Digital Drum

With influences ranging from Metallica to Alan Jackson to Frank Ocean, it’s no surprise that Sebastian Gaskin’s sound is hard to nail down. But whether he’s shredding a guitar solo or hitting you right in the feels with his velveteen vocals, one thing’s for certain: “You can expect a lot of what you’ve never heard before,” Gaskin says. “Unique sounds. Dreamy soundscapes. Wet, lush reverbs.”

It’s official: Jeremy Dutcher has won the 2018 Polaris Music Prize, becoming the fourth Indigenous artist in the past five years to take home the $50,000 award.

While Canada’s Indigenous music scene may not always get the mainstream recognition it deserves, the Polaris Music Prize knows what’s up.

Earlier this year, Canada’s thriving Indigenous music scene made some serious noise at the 2018 Juno Awards. Last weekend, it cranked things to 11.

Métis singer/songwriter Celeigh Cardinal has won an Aboriginal Youth Role Model Award, participated in the Banff Centre for the Arts’ Re(Claim) program, been named Cultural Ambassador for the Arctic Winter Games.

If the 2017 Juno Awards served as a coming-out party for Canada’s thriving Indigenous music scene, the 2018 edition is a full-blown celebration. We've got a total of 10 Indigenous artists or groups are up for awards in seven different categories at this year’s event.

For every artist selling out shows or winning awards, there are dozens more on the verge of breaking out. And many of them are just getting started. Here’s a list of eight emerging Indigenous artists to watch for in 2018.

We recently caught up with artist Mimi O'Bonsawin to talk all things music. Here’s what she had to say about staying true to her roots, seeing life through a creative lens and much, much more.

For a select group of Indigenous musicians, mixing their artistic pursuits with romance has paid off in a big way – both personally and professionally. And, fortunately for us, they’ve created some killer music in the process.  

While Indigenous artists are welcome to submit for any award, that exposure and recognition is most conspicuous in the Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year category.