Sebastian Gaskin

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Sebastian Gaskin is a Cree singer-songwriter from Canada. [1] He is most noted as a Juno Award nominee for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2025 for his 2024 single "Brown Man". [2]

A member of the Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Manitoba, [1] his style blends rhythm and blues, rock and pop elements. [3] In his early career Gaskin came out as non-binary, [4] although his profile on the Ishkōdé Records website currently indicates he/him rather than they/them pronouns. [5]

Gaskin released his debut single "6 a.m." in 2017, [4] and followed up with the EP Contradictions, in 2019. [6] He was the opening act for a Winnipeg concert by rapper Common that year, with the Winnipeg Free Press praising him as "Post Malone mixed with Frank Ocean, all swag and smooth vocals, hits of hip-hop and rap, rounded out with emotive, thoughtful lyrics", and concluding that he was "on the cusp of becoming something truly exceptional". [7]

He followed up with the single "Snakehold" in 2020, [8] winning the award for R&B Artist of the Year at the 2021 Western Canadian Music Awards. [9]

He signed to Ishkōdé Records in 2023, [10] releasing the singles "Medicine", "Brown Man" and "Ghost" on the label in 2023 and 2024, before releasing the full-length album Lovechild in 2025. [11] "Medicine" won the Vince Fontaine Indigenous Song Award at the 2024 SOCAN Awards, [1] while "Ghost" peaked at #1 on the CBC Music Top 20 in June 2024. [12] He also participated in The Rainbow Collective, a group of Canadian LGBTQ musicians organized by Theo Tams who recorded the charity single "This Little Light" in 2024. [13]

In the same year, Tataskweyak erected a billboard celebrating him as a native of the community. [14]

In addition to Gaskin's 2025 Juno nomination, Hill Kourkoutis received a nod for Recording Engineer of the Year for "Ghost". [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Richie Assaly, "From Tataskweyak Cree Nation to Toronto: Juno-nominated singer Sebastian Gaskin is ready to ‘bust down the door’ with his debut album". Toronto Star , February 21, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Holly Gordon, "Here are all the 2025 Juno nominees". CBC Music, February 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Sebastian Gaskin on Lovechild and embracing his Indigenous identity in his music". Q , February 21, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Rising Indigenous R&B star Sebastian Gaskin plays Rivercity Stage March 8". Campbell River Mirror , February 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Sebastian Gaskin". Ishkōdé Records.
  6. ↑ Andrea Warner, "6 Indigenous artists you need to know in 2021". CBC Music, June 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Erin Lebar, "Hip-hop veteran delivers anything-but-Common performance". Winnipeg Free Press , June 21, 2019.
  8. ↑ Madeline Crone, "Sebastian Gaskin Gives Nod To Past Bops on His New Tune, 'Snakehold'". American Songwriter , July 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ Alan Small, "Manitobans soar at Western Canadian Music Awards". Winnipeg Free Press , October 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ Kerry Doole, "Sebastian Gaskin opens up to co-writing". Words & Music , February 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ Veronica Blackhawk, "Singer-Songwriter Sebastian Gaskin announces new album release". APTN News, February 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ Howard Druckman, "Sebastian Gaskin earns SOCAN No. 1 Song Award". Words & Music , November 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ Jenna Melanson, "THEO TAMS FORMS THE RAINBOW COLLECTIVE". Canadian Beats, May 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ Janell Henry, "New billboard honours musician from Tataskweyak Cree Nation". CBC News Indigenous, July 8, 2024.
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