I came from the cold, I came from the north:’ Dawson Pastion set to headline Indigenous music festival – Toronto Star
February 29, 2024
The 24-year-old rap and R&B-inspired musician, better known as NorthSideBaby, is on the verge of a major rise.
Some people think Dawson Pastion, better known as NorthSideBaby, is just a kid who needs to humble himself, while others think he’s a cultural phenomenon heralding a new generation.
One thing is clear: the 24-year-old rap and R&B-inspired musician from the Dene Tha’ First Nation is on the verge of a major rise.
Less than a year ago, Pastion was sitting on his rez in northern Alberta writing songs, never expecting that people would one day scream his name as if he was an Indigenous Drake or Beyoncé.
Now, Pastion has a paper trail of influence, particularly among Indigenous youth. He’s an emerging TikTok star with more than 40,000 followers; on Spotify, he has 25,000 monthly listeners. He’s released 15 singles and plans to share his first album this summer. His influences include The Weeknd, Nav, Young Thug, Drake and, especially, Travis Scott. On Monday, he was at the Winnipeg Jets game where they blared his single “I’m Sorry” throughout the arena.
“I came from the cold, I came from the north,” he sing-raps over a crisp trap beat that skitters over opulent flute and string arrangements.
