In a heartwarming moment that had the East Coast buzzing, DeeDee Austin received the prestigious golden buzzer on Canada’s Got Talent last month—marking a milestone in the young artist’s already impressive career.
With her soulful performance and powerful presence, Austin captured the attention of the judges, particularly Howie Mandel, who gave her the golden buzzer, sending her straight to the semi-finals and cementing her place in the competition.
The journey to Canada’s Got Talent
Before her Canada’s Got Talent appearance, Austin was already familiar to East Coast audiences, particularly in Nova Scotia, where she gained attention with her first single at just 14 years old.
The pop powerhouse is a member of the Abegweit First Nation on PEI; she’s what you could call a hybrid artist embraces the contemporary and traditional Indigenous music which she creates and implements into each one of her infectious high energy performances.
Austin’s music became a platform for sharing her own stories while advocating for representation of her culture. As Austin revealed in a recent conversation with The Coast contributor Darcy Walsh, the road to success hasn’t been easy.
She started fresh out of junior high, and dealt with a lot of bullying, racism, and discrimination along the way. “Everything accumulated and it kind of felt like a big boulder on top of my head that was trying to push me further and further into the ground,” said Austin. “My last release ‘Breathe,’ when I wrote that song, it actually broke that boulder on my head and I’ve been kind of using that as one of my healing tools for myself.”
Austin’s courage to persevere through challenges has been an inspiration to many, especially young artists who are just starting their careers. She advises emerging musicians to “walk before you run” and emphasizes the importance of patience and self-belief. “A rose doesn’t grow overnight,” she said. “It’s a long journey, but if you’re passionate about it and keep working, the support systems around you will help.”
Breaking barriers and advocating for mental health
One of the key themes in Austin’s music is mental health—a topic often underrepresented in mainstream music. Her latest single, “Breathe” dives into the complexity of mental well-being, a subject Austin feels strongly about. While her music has always touched on deep personal themes, it is her ability to connect with listeners and provide a voice to those struggling that sets her apart.
Austin’s music has continued to evolve, offering a more mature sound and perspective with each release. Her third EP dropped in mid-April, just in time to coincide with her ECMA nomination. This latest release continues her journey toward solidifying her place as one of the brightest emerging talents in Canada’s music scene.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, Austin has big plans.
The success of Canada’s Got Talent has opened doors to new opportunities, but Austin remains grounded in her mission to grow as an artist and share her voice with the world. With a $25,000 prize from the golden buzzer moment, Austin is focused on investing in her career and continuing to build her artistry.
“This is so surreal, I still can’t even fathom this is happening to me,” Austin said of her golden buzzer moment. “I’m going to make sure that that money goes to good places within my career; to get on more stages and amplify my voice even more and help amplify the voices for those who can’t or don’t have the opportunity to use their voice.”
With her fierce determination, powerful voice, and unwavering commitment to representing her culture and advocating for mental health, Austin is undoubtedly one to watch in the Canadian music landscape.
Stayed tuned for East Coast Music Award coverage to feature Austin as she will be showcasing this year in St. John’s, Newfoundland and has received a nomination for the 2025 Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Darcy Walsh is s a multimedia music journalist and the founder of East Coast DNA, a platform dedicated to exploring the vibrant music scene of the East Coast. He is also the host of the East Coast DNA podcast, where he brings listeners interviews with musicians, industry professionals, and the stories behind the songs.
This article appears in May 1-31, 2025.