In this series, we present our new composers. We are proud to introduce Samuel Gaskin. Nina Lesperance From SOUNZ caught up with Samuel to talk all things music and find out more about Samuel's mahi.
Kia ora tatou ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa tōku iwi ko Yoruba I Nigeria tōku iwi hoki ko Samuel Gaskin tōku ingoa.
I am a creator and change agent. I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams. I am a father of two beautiful children Raelah and Maxwell. I am also deeply committed to uplifting and creating space for my communities in particular my Queer LGBTQ+ and Indigenous mob.
What does a typical composing day look like for you? Please describe your routine. Is it strict or more free-form?
A typical day always begins with a meditation connecting into my Mind my Body and my Essence. I like to start slow feed the puppies then have my peppermint tea. Building a small fire has become a bit of a part of my routine lately too I feel like it really helps me connect to those ancestors. It’s pretty free form from there I listen to some Abraham Hicks then do some writing. I like to write down how my day is going to go. Smoothly effortlessly and with ease. My composing is very free form too. I often find myself humming or singing into my iPhone while I’m at the park with my dogs.
Please describe the space where you compose your music. What makes this space special and why have you chosen it? (eg. the view, location, practical necessity, equipment - or lack thereof).
I have a home studio where I compose my music it’s a bit of a mess at the moment because I’ve just moved into a new house and a lot of things are still inboxes. I can’t wait to get it set up nicely though. It has a beautiful view of the treetops and is had a really high ceiling with beautiful light. It’s important to me that my creative space feels cozy and delicious. I have a beautiful artwork of Kapiti Island that reminds me of home. I have a couple of alters dedicated to my ancestors. My trusty loop machine is where I build most of my ideas. I’ve also invested in this awesome contraption that has moving arms on my desk that holds Laptop, iPhone, and iPad in each and you can move them around as you are working. It's freaking AWESOME.
What equipment (including software) do you have in your space?
I Honestly use my phone and Garage Band the most to play with ideas but I also have Reason which I’m planning to get better at one of these days.
Please describe your typical composing process (i.e. how do you find and shape your materials?). Does it change with each song?
I usually Humm or beatbox the feeling into my loop machine first then build from there once the idea has a little more form, I decide which vocal parts will stay within the beats and which will be replaced with instruments or electronic sounds. RECKŌNING was a completely different beast for me though as it was part of an exploration into what might happen if you took Indigenous Songwriters from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Te Whēnua Moemoeā (Land of the Dreamtime) into a room with a Sound Healer and a Pop producer. That was a WHOLE other process that I’m not letting you in on just yet :)
What are you currently working on in your space? If you can’t reveal that just yet, what have you finished recently, and how/where/when can people experience it?
My Latest single RECKŌNING ft Piri & Paula is out on all platforms now
I’m currently working on the follow-up single for the RECKŌNING project which is called “RAIN” and features my friends “The Merindas” who are fierce Aboriginal Popstars over here (Check their Music out online) they are awesome. I’m also about to start the development of a Youth-focused version of the 1-hour theatre show RECKŌNING. We debuted at Melbourne Fringe last year and took out 4 awards including Best Emerging Indigenous Artist Supported by Wilin Centre (VCA & MCM).
Market Ready Award Supported by Regional Arts Victoria
Emerging Company Incubator Award Supported by Monash Centre for Theatre and
Performance & Space Cadet Award Supported by RISING Melbourne.
Please tell us about yourself and what you do. (eg. instruments you play, where you work/teach, your aesthetic direction, memorable concert experience, favourite ninja turtle etc.)
I started as a commercial dancer touring with artists as a backup dancer. I was always tinkering around with music in the background and finally decided to be brave and let people hear it. I put a track called “Gank” up on Unearthed and it spent some weeks at No.1 on their electro charts. That’s what prompted me to take it a little more seriously. I’ve always been someone who loves doing many different things. I’ve only ever worked in entertainment except for my stint at 7-Eleven when I was 15 🤣. I’m an artist and I am signed to Razor Recordings. I’m an actor and just managed to book a job on a mini-series during Covid-19 times which I’m ecstatic about. I run my own company Beat Entertainment with my partner Johnny, we specialise in bespoke creative solutions and work with artists on their videos/tours/press shots etc. We also do a lot of events and corporate work too. I’ve always been an activist and I am EXTREMELY passionate about diversity & inclusion. I work as a speaker for Beyond Blue and I’m also the Victorian Vice President for MEAA Actors Equity. I have two beautiful children Maxwell and Raelah who myself and Johnny co-parent with a lesbian couple. We also have two puppies Krumpet and Grace and two rabbits Snuffle and Crisp 😁
My most memorable concert experience was the “Michael Jackson HISTORY” world tour and my favourite ninja turtle was Donatello obviously because HELLO Purple!!!!
I have previously worked with Katy Perry, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, HIT NETWORK, Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere Vodka, Moet & Chandon, Kitsune, Southern Cross Austereo. Other credits include Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, ARIAS and the Logies. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some but that’s the gist.
Please choose 2-3 of your works/albums and tell us about them
LOVE is an uplifting, rhythmic pop-soul number that has all the dreamy summery feels you.
Good Enough is a simple but emotive ballad which chronicles my early struggle with self-image.
RECKŌNING
RECKŌNING’ is an intercultural exploration into indigeneity and ancestry. The single and its accompanying video were birthed from a creative curiosity that sought to discover what would happen if Samuel took indigenous songwriters from Aotearoa, New Zealand and Te Whēnua Moemoeā, (Land of the Dreamtime) Australia into a room with a sound healer and a pop music producer. The result is an arresting multisensory celebration of Indigenous joy that dismantles outdated ideas of identity, expression and genre through an intersectional lens. - Rolling Stone Magazine
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on the follow-up single for the RECKŌNING project which is called “RAIN” and features my friends “The Merindas” who are fierce Aboriginal Popstars over here (Check their Music out online) they are awesome. I’m also about to start the development of a Youth-focused version of the 1-hour theatre show RECKŌNING. We debuted at Melbourne Fringe last year and took out 4 awards including Best Emerging Indigenous Artist Supported by Wilin Centre (VCA & MCM)
Market Ready Award Supported by Regional Arts Victoria
Emerging Company Incubator Award Supported by Monash Centre for Theatre and
Performance & Space Cadet Award Supported by RISING Melbourne.
we are currently doing a digital season of our 1 hour theatre show RECKŌNING “Te Waiata Paihere Wairua -The Sounds of Woven Souls” which means you can even watch back home in Aotearoa.
https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/reckoning-te-waiata-paihere-wairua-the-sounds-of-woven-souls/
How can we contact you?