Originally from Scotland, David Leask has spent the last 29 years of his artistic career as an award winning songwriter (Songwriters Magazine called him, “the most consistent Canadian songwriting competition winner“, Mississauga Music Songwriter of the Year), an award winning musical artist (winner of the the Mississauga Performing Artist of the Year Award), a relentless live performer with over 3000 shows since moving to Canada and a sought after songwriting mentor and facilitator. Leask has been profiled in a SOCAN Words & Music Magazine article which called him, “a lifer who has worked outside the commercial boundaries, earning a decent living and immense respect from his peers.” Leask has released 7 critically acclaimed albums. His latest release, “Voyageur in Song”, not only includes some of the best work of his career, it also represents an artistic work of cultural significance. A unique concept record inspired by different pieces and their amazing stories from the Six String Nation Guitar (nick-named Voyageur and made of 64 pieces of Canadian culture and history), it was a journey that brought him a deeper connection to his adopted Canadian home. The Toronto Star called it, “Possibly the most Canadian album on Canada’s most historic instrument” and the UK’s R&R Magazine called it, “Something truly special…that rare thing, a genuinely inspiring album.” “Voyageur in Song” reached #8 on the Roots Music Report Canadian Chart and was nominated for Canadian Folk Music Association Contemporary Album of the Year.
A gifted songwriting facilitator, David has been a songwriting mentor for 11 years with the School Alliance of Student Songwriters, a Songwriting Industry Mentor for the Humber College’s Music Composition Program and Guitar Workshop Plus, and has conducted numerous workshops on behalf of the Songwriters Association of Canada.