By John Atkinson
Winnipeg singer-songwriter Sebastian Gaskin had a breakthrough year in 2021 and hopes to kickstart a similar 2023 when he performs at the University of Victoria on March 11.
Gaskin, a multi-instrumentalist spanning R&B, hip-hop, metal and punk, will showcase his unique talents at Farquhar Auditorium with an acoustic solo show honed over the past 12 months.
And the 26-year-old winner of the Western Canadian Music Awards R&B Artist of the Year and Kevin Walters Songwriting Award in 2021 also has his sights set on releasing a first album and embarking on a global tour.
“I fell in love with the R&B genre in my late teens and it really spawned something new in my songwriting,” said Gaskin, whose 2017 debut single “6AM” hit #1 on the National Indigenous Countdown, earning him the 2018 Indigenous Music Award earned Manitoban Most Outstanding.
“Much of my material is smooth and concise, with no embellishments. I learned to play so many instruments out of boredom, although I’ve always had a natural curiosity about all things music.”
Gaskin, who was raised as a member of the Tataskweyak Cree Nation, began wowing people at the community’s annual talent shows. He cites Alan Greyeyes, David Landreth and Leela Gilday as key mentors on his musical journey.
He has also backed artists like Common, T-Pain, and legendary songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.
“I’ve been fortunate to share stages with some of my biggest inspirations. In the fall of 2019 I had the opportunity to tour Western Canada with Buffy Sainte-Marie and learned a lot along the way.
“My other favorite opening slot was Common at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. It was definitely the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of so far.”
Gaskin, whose debut EP Contradictions was produced by LieBoy Concepts in 2019, said his songwriting is inspired by meaningful life experiences.
“Up until this point, many of my songs have been autobiographical, situations I’ve been through, people I’ve loved, and times in my life that have proved pivotal.”
He said 2021 has been an “incredible” year and cemented his growing prominence on the Canadian music scene. “It was tremendous to believe in myself and also helped me to cement myself in the industry. I’m pretty proud of that.”
As for the future, Gaskin has his eyes on that first album – and building on its worldwide appeal.
“My goals for the near future are to release an album; I’ve been sitting on so many tunes it’s starting to burn a hole in my hard drive. I would also like to tour again, not only in Canada but also in the US and Europe.”
To learn more about Gaskin and his music, visit sebastiangaskin.com.
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Music
Sebastian Gaskin prepares to play at the Farquhar Auditorium at the University of Victoria on March 11th. (Courtesy of Sebastian Gaskin)
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