Photo by Vanessa Heins

Yesterday, Shamir appeared on CBC Music's "The Strombo Show" to do an acoustic set. In addition to playing his Ratchet track "In for the Kill," he performed two covers: Jewel's "Who Will Save Your Soul" and Alexz Johnson's "Ruthless Love." Shamir revealed that the former track was the first song he ever played live, at a middle school talent show.

"I remember the guitar teacher or the music teacher freaking out obviously, we had a guitar program and I was one of few kids in my school that didn't know how to play guitar," he said, adding, "My principal at the time played guitar and came up to me: 'Who taught you to play like that?'— and I was like, 'me'?".

Listen to a brief interview—as well as the performances—here, beginning at the 2:35:30 mark.

Read "The Charmed (and Charming Life) of Shamir Bailey", our new feature.

Watch Shamir's "Call It Off" video: