Sebastian Gaskin in our Spotlight Interview (R&B, Hip Hop)

Welcome to Indigenous in Music with Larry K, on today’s show we welcome from Toronto, Canada Sebastian Gaskin, singer-songwriter and producer. Sebastian continues to push musical boundaries with his unique sound. He’s back with his brand-new album, Lovechild, a deeply personal project that showcases his evolution as an artist.

Enjoy music from Sebastian Gaskin, Stolen Identity, Thiaguinho, Pura Fe, Orishas, Prolific the Rapper, nehiyawak, Brianna Lea Pruett, Robbie Robertson, Novalima, Khu.eex, Lil Mike & Funny Bone, Thomas X, Native Son, The Tao Of Groove, Sharon Burch, Shelley Morningsong, Maikan, Blue Moon Marquee, Raven Reid, Cactus Rose NYC, Sara Kae, Joyslam, Lancelot Knight, Lili, Kelly Fraser and much more.

Look around our site to find out all about us and our programs and visit our SAY Magazine Library with all our featured guests and visit and listen to our new Indigenous in the News program

OUR INTERVIEW IS 30 MINUTES INTO THE PROGRAM

SEBASTIAN GASKIN – LOVECHILD

**SEBASTIAN GASKIN ON INDIGENOUS IN MUSIC WITH LARRY K**

ABOUT SEBASTIAN GASKIN

How does an emotional aftermath evolve into a creative epiphany? For Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and producer Sebastian Gaskin, first, he settles into the weeds of an experience: luxuriating in the low simmer of an all-consuming love, embracing the reckless timeline of heartache, or wading headfirst into a tough conversation. Then, he gets to work, like a tattoo artist preparing their station. He starts by creating a blueprint on the guitar, or tapping out lyrics on a fresh Notes page, before filling in the white space with whatever a song calls for. It’s the mark of an artist unafraid to look deeply into themselves— through the process, he creates a sonic offering designed to embrace our many broken pieces, all the while reminding us that love and vulnerability are acts of resistance.

Intentionally genre amorphous, Gaskin’s music is grounded in bold intuition and gut instinct. At once, he conjures the timeless imagination of Bill Withers and the musical virtuosity of John Mayer, with a slice of mischievous wordplay reminiscent of Post Malone and Pro Era. A skilled producer and arranger, Gaskin’s ear for collaboration has led him to work with producers Evan Miles (dvsn, renforshort) and Milano (Icona Pop) to unlock new elements of his sound.

“Writing songs has always been a form of therapy for me, I can always count on the soothing aspect of getting my thoughts out,” says Gaskin about the importance of songwriting in his life.

Growing up in Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba in the early 2000s, Gaskin was enveloped in a rich tapestry of influences. His mother kept the radio dialed to country stations. On the weekends, he’d watch his grandmother, a respected community leader, belt out Southern gospel classics. After a cousin introduced him to Metallica’s iconic sound and heavy riffs, he decided to pick up a guitar. As a teenager, he found endless inspiration sifting through music forums on Tumblr — on some days, wandering down a rabbit hole of British indie rock, or becoming enchanted with Chief Keef’s 808s.

His debut EP Contradictions (2019) was a dynamic, slow-burning meditation on desire: a House of Balloons-esque masterclass in restraint, bursting with patient, asymmetrical melodies over amber-toned vocals. Coming off a whirlwind 2021, earning a Western Canadian Music Award for R&B Artist of the Year, the Kevin Walter’s Songwriting Award, and selected to attend the Allan Slaight Juno Masterclass. He’s performed at venues and festival stages around the world and supported artists ranging from Common, T-Pain, Feist, Sam Roberts Band, and others. In 2024, he won two SOCAN Awards, including the Vince Fontaine Indigenous Song Award. His forthcoming debut album will be released on the Indigenous-owned music company Ishkōdé Records and Universal Music Canada.