26 JULY 2024 (TORONTO, ON) – Sebastian Gaskin – Toronto-based, Tataskweyak Cree Nation-raised multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer – releases his new single “Cherie Amour” today via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, and Ishkōdé Records. This marks Sebastian Gaskin’s second new release of the year, directly following the chart-topping single “Ghost” from April.

LISTEN TO “CHERIE AMOUR” BELOW

“Cherie Amour” follows the massive success of “Ghost,” which peaked at #1 on CBC Music’s Top 20 chart and was ranked #4 on IndigenousTV’s Top 50 Songs of 2024. The new single is self-written by Sebastian Gaskin, who also co-produced the record alongside Milano (Ikky, LAVI$H). Gaskin also plays the bass, guitar, and keyboard on the song.

He serenades his lover over a scintillating beat, singing, “It’s so f-cking easy to love you every evening, you got what I’ve been searching for. It’s like every time I leave you, I just can’t wait to greet you, my baby, my cherie amour.”

Near the end of the song’s runtime, Gaskin switches up the melody to introduce beautiful vocal runs from his higher register, highlighting his incredible voice, which he recently shared with audiences at his Toronto Jazz Festival performance this month. He also headlined The Feldman Agency’s showcase during Canadian Music Week in June. In September, he will headline the Here Comes the Fire festival in Vancouver, among other upcoming performances.

About the new single, Sebastian says, “’Cherie Amour’ was written as a Valentine’s Day gift. A VHS summer-time bop about being enthralled with that special someone.”

Gaskin recently returned home to Tataskweyak Cree Nation at the beginning of the month for the first time in over six years, where he was honoured with a star blanket, one of the highest honours in the Cree community, a beaded medallion of the reservation’s flag, and a billboard at the main highway turnoff. “Getting to feel this amount of love and support from my own community had me awestruck,” he said. “It was the warmest homecoming I could have hoped for, and I am truly honoured and humbled.”

Last month, Gaskin’s viral duet of Carter Vail’s popular “Dirt Man” sound reached over 3.5 million people across social platforms, including Queer Eye alum Bobby Berk, who supported the video. Gaskin added an original verse to the song, receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans in the comments.

“Cherie Amour” is the third song to release from Sebastian Gaskin since his co-signing with Universal Music Canada and Ishkōdé Records. “Medicine,” Gaskin’s debut single backed by Universal and Ishkōdé, reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown, a weekly show on NCI FM in Winnipeg, MB that spotlights the best Indigenous music across various genres.

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 ground-breaking and award-winning artist in the coming months.

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, he gets comfortable with the outcome, then gets to work sculpting their experience into a song. 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.

Growing up in Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba in the early 2000s, Gaskin’s mother kept the radio dialled to country stations and his grandmother, a respected community leader, belted out Southern gospel classics. Gaskin’s cousin introduced him to Metallica’s iconic sound and heavy riffs, which influenced him to pick up a guitar for the first time. As a teenager, he 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 him to work with Evan Miles (dvsn, renforshort) and Milano (Icona Pop) to reimagine the potential of each genre he explores. He has performed at venues and festival stages around the world, supporting artists ranging from Common, T-Pain, and others. His forthcoming debut album will be released on the Indigenous-owned music company, Ishkōdé Records and Universal Music Canada.