Sebastiano Dessanay was born in Cagliari, Sardinia. He started to play piano and cello when he was 11 and then turned to electric bass, playing with different rock and pop bands. Some years later, after having obtained a geology degree at Cagliari University, he started studying double bass and composition at Cagliari Conservatoire where he graduated in 2007. In January 2008 he moved to UK and in 2009 he has completed a Master in Music at Birmingham Conservatoire, where he has recently started a PhD in Composition. He lives and works in London.

His music is highly informed by a strong sense of melody and attention to textural details. The double bass has often a preminent role in his research and elements of improvisation permeate his compositions.

Many are the collaborations with practitioners of theatre, dance, film and visual arts world, and he now teaches Applied Composition at the British Academy of New Music in London.

He has also collaborated with musicians in jazz, classical, pop-rock and ethnic music; he has performed throughout Italy, France, Germany and the UK and has recorded with various musicians.

Prizes and awards have included 1st prize at Sardinia International Composition Competition in 2004 with the composition Scherzo for solo double bass.

His music has been performed at Time in Jazz Festival (Berchidda, 2000), Nuoro Jazz Festival (Nuoro, 2000), Spazio Musica Festival (Cagliari, 2004), The Place (London, 2008), Frontiers Festival at Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham, 2009), Sound New Festival (Canterbury, 2010).