Aysanabee

Aysanabee is a Toronto-based Oji-Cree multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from the Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation. His music blends indie, soul, and electronic textures into a hypnotic, melodic sound often compared to artists like Bon Iver and Matt Corby. His debut album Watin (2022), released on the Indigenous women-owned label Ishkōdé Records, weaves music with conversations between Aysanabee and his grandfather about family history, love, and residential school experiences. The album’s singles earned significant recognition, with “Nomads” becoming the first song by an Indigenous artist to reach #1 on a Mediabase chart, and Watin later shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize. His follow-up EP Here and Now explores heartbreak and introspection through a more expansive, high-voltage production, yielding hits like “Somebody Else.” In 2024, he made history as the first Indigenous artist to win JUNO Awards for both Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, accompanied by a tribute performance honoring Robbie Robertson and Gordon Lightfoot.