“To be seen for the artist and man that I am by people I respect and admire has always meant a great deal to me”
Now in its second year, the Gibson Artist Spotlight program showcases an evolving roster of musical talent, showcased across Gibson channels globally. Following recent additions The Saint Cecilia and ARXX, the latest exciting artist to join the program is AfroDiziac.
Fans at the fourth annual Gibson Garage Fest in Nashville recently got a firsthand taste of AfroDiziac’s explosive, high-energy style, and his kaleidoscope of sound is certainly making waves in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. We caught up with AfroDiziac to find out more.
How would you describe your music?
“Provocatively intimate, for how wide and loud it feels. My dark side often appears in my writing, in so far as an outer shell to wrap the hopeful sentiment I usually carry throughout life. It’s heavy and intuitive, highly groove-based and very much rock ‘n’ roll in all its gritty glory. Can I say, ‘Baby’s got edge?'”
What is your favorite piece of gear?
“My Les Paul. I bought it when I was 14, six months into playing, with saved up ‘baby bonus’ cheques from my native land of Canada. I love how it’s aged with me in a way. The bumps, scrapes, and dents all make up a prettier guitar than when I first bought it. Something in that wood feels like magic. It always seems to cut through without losing any of its bottom end. The AfroDiziac sound is 100m percent synonymous with the Les Paul midrange/fat bottom characteristic. It’s an extension of my own voice at this point.”
What has been the highlight of your musical career so far?
“I’d say touring with Black Country Communion and exchanging very kind and praise-worthy words with Joe Bonamassa, a heart-to-heart with Sir Glenn Hughes—is he knighted? He should be!—and having Jason Bonham belt out some praising profanity after a soundcheck we did in Cologne. One other occasion ties with them, in which Billy Steinberg rearranged his flight schedule to set a session up after hearing me perform a song I wrote. He started schooling me in songwriting and that moment stays with me, because it’s really the only ‘formal’ training I’ve ever had.”
What would be your dream artist or producer collaboration, and why?
“Dave Grohl and Sly Stone (rest in peace). Dave—and Butch Vig!—seem to always capture a drum sound and phrasing that aligns closest to what I hear in my head when I write. Sly is somewhat self explanatory; there’d just be no AfroDiziac without Sly Stone. His musical stylings and habits resonate so close to my heart. Honorable mentions?Trent Reznor and Snoop Dogg. NIN is a big influence and quite frankly so is the entire boom bap era. That’s really where I started my musical journey.”
What does being part of the Gibson Artist Spotlight program mean to you?
“A personal accomplishment, having been with Gibson nearly my entire career as a musician. The honor to hold that name next to my own? It’s brought tears to my eyes, and even my mother’s. To be seen for the artist and man that I am by people I respect and admire has always meant a great deal to me. So, without getting too mushy about it, t’s a great bucket-list-level honor and accomplishment I hold very dear to my heart.”
What’s next on the horizon for you?
“I’m setting sail for a tour with fellow Gibson Family member, Jared James Nichols, later this year and that’s pretty exciting to me. I really like his attitude and values as a person. I’m always writing new music—the second album is currently being worked on in infancy. I seem to be yearning for my roots and finding new inspirations in that ‘place’ which I find extremely exciting.
“I’m somewhat a ‘global’ artist, not quite having a home to anchor to, so finding a whole new shade and meaning to my musical and cultural roots is an intriguing element seeping through my writing as of late. There are also some collaborations being discussed that I can’t shed too much light on, but worth mentioning my excitement about!”
Check out the 2025 roster for the Gibson Artist Spotlight program and visit the Artist Spotlight profile for AfroDiziac.
