Canada". 14 September 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Twin Flames on Tour". Raven Radio, 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Twin Flames - Hugging the Cactus LP". twinflamesmusic.com. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Twin Flames singer charged with historical sexual offences". CBC News. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Twin Flames - About us". www.twinflamesmusic.com. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Twin Flames - Bio". 18 October 2021. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Teaching May Be the Perfect Side Gig". www.canadianmusician.com. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Twin Flames bring their warmth to Canadian Folk Music Awards". Ottawa Citizen, 26 July 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Native American Music Awards 2016 Winners". Native American Music Awards, 2016.
  12. ^ "Results 2017". Canadian Folk Music Awards, 2017.
  13. ^ "Twin Flames". Indigenous Music Awards, 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Ottawa's Twin Flames up for three 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Ottawa Sun, 21 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Canadian Music Week announces 2017 Jim Beam Indies with Indie88 nominees". Canadian Beats, 27 March 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "Ottawa's Twin Flames win big at Native American music awards". CBC News Ottawa, 13 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Twin Flames". Indigenous Music Awards 2018.
  18. ^ a b c "Twin Flames rock the stage at Shell Theatre with Gord Downie tribute". Fort Saskatchewan Record, 11 April 2019.
  19. ^ "NAMA 2019 Nominee Music By Category". Native American Music Association Awards, 23 September 2019.
  20. ^ "NAMA 2019 Nominated Music Videos". Native American Music Association Awards, 23 September 2019.
  21. ^ a b c d "Ottawa acts nominated for Indigenous music awards". Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, 12 May 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d "2022 Native American Music Awards Nominees". Native American Music Association Awards, 20 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Capital Music Awards 2022". Capital Music Awards, 2022.
  24. ^ "2022 TD Indigenous Songwriter Award". SOCAN Foundation, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Two Big Wins For Twin Flames at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards!". YOU will LOVE it LIVE!, 2022.
  26. ^ "Here are Your First Ever Arctic Music Award Winners". Roots Music Canada, 27 March 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d "Here are the Nominees for the First Ever Arctic Music Award Winners". Roots Music Canada, 14 March 2023.
  28. ^ "Nominees 2024". Canadian Folk Music Awards, 18 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Capital Music Awards". Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, 22 May 2025.
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