Episode 198: Dreaming Bigger with Dee Dee Austin

Fresh off an unforgettable weekend at SOMMO Festival 2026, Dee Dee Austin joins Strange Grooves to talk about taking the stage, soaking up some massive performances, and leaving PEI with an even bigger vision for where her music could go next.

Dee Dee takes us inside her SOMMO experience, from connecting with fellow artists and exploring a potential collaboration with Down With Webster’s drummer, to seeing the sheer scale and production of Twenty One Pilots up close. Sometimes seeing what’s possible is enough to move the goalposts, and SOMMO gave Dee Dee plenty to dream about.

We also get into her journey as an Indigenous pop artist, building a career organically and staying focused on authenticity rather than awards or competition. She shares how artists like P!nk, The Beaches, and Goldie Boutilier have influenced her, not only musically, but through the way they’ve encouraged women to take up space and own their place in the industry.

Through it all, Dee Dee remains deeply connected to Abegweit First Nation and the communities she represents. As her ambitions grow, so does the map, with hopes of taking her music further across Canada and eventually to audiences in places like Australia and Germany.

It’s a conversation about representation, authenticity, dreaming bigger, and realizing just how far music can take you, especially after one hell of a festival weekend.

Turn it up and get to know Dee Dee Austin on Strange Grooves!

Until next time…Keep it strange!