Curtis Waters

Abhinav Bastakoti (born December 20, 1999),[1] known by his stage name Curtis Waters, is a Canadian-American musician and songwriter.[2][1] He is known for his self-produced 2020 debut single "Stunnin.'"[3] He is the first Nepal-born musician to reach international success.[1]

Curtis Waters
Birth nameAbhinav Bastakoti
BornKathmandu, Nepal
OriginCary, North Carolina, U.S.
GenresPop, indie pop
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
LabelsBMG

Early life

Waters was born in Kathmandu, Nepal.[1] He moved to India at a young age, before moving to Germany at age four, and then relocating to Calgary, Alberta at age ten.[1][4] Waters settled in Cary, North Carolina in 2017 at age seventeen.[2][4] The moves were following his parents' educational dreams—his father now has a PhD in environmental science, while his mother has two master's degrees and specializes in GIS.[1][5][6]

When he was 14, Waters returned to Nepal for three months for his Bratabanda, a complex Hindu coming of age ceremony.[1]

In 2014, Waters downloaded FL Studio onto his laptop and started to make beats.[2] “Waters says, "Being from a Nepali immigrant family, my parents always want the best from me academically. They didn’t really understand my love for music at first. So I did it secretly in my room."[2] His musical influences include Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Odd Future, Tyler the Creator, and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis.[6] By 2017, he was posting his music online.[2]

As a teenager in Canada, Waters used music and graphic design to overcome depression.[6] In the process, he created a comic book character named Curtis Waters, an homage to two of his favorite artists—Ian Curtis and Frank Ocean.[6][2] He says, "This character was fun, bright and silly. I started to dress like him, and when I made music, I could make myself feel like this person in my head.”[6] By 2017, he was posting his music online as Frank Waters.[2]

In 2018, Waters began his freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, studying in media studies.[7][5] He also worked at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.[7]

Career

In April 2020, Waters posted a 15-second snippet of his hip hop/pop song, "Stunnin" which became a "viral TikTok sensation."[7][6] In one month, "Stunnin'" was viewed more than two million times on YouTube.[2] In June, "Stunnin'" was ranked #3 on Rolling Stone's Breakthrough 25 Chart.[1] By July 2020, "Stunnin'" had been streamed over 35 million times on Spotify.[6]

Waters was chased by numerous labels.[7][1] He decided to stay independent, but did sign a licensing deal with BMG.[7][6][1] His manager is A&R executive Chris Anokute, who helped launch Katy Perry and Rihanna.[1]

In June 2020, Rolling Stone magazine ran an article about Waters.[7][3] In July 2020, "Stunnin'" was used in a Mercedes-Benz commercial.[7]

Water's second single was "System."[7] He recorded his album Pity Party in his dorm at UNC Greensboro.[1] After production, Pity Party was re-released in October 2020.[5] One reviewer of Pity Party noted, "The throughline in these 12 disparate tracks remains Waters’ distinct point of view, simultaneously self-deprecating, sincere, and disarmingly honest."[5]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details
Pity Party

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
[8]		 IRE
[9]		 NZ
Hot
[10]		 UK
[11]		 US
Bub.
[12]
"Stunnin'"
(featuring Harm Franklin)		 2020 36 27 21 69 11 Pity Party
"System"[16] — — — — —
"The Feelings Tend to Stay the Same"[17] — — — — —
"Freckles"[18] — — — — —
"Doodoodoo"[19] 2021 — — — — — TBA
"Conceited"[20] — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
  • 2019: "Food Court Heart Break" (33 Life featuring Curtis Waters and Yung Star Ballout)[21]
  • 2020: "Quarantine Party" (Jay2thekim featuring Curtis Waters)[22]
  • 2020: "Sensual Healing" (Susanne Davis featuring Asher Porter and Curtis Waters)[23]
  • 2021: "SugarCrash!" (ElyOtto featuring Kim Petras and Curtis Waters)[24]

Personal

Waters lives in Cary, North Carolina.[4] He has been open about his experience with depression and bipolar disorder and has expressed his desire to be a mental health advocate in Nepal.[6][7]

References
  1. Das Shrestha, Kashish (July 14, 2020). "The rise of Curtis Waters". Nepali Times. Retrieved August 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Pant, Shashwat (July 6, 2020). "In the spotlight: Curtis Waters' Stunnin'". Kathmandu Post. Archived from the original on 2020-07-06. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  3. Leight, Elias (June 23, 2020). "Curtis Waters' 'Stunnin' Is a TikTok Hit -- And a Threat to the Major Label System". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  4. Miao, Hannah (May 27, 2020). "Meet Curtis Waters, the Cary Musician Going Viral on TikTok with "Stunnin'"". Indy Week. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  5. Wang, Steffanee (September 23, 2020). "Curtis Waters On "Stunnin'" & Finding Success Beyond TikTok". Nylon. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  6. Segalov, Michael (July 19, 2020). "Curtis Waters, TikTok king: 'There are no gatekeepers to the industry anymore'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. Fay, Seamus (July 16, 2020). "No One Believed in Curtis Waters, Until Everyone Did". Complex. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  8. "Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 29, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  9. "Discography Curtis Waters". irish-charts.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  10. "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. June 29, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  11. "CURTIS WATERS FT HARM FRANKLIN | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  12. "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 1, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  13. "Brazilian certifications – Curtis Waters" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  14. "Canadian certifications – Curtis Waters". Music Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  15. "American certifications – Curtis Waters". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  16. "System - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music". Archived from the original on 2020-08-18. Retrieved August 10, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  17. "The feelings tend to stay the same - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music". Archived from the original on 2020-07-31. Retrieved August 10, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  18. "Freckles - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music". Archived from the original on 2020-09-06. Retrieved September 15, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  19. "Doodoodoo - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music". Retrieved February 28, 2021 – via Apple Music.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. "Conceited - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music". Retrieved February 28, 2021 – via Apple Music.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. "Food Court Heart Break (feat. Curtis Waters & Yung Star Ballout) - Single by 33 Life on Apple Music". Archived from the original on 2020-08-18. Retrieved November 20, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  22. "Quarantine Party (feat. Curtis Waters) - Single by Jay2thekim on Apple Music". Archived from the original on 2020-08-18. Retrieved November 20, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  23. "Sensual Healing (feat. Asher Porter & Curtis Waters) - Single by Susanne Davis on Apple Music". Retrieved November 20, 2020 – via Apple Music.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. "SugarCrash! (feat. Kim Petras & Curtis Waters) - Single by ElyOtto on Apple Music". Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Apple Music.
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