About

Vincent Sebastian is a music producer, percussionist, DJ, ethnomusicologist, and speaker. His decorated music career includes touring the globe, producing music for renowned record labels, and collaborating with great artists. He runs The Nest, a recording and music production space in Sydney, and provides talks and books that deliver knowledge about the arts and tools that facilitate creativity.

He holds a Ph.D Music and Bachelor in Psychology, and Sound Design, for which he received first class honours and the University Medal from University of Technology. His research in music psychology is interested in how music is used to facilitate transcendent experiences, such as altered states, trance, and psychological healing. His research explores music rituals and their development across culture, and is important for understanding how music traditions develop using new technologies, symbols and performance approaches.

Vincent’s music with the band OYOBI includes the blending of traditional Latin rhythms with electronic sounds and technologies. He has released music on global labels Defected (UK), Imagenes (UK), Prison Records (UK), Vamos (SP), United Music (HK), Shika Shika (Arg), Groovescooter (AU), Ocha Records (US), Atjazz Record Company (UK), and collaborated with celebrated artists including Pepe Citarrela (IT), Atjazz (UK), Hallex M (HK), Jorge Montiel (UK), Myles Bigalow (CN), Qvln (US), Oveous (US), Selomi (SA), Barrio Lindo (GR), Milan (AU), Amaru Tribe (AU), and Cosmos Midnight (AU).

Oyobi’s music has topped the Traxsource charts on multiple occasions, and is frequently included in the Top Ten and ‘Best of the year’ categories. It has been featured on Late Night Tales, Bandcamp Weekly, radio stations around the world, and labelled “Nothing short of sublime…” by ToneDeaf Magazine, and “Stunning !” by Laurent Garnier.

Vincent’s career includes performances in Australia and abroad at major festivals including: Bluesfest, Woodford, Womadelaide, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Vivid, Opera House, Rainforest Festival (Malaysia), Bogota Festival De Teatro (Colombia), Ulsan Festival (Korea), Osaka Kokolo Festival (Japan), NOMA (thailand), and Ku De Ta (Indonesia). He was also nominated for an Aria Award for his percussion and songwriting work with Watussi.

Memorable performances and supports include with Santana, Seun Kuti, Ricky Martin, Los Amigos Invisibles, Los Van Van, Katy Perry, Earth Wind and Fire, and with electronic music icons Ron Carroll, Love Tattoo, Rob Vission, Sandy Rivera, Chuck Love, & Richard Earnshaw.

Vincent was also the in-house percussionist for American television show 'Name that Tune' with Randy Jackson and Jane Krakowski, and is endorsed by brands Toca Percussion, Wincent sticks, and Protection Racket.

He is consistently involved with innovative art-based projects that expand his creativity and expertise. Previous projects include Pulse, a two-person contemporary dance piece that explores spiritual transformation; Melody of Humanity, a musical work that incorporates 20 migrant musicians from diverse ethnicities; and inclusion at the 2023 Dancecult Conference in London, where he presented his PhD research to an international panel, contributing to the international discussion on electronic music culture and ritual.

Apart from creating and performing his music, Vincent currently dedicates himself to sharing the wisdom gathered through his doctoral research and music career through his blog, books, and at speaking events.