photo credit Alex Zidel
FIRST NEW SINGLE IN OVER THREE YEARS AND FIRST MUSIC BACKED BY ISHKŌDÉ RECORDS AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA
Sebastian Gaskin – Toronto-based, Tataskweyak Cree Nation multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and producer – officially released their new single “Medicine”, marking their first new music backed by Ishkōdé Records and Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, since co-signing with the labels earlier this year. This is the first new single released by Sebastian Gaskin in over three years, co-written and co-produced with Evan Miles (dvsn, renforshort).
“’Medicine’ is a song about love, and being in it, reveling in it,” says Sebastian Gaskin. “I am grateful and elated for this first release with Ishkōdé Records and Universal Music Canada. Directly inspired by my culture and the heart on my sleeve, this is my first single in over 3 years and I cannot wait to share it with you all.”
A range of musical influences can be heard within the single, which speaks to Gaskin’s upbringing where they were enveloped in a rich tapestry of creative inspirations. In addition to their amber-toned vocals on the song, Gaskin also plays guitar, bass, and keyboard on “Medicine”. The official music video, directed by Vincent Tang, shows Gaskin enamoured by their love interest, portrayed by Morgan Holmstrom, performing the song in various rooms. They end the video hand-in-hand with their lover, mirroring the lyrical content of the track.
“Sebastian is a true artist,” says Ishkōdé Records co-founder ShoShona Kish. “Their voice feels like hands in the earth, the wind moving through old stand trees and spring runoffs. Crystalline. Riverbeds. Concrete. The song craft is deeply rooted in who they are, finding that rare alchemy that fuses the familiar into something entirely new and original. ‘Medicine’ is a gorgeous example of their singular gift. It is a song that we all need.”
“The Ishkōdé Records family is thrilled to be partnered with Universal Music Canada to bring Sebastian’s explosive talent to the world,” she adds.
Gaskin is coming off a momentous couple of years, earning a Western Canadian Music Award in 2021 for R&B Artist of the Year, the Kevin Walters Songwriting Award in the same year, and a selection to attend the Allan Slaight Juno Masterclass. Stay tuned for more new music from this groundbreaking and award-winning artist in the new year.
ABOUT SEBASTIAN GASKIN:
How does an emotional aftermath evolve into a creative epiphany? For award-winning Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and producer Sebastian Gaskin, first, they get comfortable with the outcome, then get to work sculpting their experience into a song. It’s the mark of an artist unafraid to look deeply into themselves— through the process, they create a sonic offering designed to embrace our many broken pieces, all the while reminding us that love and vulnerability are acts of resistance.
Growing up in Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba in the early 2000s, Gaskin’s mother kept the radio dialled to country stations and their grandmother, a respected community leader, belted out Southern gospel classics. Gaskin’s cousin introduced them to Metallica’s iconic sound and heavy riffs, which influenced them to pick up a guitar for the first time. As a teenager, they found endless inspiration sifting through music forums on Tumblr, wandering down rabbit holes of British indie rock, or becoming enchanted with Chief Keef’s 808s.
Intentionally genre amorphous, Gaskin’s music is grounded in bold intuition and gut instinct. At once, conjuring the timeless spirit of Bill Withers and the musical virtuosity of John Mayer, with the mischievous wordplay of Post Malone and Pro Era. A dynamic producer and arranger, Gaskin’s ear for collaboration has led them to work with Evan Miles (dvsn, renforshort) and Milano (Icona Pop) to reimagine the potential of each genre they explore. They have performed at venues and festival stages around the world, supporting artists ranging from Common, T-Pain, and others. Their forthcoming debut project will be released on the Indigenous-owned music company, Ishkōdé Records and Universal Music Canada.
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