Matt Sousa has built a career on spotting artists before the rest of the world catches on. The Canadian A&R executive has spent the past decade championing new voices and helping them reach audiences beyond Canada — from working with Jamie Fine, Valley and Sukha to leading Universal Music Canada’s first Punjabi signing with thiarajxtt.

Now Vice President of A&R at Warner Music Canada, Sousa is shaping the next wave of breakout acts, working closely with artists like Karan Aujla, Jade LeMac and Crash Adams. His focus is on developing artists with global ambition and giving them the space to build their own creative worlds. “What motivates me the most about the future of Canada’s music industry is collaborating with the next wave of undeniable, world-class talent rising from this country,” he says. "Canada has produced some of the biggest artists in the world, and I believe the next generation of creatives and industry leaders coming up will take Canada's global impact even further.”