Check out Twin Flames’ gorgeous new single, ‘Battlefields’
Twin Flames. Chart-topping Indigenous folk artists Twin Flames are back, this time with their highly anticipated new single, “Battlefields.”
The husband-and-wife duo of Métis singer Chelsey June from Ottawa, and Mohawk artist Jaaji, Inuk from Nunavik is long celebrated for its sonic landscapes spanning Canada and the Arctic and honouring its ancestors through songs in English, Inuttitut and French. “Battlefields” is a stunningly poignant addition to their discography.
That said, the new song — and the first preview to land ahead of their forthcoming and third studio album, OMEN — is a surprising departure from music the band has released in the past. Drawn from an album teeming with pop and synth-heavy sound exploration, this track’s theme is mental health, a topic that hits home for the band.
“Mental health is a battle that many people face in silence,” Chelsey said. “This song speaks to the stigma associated with it.”
“In the Arctic of Canada, Inuit People face the highest amount of suicides in the world,” Jaaji continued. “‘Battlefields’ is a song to remind our people we have to fight our own minds to survive… [W]e are fighters and, together, we can feel less alone and win this battle.”
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Set for release later this year, OMEN offers an edgier, darker musical feel that merges alt-pop, rock, and electronic genres into one. It’s a gapless release that encourages listeners to take in the entire journey at once.
“The album is concept-based around a dystopian reality, global warming, and humankind being free of social classes, mental health [issues], and addictions,” they said. “It speaks to seeking omens and signs of hope within ourselves and Mother Nature.”
With OMEN, Twin Flames question the human mind, revealing how one can endure the darkness and still find a way to bloom; it’s a truly moving experience, foretelling a brighter future while signifying the advent of change and a time for strength.
“We speak to the inner turmoil that so many, including ourselves, have experienced,” they said. “We hope to express that, if one dares to dream of meeting their heart’s longing and purpose, the world can be forever changed.”
Before combining their talents as Twin Flames, Chelsey June and Jaaji had successful careers individually; they met on-set during the filming of APTN’s TAM (Talent Autochtones Musical). Since joining together, both professionally and as spouses, they’ve been nominated for 24 awards — winning two Canadian Folk Music Awards and three Native American Music Awards. They’ve had two number one hits on the Indigenous Music Countdown’s Top 40, played more than 1000 shows throughout Canada, Greenland, the United States, Australia and France, were selected as artist-in-residence for the 2019 Folk Alliance International conference and partnered with UNESCO to write the official song celebrating the International Year of Indigenous Languages. The song was also chosen as part of CBC’s Music Class Challenge. The music video for “Broke Down Ski’tuuq” was the first all Inuktitut music video to be featured on MuchMusic.
“Battlefields” is available now. OMEN is available in August.
