Twin Flames light a fire with their slow-burning single and lyric video for Battlefields — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The husband-and-wife duo of Chelsey June and Jaaji are celebrated for crafting sonic landscapes that bridge Canada and the Arctic while honouring their ancestors through song in English, Inuttitut and French — and Battlefields is a stunningly poignant addition to their discography.
That said, the song — the first preview of their third studio album OMEN — is a surprising departure for the award-winning, chart-topping folk artists. The opening salvo from an album teeming with pop and synth-heavy exploration, this track tackles the subject of mental health, a topic that hits home for them.
“Mental health is a battle that many people face in silence,” shares Chelsey (Métis / Algonquin Cree from Ottawa). “This song speaks to the stigma associated with it.” Jaaji (Inuk / Mohawk from Nunavik) continues: “In the Arctic of Canada, Inuit People face the highest amount of suicides in the world. Battlefields is a song to remind our people we have to fight our own minds to survive. We are fighters and, together, we can feel less alone and win this battle.”
Battlefields is just the beginning; set for release later this year, OMEN offers an intricate exploration into an edgier, darker musical feel that merges alt-pop, rock, and electronic genres into one. Fusing flutes, traditional drums and western instruments, synthesizing harmonies with traditional Inuit throat singing — including a collaboration with two-time Juno nominees Silla — Twin Flames unveil a raw and honest experience on OMEN. Following the success of their previous critically acclaimed albums — Jaaji and Chelsey June (2015) and Signal Fire (2017) — Chelsey and Jaaji dive even deeper into stories of courage and survival.
“The album is concept-based around a dystopian reality, global warming, and humankind being free of social classes, mental health, and addictions,” they say. “It speaks to seeking omens and signs of hope within ourselves and Mother Nature … to the inner turmoil that so many, including ourselves, have experienced. We hope to express that, if one dares to dream of meeting their heart’s longing and purpose, the world can be forever changed.”
Watch Battlefields above, check out more of Twin Flames’ music below, and keep up with them via their website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
