Quantum Tangle
{{Short description|Canadian musical group}}
{{Distinguish|quantum entanglement}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Quantum Tangle
| image =
| caption =
| origin = Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
| genre = Folk rock, blues, Inuit music, Throat singing
| years_active = 2014–present
| label =
| website =
| current_members = Tiffany Ayalik
Greyson Gritt
Kayley Inuksuk Mackay
}}
Quantum Tangle are a Juno Award-winning Canadian musical group who combine traditional Inuit throat singing and spoken word storytelling with blues-influenced folk rock, consisting of vocalist Tiffany Ayalik, Kayley Inuksuk Mackay as drummer, vocalist and throat singer, and singer and guitarist G. R. Gritt.[http://www.myyellowknifenow.com/20675/im-in-disbelief-yellowknife-duo-nominated-for-juno-award/ "'I’m in disbelief’: Yellowknife duo nominated for Juno Award"]. CJCD-FM, February 8, 2017.
History
Gritt and Ayalik met at the Northern Scene arts festival in Ottawa, Ontario.{{Cite web|url=https://this.org/2017/09/01/yellowknife-performance-group-blends-song-and-spoken-word-into-storytelling/|title=Yellowknife performance group blends song and spoken word into storytelling|website=This Magazine|language=en-CA|date=September 1, 2017}} Formed in 2014, Quantum Tangle are based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Ayalik, who is Inuk, is a native of the city, while Gritt, who is Ojibwe-Métis, was born in Sudbury, Ontario and raised in the outlying community of Warren.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/northern-ontario-artists-junos-1.3975855 "Northern Ontario musicians welcome Juno nominations"]. CBC Sudbury, February 10, 2017. Gritt has lived in Yellowknife since 2009.[http://aptnnews.ca/2016/06/30/transgender-people-in-nwt-may-soon-legally-change-gender-without-surgery/ "Transgender people in NWT may soon legally change gender without surgery"]. APTN National News, June 30, 2016.
As a solo artist prior to the band's formation, Gritt was a regional finalist in CBC Music's Searchlight competition in 2013 and 2014.[https://norj.ca/2014/04/five-nwt-musicians-illuminated-by-searchlight/ "Five NWT musicians illuminated by Searchlight"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092704/https://norj.ca/2014/04/five-nwt-musicians-illuminated-by-searchlight/ |date=2018-03-23 }}. Northern Journal, April 28, 2014. For four years, they were a mentee of Yellowknife's Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2017/07/19/five-questions-%E2%80%A6-quantum-tangle|title=Five Questions With… Quantum Tangle|date=July 19, 2017|work=FYIMusicNews|language=en|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092447/http://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2017/07/19/five-questions-%E2%80%A6-quantum-tangle|url-status=dead}} Gritt came out as transgender in 2014, and uses gender-neutral pronouns.[http://www.nnsl.com/frames/newspapers/2014-02/feb21_14br.html "Going through changes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404043740/http://www.nnsl.com/frames/newspapers/2014-02/feb21_14br.html |date=2017-04-04 }}. Northern News Services, February 21, 2014. Ayalik also performs as a stage actress.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/lovers-reunite-across-borders-at-alianait-arts-festival-1.3656282 "Lovers reunite across borders at Nunavut's Alianait Arts Festival"]. CBC North, June 28, 2016.
Quantum Tangle released their EP Tiny Hands in 2017 and their first full-length album, Shelter as we go..., in 2017. Both recordings were released on the Coax label.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbcmusic.ca/first-plays/402/first-play-quantum-tangle-shelter-as-we-go|title=First Play: Quantum Tangle, Shelter as we go|last=Gordon|first=Holly|date=June 29, 2017|work=CBC Music}}
Quantum Tangle won the Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year for their album Tiny Hands at the Juno Awards of 2017.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/quantum-tangle-juno-award-1.4051858 "Quantum Tangle win Indigenous album of the year, first Juno award for Yellowknife duo"]. CBC North, April 2, 2017.Lynn Saxberg and Peter Hum, [https://lfpress.com/2017/04/01/gord-downie-wins-three-junos-at-music-awards-gala-dinner-saturday-night "Gord Downie wins three Junos at music awards gala dinner Saturday night"]. London Free Press, April 1, 2017.
Mackay was introduced as a band member in May 2018 when the band performed at the Indigenous Music Awards.Ollie Williams, [https://cabinradio.ca/6658/news/arts/quantum-tangle-adds-new-member-at-national-awards-ceremony/ "Quantum Tangle adds new member at national awards ceremony"]. Cabin Radio, May 22, 2018. Ayalik and Mackay are sisters and also separately perform under the name PIQSIQ. They composed the soundtrack for the 2024 film Sunburnt Unicorn.Kate Taylor, [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-sunburnt-unicorns-coming-of-age-tale-depicts-the-inner-landscape-of/ "Sunburnt Unicorn’s coming-of-age tale depicts the inner landscape of adolescence"]. The Globe and Mail, June 6, 2024.
Social justice work
In addition to making music, Quantum Tangle facilitates a series of school workshops and performances on the topic of Indigenous issues in Northern Canada.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|8440068|Tiffany Ayalik}}
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Category:Canadian blues musical groups
Category:Canadian folk rock groups
Category:First Nations musical groups
Category:Musical groups from the Northwest Territories
Category:Culture of Yellowknife
Category:Musical groups established in 2014
Category:Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year winners