By John Atkinson
Winnipeg singer-songwriter Sebastian Gaskin had a breakout 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 who blends R&B, hip hop, metal and punk, will showcase his unique talents at the Farquhar Auditorium with an acoustic solo show honed over the last 12 months.
And the 26-year-old winner of the Western Canadian Music Awards R&B Artist of the Year and the Kevin Walters Songwriting Award in 2021 also has his sights set on releasing a first album and touring globally.
B次元官网网址淚 grew to love the R&B genre in my late teens and it really brought out something new in my songwriting,B次元官网网址� said Gaskin, whose 2017 debut single 6AM hit No. 1 on the National Indigenous Countdown and won him the 2018 Indigenous Music Award for Most Outstanding Manitoban.
B次元官网网址淢uch of my material is smooth and concise, no trimmings. I learned to play so many instruments due to boredom, though IB次元官网网址檝e always had a natural curiosity for anything music-related.B次元官网网址�
Gaskin, who grew up as part of the Tataskweyak Cree Nation, got his start wowing folks at the communityB次元官网网址檚 annual talent shows. He cites Alan Greyeyes, David Landreth and Leela Gilday as major mentors on his musical journey.
HeB次元官网网址檚 also supported artists including Common, T-Pain and iconic songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been lucky enough to share stages with some of my biggest inspirations. Back in the fall of 2019 I had the chance to tour western Canada with Buffy Sainte-Marie and learned a huge amount along the way.
B次元官网网址淢y other favourite opening slot was for Common at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. It was definitely the biggest crowd IB次元官网网址檝e played to so far.B次元官网网址�
Gaskin, whose 2019 debut EP Contradictions was produced by LieBoy Concepts, said his songwriting is inspired by momentous life experiences.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of my songs up to this point have been autobiographical, situations IB次元官网网址檝e been through, people IB次元官网网址檝e loved, and times in my life that proved pivotal.B次元官网网址�
He said 2021 was an B次元官网网址渋ncredibleB次元官网网址� year and cemented his rising prominence on the Canadian music scene. B次元官网网址淚t was huge for building belief in myself, and also helped solidify me in the industry. IB次元官网网址檓 quite proud of that.B次元官网网址�
As for the future, Gaskin is eyeing that first album B次元官网网址� and expanding his worldwide appeal.
B次元官网网址淢y goals for the immediate future are to release an album; IB次元官网网址檝e been sitting on so many tunes, itB次元官网网址檚 beginning to burn a hole in my hard drive. IB次元官网网址檇 also like to get back into touring, not only in Canada but also the U.S. and Europe.B次元官网网址�
To learn more about Gaskin and his music visit sebastiangaskin.com.
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