BIO

Owen ‘O’Sound’ Lee is an artist, musician, songwriter, vocal arranger, and producer from Toronto, Ontario. Owen grew up singing in church, and after studying Vocal Performance Jazz in University he began pursuing music as a full-time career, and has been making strides ever since.

Owen has shared the stage and collaborated with numerous critically-acclaimed artists such as Drake, Mariah Carey, Kim Burrell, Jordin Sparks, Jully Black, and Kardinal Offishall to name a few.

Owen is a well-respected vocalist/singer, and industry professional. In 2014, Owen extended his musical reach to the east coast of Canada when he relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is currently the Minister of Music at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Upper Hammonds Plains, the former Program Coordinator of the African Nova Scotian Music Association (2018-2023), the former Musical Director of the Nova Scotia Mass Choir (2014-2019), and was the Musical Director of CBC’s East Coast Music Hour ‘The Story and the Song’ Series.

O’Sound is also the touring keyboardist for Classified, and has toured extensively with the Platinum selling artist/producer around Canada..

O’Sound is the recipient of numerous awards and nominations. Most recently, he was awarded with the 2023 Album of The Year Award by the African Nova Scotian Music Association. He was also nominated for the 2023 African Canadian Artist of the Year, Hip Hop Recording of the Year, and Solo Recording of The Year by the East Coast Music Association. He was also nominated for Musician of the Year, R&B/Soul Recording of the Year, and African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year by Music Nova Scotia.

 

In 2022, Owen was honored with the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for exceptional service in Arts, Community Service and Volunteerism in Nova Scotia, presented to him by Lieutenant Governor Arthur J. LeBlanc.

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Studies

 

-Jazz Theory/Vocal Performance at York University 2005-2010

- Vocal Instruction from Professor Bonnie Brett, York University 2005-2007

- Vocal Instruction from Vocalist Sacha Williamson, York University 2007-2009

- Vocal Arranging/Directing instruction from Professor/Choir Director Karen Burke, York University/Toronto Mass Choir 2005-2011

 

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Financial Awards

 

-2006 Ontario Grant for Students of Caribbean Descent

-2008 Ontario Campus Idol Winner

-2020 RBCxMusic Top 40 Emerging Artist

-2021 Music Nova Scotia - Artist Creation Program

-2022 Music Nova Scotia - Marketing Grant

 

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Honors

 

2017 ANSMA Rising Star Award – African Nova Scotia Music Association

2020 RBCxMusic’s First Up Top 40 Emerging Artist

2021 Single of The Year - African Nova Scotian Music Association

2022 Songwriter of The Year - African Nova Scotian Music Association

2022 Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Medal Recipient

2023 Album of The Year - African Nova Scotian Music Association

 

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Other Nominations

 

Emerging Artist of the Year - 2015 ANSMA Awards

Rising Start of the Year - 2016 ANSMA Awards

Musician of the Year - 2017 Music NS Awards

Industry Professional of the Year - 2018 Music NS Awards

Bucky Adams Memorial Award - 2019 East Coast Music Awards

Industry Professional of the Year - 2019 Music NS Awards

Rap/Hip Hop Recording of The Year - 2020 East Coast Music Awards

African Canadian Artist of The Year - 2020 East Coast Music Awards

African Nova Scotian Artist of The Year - 2021 Music Nova Scotia

Solo Recording of The Year - 2023 East Coast Music Awards

Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year - 2023 East Coast Music Awards

African Canadian Artist of the Year - 2023 East Coast Music Awards

Musician of the Year - 2023 Music Nova Scotia

R&B/Soul Recording of the Year - 2023 Music Nova Scotia

African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year - 2023 Music Nova Scotia

 

Media Highlights

 

-2014 CHRY 105.5FM Radio: Interviewing the Campus Idol Winner

-2016 CBC Radio 1: Information Morning feat. Owen O’Sound Lee

-2018 CBC Radio 2: ‘Absolutely Atlantic’ with Allison Devereaux

-2019 Virgin Radio Halifax 101.3FM: “We Out Here” East Coast Artist of the Week, April 12-18

-2019 CBC Morning Live PEI, Music Educators feat. Owen O’Sound Lee

-2020 Black to Business Magazine, Interview with Wanda Taylor

-2020 CBC Halifax, East Coast Music Hour with Bill Roach

-2020 RX Music Live with Master T

-2020 CTV’s ETalk with Tyrone ‘Rex’ Edwards

-2020 CBC St. John’s, Weekend AM with Heather Barrett

-2021 CBC Halifax, East Coast Music Hour with Bill Roach

-2021 CBC Halifax, ‘Mainstreet’ with Jeff Douglas

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Collaborations

 

Drake, Brian Hamilton & Divine Worship, Paulis Sanchez, Amoy Levy, Roxanne Robinson, Dominiq Nti, Cassidy Parlane, James Hewitt, Jermaine Shakespeare, Toronto Mass Choir, Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Nicole Kate, Shi Wisdom, Haley Smalls, Maestro Fresh Wes, Luke Boyd a.k.a Classified, Choclair, Rude Dowg, Jordin Sparks, Jonathan Kerr, Two-Time Winners, Quake Matthews, AquaKultre, Jocelyn Alice

 

Sync Licensing

 

First Wives Club, Episode 108 (Why Don’t We - Haley Smalls) - co-writer

 

First Wives Club, Episode 108 (You Got What You Wanted - Haley Smalls) - co-writer

 

Nova Scotia Liquor Commission (Good News - Classified ft. Breagh Isabel) - co-writer

 

ESPN (Good News - Classified ft. Breagh Isabel) - co-writer

 

ESPN (Don’t Stop - Classified) - co-writer

 

CAA (Good News - Classified ft. Breagh Isabel) - co-writer

Sullivan’s Crossing, Episode 105 (Good News - Classified ft. Breagh Isabel) - co-writer

 

Robyn Hood, Ep. 101 (Show Luv)

 

TV Appearances

 

CBC Studio 60 with Ian Janes, 2018

Christmas Daddies CTV Studios, Halifax NS 2018

The Cecil Wright Show, Eastlink TV, Halifax 2020

CBC’s The National, 2020

CTV’s ETalk with Classified, 2020

ANSMA Awards, Eastlink TV, 2021

Diggstown, CBC, 2021

ANSMA Awards, Eastlink TV, 2022

Boston Tree Lighting, ABC Boston 2023

 

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Live Concerts

 

2010

Mariah Carey live at Air Canada Centre, Toronto ON

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2015 

“Dare To Dream” with the Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Halifax NS

ANSMA Gala @ the Membertou Resort, Sydney NS

Once – Africville with BANNS stage production @ Halifax Public Library, Halifax NS

170th Anniversary of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Upper Hammonds Plains NS

Fringe Festival with BANNS, Hallifax NS

Black Vibes Showcase, NS Music Week, Yarmouth NS

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2016 

ANSMA Gala at Membertou Resort, Sydney NS

TD Black Heritage Month at Halifax Public Library, Halifax NS

The Seahorse Tavern with Jully Black, Halifax NS

Auburn High School, Cole Harbor NS

Halifax Jazz Festival, Halifax NS

Jamaica Day festival, Halifax NS

Atlantic Baptist Convention @ Crandall University, Moncton NB

Stayners Wharf, Halifax NS

CBC’s Feed Nova Scotia Live feat. Owen Lee & the Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Halifax NS

 Lord Nelson Hotel with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, Haliifax NS

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2017

“Dare to Dream” with the Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Halifax NS

ANSMA Gala at Membertou Resort, Sydney NS

TD Black Heritage Month at Halifax Public Library, Halifax NS

My Soul Songwriters Circle, North-End Public Library, Halifax NS

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2018

Dare to Dream with the Nova Scotia Mass Choir feat. Jully Black, Halifax NS

ANSMA Gala at Membertou Resort, Sydney NS

TD Black Heritage Month at Halifax Public Library, Halifax NS

Cavendish Beach Music Festival with Ian Janes, Cavendish PEI

George Street Festival with Classified, St. John’s NL 2018

CBC the Q with Classified, Maestro Fresh Wes, and Choclair, Toronto ON

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2019

Dare to Dream with the Nova Scotia Mass Choir feat. Reeny Smith, Halifax NS

ANSMA Gala at Membertou Resort, Sydney NS

TD Black Heritage Month at Halifax Public Library, Halifax NS

Elevation Church, Charlotte NC

Motionball Gala, Calgary AB

East Coast Music Association (ECMA) Conference, Charlottetown PEI

Calgary Stampede, Calgary AB

Taste of Edmonton, Edmonton AB

Roots And Soul Festival, Gros Islet Saint Lucia

CBC’s East Coast Music Hour with Bill Roach, Halifax & Pictou NS

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2020

ANSMA African Heritage Month Gala at Membertou Resort, Sydney NS

TD Black Heritage Month at Halifax Public Library, Halifax NS

Halftime Show with Classified, Saint John Sea Dogs Vs. Halifax Mooseheads at TD Station, Saint John NB

CBC’s East Coast Music Hour with Bill Roach, Halifax NS

ANSMA LIVE Virtual Concert via Facebook, Halifax NS

Nova Church Drive-In Concert with Neon Dreams, Halifax NS

Virtual Canada Day Concert, Halifax NS

Bluenose Ability Arts & Film - Hip Hop For Mental Health, Dartmouth NS

TD Bank Top 50 CEO Reception & Virtual Room, Halifax NS

Prismatic Festival at The Carleton, Halifax NS

Live & Local at the Confederation Center, Charlottetown PEI

Virtual New Years Eve Concert at The Scotiabank Centre, Halifax NS

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2021

ANSMA Awards at Alderney Landing Theater, Halifax NS

Area 506 Festival, Saint John NB

Saskatoon Ex, Saskatoon SK

Union Hall, Edmonton AB

Halifax Jazz Festival at The Carleton, Halifax NS

Full Circle Festival, Avondale, NS

Evergreen Music Festival, Halifax NS

 

2022

Songwriters Circle, Pomquet NS 

ECMA Conference, Fredericton NB

African Heritage Gala, Sydney NS

Chester Playhouse, Chester NS

Marble Mountain, Steady Brook NFLD

Lloyd Expo, Lloydminster SK

London Music Hall, London ON

Grand Oasis Stage, Halifax NS

The Gazebo, Mahone Bay NS

K-Days, Edmonton AB

Summer Sunshine Festival, Dartmouth NS

Grand Oasis Festival, Halifax NS

3 Pianos, 6 Hands, No Plans - Pictou NS

Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place, Toronto ON

Shore Club, Hubbards NS

Opera House, Lunenburg NS

 

2023

African Heritage Gala, Sydney NS

ECMA Conference, Halifax NS

Halifax Jazz Fest, Halifax NS

Liive Thursday, Toronto, ON

Tantallon Wildfire Relief, Halifax NS

International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven CT

Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Canso, NS

King’s Theatre, Annapolis Royal, NS

Jubilee Festival, New Glasgow NS

Chester Playhouse, Chester NS

Decoste Theater, Pictou NS

University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB

Holiday Lights at the Boston Common, Boston MA USA

 

Tours

 

“Canada Day Tour” with Classified, 2018

- Velvet Underground, Toronto ON

- Marina Park, Thunder Bay ON

- Downtown, Fredericton NB

- The Boardwalk, Saint John NB

 

“Canadian Classic Tour”  Classified, Choclair, & Maestro Fresh Wes, 2018.

Ale House, Kingston ON

Barrymore’s, Ottawa ON

The Red Dog, Peterborough ON

L3 Nightclub, St. Catherines ON

Guelph Concert Theatre, Guelph ON

The Music Hall, Oshawa ON

London Music Hall, London ON

Mavrick’s, Barrie ON

SOO Blaster, Sault Ste Marie ON

The Garrick Centre, Winnipeg MB

The 40, Brandon MB

O’Brian’s Event Theatre, Saskatoon SK

The Palace Theatre, Calgary AB

Bo’s Bar and Grill, Red Deer AB

Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna B.C.

Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver B.C.

Capital Ballroom, Victoria B.C.

The Queens, Nanaimo B.C.

Garfinkel’s, Whistler B.C.

Spirit Bar, Nelson B.C.

Club Lime, Lethbridge B.C.

Union Hall, Edmonton AB

The Exchange, Regina SK

Crocks, Thunder Bay ON

Caruso Club, Sudbury ON

Capitol Centre, North Bay ON

The Opera House, Toronto ON

Corona Theatre, Montreal QC

 

“Motown Magic Tour”, 2019

The Port Theatre, Nanaimo B.C.

Dave Dunnet Theatre, Victoria B.C.

Abbotsford Arts Centre, Abbotsford B.C.

 

“Retrospected Tour” with Classified & Reeny Smith, 2022-2023

 

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Discography

 

Toronto Mass Choir ‘Going Home’ (2007)

 

Wolf J McFarlane ‘Upside Down Day’ (2009)

 

Shope ‘Up by 13’ (2010)

Toronto Mass Choir ‘A Christmas Gift’ (2010)

 

Burd & Keyz ‘Keyz of Life’ (2011)

Brian Hamilton & Divine Worship ‘I Am A Christian’ (2011)

 

Owen O’Sound Lee ‘The Full Sound’ (2012)

Nevahurd ‘Nevahurd Of Me’ (2012)

Nicole Kate ‘Ready to Fly’ (2012)

Rich Kidd & SonReal ‘The Closers’ (2012)

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Redway ‘Live Free’ (2013)

Rich Kidd ‘In My Opinion’ (2013)

Brian Hamilton & Divine Worship ‘Chosen’ (2013)

Jermaine Shakespeare ‘Crossongs Vol 1’ (2013)

Drake ‘Nothing Was The Same’ (2013)

 

SonReal ‘One Long Day’ (2014)

Amoy Levy ‘Testimony’ (2014)

 

Haley Smalls ‘This Is Me’ (2015)

 

Nova Scotia Mass Choir ‘Immanuel’ (2016)

 

Ian Janes ‘Yes Man’ (2017)

 

Classified ‘Tomorrow Could Be the Day Things Change’ (2018)

 

2019

Maestro Fresh Wes ‘Champagne Campaign’ - LP

Rude Dowg ‘I Feel We’re Goin’

 

2020

Owen O’Sound Lee ‘LISTEN’

Jordin Sparks 'Unknown' - Single

Classified ‘Time EP’ - EP

JRDN ‘Pair of Wings’ - Single

Choclair 'Backdraft' - Single

Choclair 'One Day Away' - Single

Classified ‘Bells Are Ringing’ - Single

Jonathan Kerr ‘A J.Kerr Christmas’ - Album

 

2021

Two-Time Winners Feat. Owen O’Sound Lee ‘State Of Emergency’ - Single 

Quake Matthews ‘Last One Left’ - Single

Owen O’Sound Lee ‘ISOLATION’ - Single

Quake Matthews ‘The Myth X’ - LP

 

2022

O’Sound ‘235 EP’

Classified ‘Retrospected’ - LP

AquaKultre ‘Don’t Trip’ - LP

 

2023

O’Sound ‘Wife in You’ - Single

Classified ‘People’ - Single