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. 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."Twin Flames hope to use music to revitalize Indigenous languages, storytelling". CBC North, 5 August 2019. They released Omen in 2020, and in 2023 issued Twin Flames Unplugged Live, a collection of seven re-recorded songs."Twin Flames on Tour". Raven Radio, 1 March 2023. Their final LP, Hugging the Cactus, was released in 2024.
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.
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 Sunchild Deer-Okpik (Jaaji Okpik) – vocals, guitar (2015–2025) Chelsey June – vocals, Native American flute, Irish hand drum (2015–2025)
Former members 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
|rowspan="3"| 2016 || Canadian Folk Music Awards || Aboriginal Songwriters of the Year"Twin Flames bring their warmth to Canadian Folk Music Awards". Ottawa Citizen, 26 July 2018. || |- | Native American Music Awards || Best Folk Recording"Native American Music Awards 2016 Winners". Native American Music Awards, 2016. || |- | Native American Music Awards || Debut Duo of the Year || |- |rowspan="5"| 2017 || Canadian Folk Music Awards || Aboriginal Songwriters of the Year"Results 2017". Canadian Folk Music Awards, 2017. || |- | Indigenous Music Awards || Best Folk Album"Twin Flames". Indigenous Music Awards, 2017. || |- | Canadian Folk Music Awards || Vocal Group of the Year"Ottawa's Twin Flames up for three 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Ottawa Sun, 21 September 2017. || |- | Canadian Folk Music Awards || World Group of the Year || |- | Independent Music Awards || Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year"Canadian Music Week announces 2017 Jim Beam Indies with Indie88 nominees". Canadian Beats, 27 March 2017. || |- |rowspan="11"| 2018 || Native American Music Association Awards || Best Folk Recording || |- | Native American Music Association Awards || Duo of the Year || |- | Native American Music Association Awards || Record of the Year || |- | Native American Music Association Awards || Song of the Year || |- | Native American Music Association Awards || Best Music Video || |- | Native American Music Association Awards || Best Americana Recording || |- | Native American Music Association Awards || Best Historical/Linguistic Performance"Ottawa's Twin Flames win big at Native American music awards". CBC News Ottawa, 13 October 2018. || |- | Indigenous Music Awards || Best Folk Album"Twin Flames". Indigenous Music Awards 2018. || |- | Indian Summer Music Awards || Folk Album of the Year"Twin Flames rock the stage at Shell Theatre with Gord Downie tribute". Fort Saskatchewan Record, 11 April 2019. || |- | Indian Summer Music Awards || Best Native American Vocal || |- | Indian Summer Music Awards || Pop Song of the Year || |- |rowspan="2"| 2019 || Native American Music Association Awards || Best Indie Single of the Year"NAMA 2019 Nominee Music By Category". Native American Music Association Awards, 23 September 2019. || |- | Native American Music Association Awards || Best Concept for a Music Video"NAMA 2019 Nominated Music Videos". Native American Music Association Awards, 23 September 2019. || |- |rowspan="4"| 2021 | Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards || Recording Artist of the Year"Ottawa acts nominated for Indigenous music awards". Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, 12 May 2021. || |- | Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards || Radio Song/Single of the Year || |- | Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards || Pop/Rock/Alternative Album of the Year || |- | Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards || Music in the Arts || |- |rowspan="8"| 2022 || Native American Music Awards || Best Group/Duo of the Year"2022 Native American Music Awards Nominees". Native American Music Association Awards, 20 January 2022. || |- | Native American Music Awards || Pop Recording || |- | Native American Music Awards || Best Pop Video || |- | Native American Music Awards || Best Contemporary Vocal Video || |- | Capital Music Awards || Group of the Year"Capital Music Awards 2022". Capital Music Awards, 2022. || |- | TD Indigenous Songwriter Award || Songwriter of the Year"2022 TD Indigenous Songwriter Award". SOCAN Foundation, 2022. || |- | Canadian Folk Music Awards || Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year"Two Big Wins For Twin Flames at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards!". YOU will LOVE it LIVE!, 2022. || |- | Canadian Folk Music Awards || Vocal Group of the Year || |- |rowspan="5"| 2023 || Arctic Music Awards ||Group of the Year"Here are Your First Ever Arctic Music Award Winners". Roots Music Canada, 27 March 2023. || |- |Arctic Music Awards ||Indigenous Group of the Year"Here are the Nominees for the First Ever Arctic Music Award Winners". Roots Music Canada, 14 March 2023. || |- |Arctic Music Awards ||Single of the Year || |- |Arctic Music Awards ||Album of the Year || |- |Arctic Music Awards ||Music Video of the Year || |- |rowspan="1"| 2024 || Canadian Folk Music Awards || Vocal Group of the Year"Nominees 2024". Canadian Folk Music Awards, 18 October 2023. || |- |rowspan="1"| 2025 || Capital Music Awards || Group of the Year"Capital Music Awards". Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, 22 May 2025. ||
References
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