Acclaimed Throat Singers, PIQSIQ: Juno Nomination and New Release
Acclaimed Throat Singing Sisters Share New Single From Album Legends
VANCOUVER, BC & STONY PLAIN, AB– The acclaimed Inuit throat singing duo PIQSIQ (pronounced “Pilk-Silk”) has received a 2026 JUNO Award nomination for Global Music Album of the Year for their album Legends.
The sisters have also unveiled a powerful new single titled “Mahaha: Tickling Demon.” The track arrives alongside a striking motion-capture music video that brings Inuit mythology into a modern digital space.
PIQSIQ is made up of sisters Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay. Together, they blend traditional Inuit throat singing with modern production techniques to create immersive soundscapes.
The winners of the 2026 JUNO Awards will be announced in Hamilton, Ontario, during the JUNO Awards Gala on March 28, with the national broadcast airing March 29 on CBC and CBC Gem.
A song inspired by Inuit mythology
“Mahaha: Tickling Demon” explores a chilling character from Inuit folklore.
In traditional stories, Mahaha is a supernatural being who haunts the land and tickles people to death. PIQSIQ transforms this legend into a haunting musical narrative built on rhythm, voice, and atmosphere.
The track features traditional Inuit drum rhythms layered with intricate vocal loops. The duo also uses a Boss RC-505 Loop Station, allowing them to build evolving vocal textures during performances.
Through these techniques, PIQSIQ connects ancestral storytelling with contemporary musical technology.
A powerful expression of cultural revitalization
For the sisters, throat singing is more than music. It is also an act of cultural preservation and revitalization.
Ayalik and Mackay grew up in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, with family roots in Nunavut’s Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions.
Over time, they realized that performing these traditions could carry powerful meaning.
By combining throat singing with modern tools and performance methods, PIQSIQ has created what they describe as a “living recording.” Their music honours traditional stories while bringing them into new artistic spaces.
The album Legends is dedicated to the storytellers who first shared these myths with them as children.
Technology meets tradition in the music video
The music video for “Mahaha: Tickling Demon” introduces a unique creative approach.
Using motion-capture technology, the visual reimagines Inuit storytelling through a digital lens.
Inuksuk Mackay’s sons, Desmond and Maccheus, appear as young heroes in the story. They use traditional Inuit games to outsmart Mahaha, demonstrating how ancestral knowledge teaches resilience and survival.
This blend of mythology, youth storytelling, and virtual technology gives the video a distinctive perspective.
Creating
Legends
PIQSIQ recorded Legends at Monarch Studios in Vancouver with producer Alex Penney.
During the sessions, the duo surrounded themselves with projected images of Inuit artwork. They then improvised vocal performances inspired by what they saw.
This visual-to-sound process helped shape the album’s unique atmosphere. As a result, the music feels both spontaneous and deeply rooted in Inuit culture.
The sisters describe the process as “planned chaos,” guided by improvisation and storytelling.
Connecting stories across the Arctic
Since sharing the album’s characters online, PIQSIQ has sparked conversations across the Arctic.
Fans and storytellers from Alaska to Greenland have shared their own versions of the legends.
This exchange highlights how Inuit stories travel across regions while remaining connected through shared cultural roots.
For PIQSIQ, this ripple effect shows how music can keep traditional storytelling alive in modern spaces.
Touring Western Canada in 2026
PIQSIQ will bring their live performances to audiences across British Columbia this spring.
Tour Dates
March 3 — Performing Arts Centre — Revelstoke, BC
March 4 — Civic Centre — Golden, BC
March 5 — Key City Theatre — Cranbrook, BC
March 6 — Capitol Theatre — Nelson, BC
March 7 — Charles Bailey Theatre — Trail, BC
March 11 — Frank Venables Theatre — Oliver, BC
April 12 — Chan Centre — Vancouver, BC (with Susan Aglukark)
A defining moment for PIQSIQ
With a 2026 JUNO nomination and the release of “Mahaha: Tickling Demon,” PIQSIQ continues to expand their artistic vision.
Their music blends tradition, innovation, and storytelling, creating performances that feel both ancient and futuristic.
Through Legends, the duo invites listeners into a world where mythology, technology, and voice come together to celebrate Inuit culture.
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