Welcome to a new series here on Ahead by a Millisecond, called Spotlight. Simply put, this is about giving attention to artists I think are incredible. For our first instalment, I want to talk about Sebastian Gaskin, a Tataskweyak Cree Nation multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter.

If you’ve read my Klô Pelgag post, you would know that I’ve seen Sebastian perform live as Klô’s opener. Such an incredible opening act, I had to begin following him because of his undeniable talent.

Wanting to learn more about him, I sought articles to understand his journey to becoming an artist now. As a kid, Gaskin got his first guitar from his mother after becoming interested in music from his cousin. Sounds like it was from that point onwards, that Gaskin was making strides to become the musician he is now.

Earlier in Gaskin’s career, you can hear seeds of what will bloom into his debut record. The early singles show the evolution of his songwriting and of composition and production. Gaskin sing about love, pain, and longing. One of favourite tracks is probably The Wrong Things.

David McPherson of National Music Centre, in his piece about Gaskin, writes, “Making art takes time…The final product is a culmination of a life lived.” I think this succinctly describes Gaskin’s career thus far, as Gaskin invites us on the journey of his life so far both in his early work and LOVECHILD, his debut record.

McPherson and Gaskin recount his first single, 6 a.m., being submitted to a local song contest in Winnipeg, and how winning that contest changed the trajectory of Sebastian’s career. From writing songs between shifts to booking shows as a working musician, that song contest catapulted him into the career he’d been inching towards.

6 a.m. really is one of his great early singles. The guitar solo heard at the end, that then fades into the outro, is one of my favourite parts of the song. It did not surprise me to learn that this song took him to next level.

Much time later, we land to February 2025. Gaskin released his debut album entitled LOVECHILD. A major label debut, LOVECHILD was released through Universal Music Canada and Ishkode Records.

The next month, for his single Brown Man, he won the Juno Award for Best Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year. His trajectory is clearly and steadily going upwards.

Sebastian Gaskin is not defined by one genre, rather, a combination of R&B, rock, and pop. On LOVECHILD, you can hear Gaskin’s genre fusion. One track, like Safe, sultry in its R&B roots and another track like Brown Man, raw in its rock elements, from the stunning vocal performance to strumming.

Gaskin’s lyricism is an ode to what it means to be songwriter: vulnerable, inviting, and raw. He sings of heartache and endurance. Holding steadfastly to his truth, Gaskin’s brilliance is clear about his life experiences on tracks like Song For Granny and I Don’t Want to Feel Anymore. He does not hold back, he’s extending his hand out to you and bringing you into his world.

What touches me about Gaskin is, not only his artistry, but his dedication to his community. He stated that his Juno win is also a win for his Nation. I love to see an artist champion their people and their community. It’s what community is all about, revelling in each other’s wins and banding together through the valleys.

In ADHD Interlude, we also hear connections to Gaskin’s Cree heritage. Towards the end, the listener can hear drumming from the Cree hand drum. The hand drum is an instrument that is used in cultural practices. Similar odes to his heritage can be heard in Medicine (which won the award for the Indigenous Song of the Year from the SOCAN Awards in 2024).

In his interview with ReadRange, Gaskin says, “I put the hand drum in there because I find solace within my cultural practices when sometimes it gets too much.” Infusing his experiences as a Cree man into his music and bringing his cultural practices into his music makes engaging with Gaskin’s music a very special experience. I am always excited to be invited into his world.

As Sebastian Gaskin’s star continues to rise, I know he will be continue to be successful, no matter what he puts his mind towards. In an interview with IN Magazine, Gaskin says the one thing he wants listeners to take away from LOVECHILD is:

That I am anti-genre. The idea of the music genre is fading away as time goes on. You’ll see artists like Shaboozey who are melding many sounds and cultures together. I hope this record serves as a jumping-off point for other artists to say, ‘Hey, maybe I could push these boundaries.’ I also hope that kids from my res – and other reserves in Canada—can listen to this album and say, ‘I can do that.’

I have no doubt his impact on music will be deeply felt across Canada and the world, and there are kids who look up to him right now. I have so much respect for his work, and I can’t wait to see him live again!

Sebastian Gaskin’s debut album LOVECHILD is out now, and can be listened to below!

What do you think of this new series? Should I keep it up? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.