Quantum Tangle

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.^[1]

Gritt and Ayalik met at the Northern Scene arts festival in Ottawa, Ontario.^[2] Formed in 2014, Quantum Tangle are based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.^[1] 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.^[3] Gritt has lived in Yellowknife since 2009.^[4]

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.^[5] For four years, they were a mentee of Yellowknife's Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.^[6] Gritt came out as transgender in 2014, and uses gender-neutral pronouns.^[7] Ayalik also performs as a stage actress.^[8]

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.^[9]

Quantum Tangle won the Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year for their album Tiny Hands at the Juno Awards of 2017.^[10][11]

Mackay was introduced as a band member in May 2018 when the band performed at the Indigenous Music Awards.^[12]

Ayalik and Mackay also separately perform under the name Piqsuq, and composed the soundtrack for the 2024 film Sunburnt Unicorn.^[13]

In addition to making music, Quantum Tangle facilitates a series of school workshops and performances on the topic of Indigenous issues in Northern Canada.^{[citation needed]}