Artist Feature · October 9, 2026

Artist Feature: Concepcion Kept Singing Through the Nerves

The Winnipeg R&B singer’s polished cover videos came with a less visible struggle: nerves about performing, even before stepping onstage.

Northern Dial artwork

Winnipeg R&B singer Concepcion built an audience with cover videos as John Concepcion. While the videos attracted listeners, he was dealing with nerves about performing. In a 2019 Sing2Music interview, he said, “I struggle with performance anxiety every time I get on stage.” Even thinking about performing could bring those nerves on.

That was also the musician who said, “I love the feeling of literally singing your heart out.” The desire to sing and the fear of performing existed together.

He had started posting at 15, first making remixes and rapping over favourite songs. Singing became a bigger part of his work later. Watching Chris Brown drew him toward the possibilities of an artist who could dance and direct as well as sing; Concepcion also played piano, guitar and drums.

He said he started uploading because he felt like it, then kept going. Subscriber gains mattered alongside bookings and contact from labels. At the time of that interview, the anxiety was still there.

His cover of Justin Bieber’s “Yummy” reached millions of viewers. By 2021, he was also collaborating with DJ G.O.D. on “Your Love.” Earlier originals included 2019’s “HITMYLINE” and “Space in Between”; the EP It’s Just Luv followed in 2022.

The Filipino-Canadian singer has also taken that work beyond Winnipeg. In 2024, he performed at Vancouver’s Lapu-Lapu block party, alongside a lineup that included Manila Grey.

His current single, “bee’s in a garden,” appears under Concepcion and is in Northern Dial’s rotation. The earlier recordings and YouTube videos also use John Concepcion.

Watch Concepcion: bee’s in a garden (Official Audio) on YouTube