Zeegwon

Zeegwon Shilling is a 20-year-old Anishinaabe singer, songwriter, musician and actor from Wasauksing First Nation. A self-taught pianist and guitarist, he has been writing songs since childhood, developing a sound that is as curious and wide-ranging as the music he grew up around.

His name carries the meaning of springtime: renewal, fast-flowing waters, a new cycle beginning. It feels fitting for an artist at the beginning of something of his own.

The great-nephew of renowned Ojibway painter Arthur Shilling, Zeegwon comes from a family where creativity has always been encouraged. In 2021, he received the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Protégé Prize, a $10,000 award recognizing emerging artists with the potential to shape the future of the performing arts. The award connected him with mentors including Amanda Rheaume, Derek Miller and Lacey Hill, helping him find his footing as both an artist and songwriter.

He has also begun making his mark on screen, appearing in CBC’s Coroner, Apple TV+’s The Zone, and 40 Acres.

Now, Zeegwon is stepping fully into music. He is preparing to head into the studio with acclaimed producer Hill Kourkoutis to record his debut EP, bringing together the songs he has been carrying with him for years. Rooted in his Anishinaabe identity but open to the sounds and influences that have surrounded him all his life, Zeegwon is an artist at the beginning of a very exciting chapter.