NACC Presents: Piqsiq

(PRONOUNCED “PILK-SILK”)

With a style perpetually galvanized by darkness and haunting northern beauty, sisters Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay come together to create an Inuit-style throat singing duo, PIQSIQ. Performing ancient traditional songs and eerie new compositions, they leave their listeners enthralled with the infinity of possible answers to the question “What is the meaning of life?”

With roots in Nunavut’s Kitikmeot and Kivalliq, the sisters grew up in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Their love of katajjaq, Inuit throat singing, began in childhood and has bonded them throughout their lives. After years of forging this hard-won skill, they developed their own form blended with their love of haunting melodies and otherworldly sounds.

As PIQSIQ, they perform improvisational looping live, creating a dynamic audience experience that changes with every show. PIQSIQ incorporates their dark and ethereal style into their recordings and have produced four studio albums to date. Inuksuk and Tiffany continue to blend magic with sound to further develop their entrancing style for both national and international audiences.

“Kayley Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Kuliktana Ayalik are Inuit style throat singers performing ancient traditional songs and eerie new compositions.”