Curtis Waters Explained

Curtis Waters
Birth Name:Abhinav Bastakoti
Birth Date:20 December 1999
Birth Place:Kathmandu, Nepal
Origin:Cary, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation:Musician, songwriter
Label:BMG
Genre:Pop, indie pop, alt pop

Abhinav Bastakoti (born December 20, 1999),[1] known by his stage name Curtis Waters, is a Canadian-American musician and songwriter.[2] [3] He is known for his self-produced 2020 debut single "Stunnin'".[4] He is the first Nepal-born musician to attain international success.

Early life

Abhinav Bastakoti was born on December 20, 1999, in Kathmandu, Nepal. At a young age, he moved to India, before moving to Germany at the age of 4, then Calgary, Canada at the age of 10[5] At the age of 14, Bastakoti returned to Nepal for three months to receive his Bratabanda, a complex Hindu coming of age ceremony. Around this time he downloaded FL Studio onto his laptop and started making beats. Posting them online in 2017 as Frank Waters, before changing it to Curtis Waters, a homage to his two favourite artists Joy Divisions’s Ian Curtis and Frank Ocean.[6] As a teenager attending Sir Winston Churchill High School[7] he struggled with depression and used music and graphic design to overcome it.[8] He would often skip school to compete in beat battles. At the age of 17, he moved to Cary, North Carolina, as a result of his parents' educational pursuits.

Career

In April 2020, Waters posted a 15-second snippet of his hip hop/pop song, "Stunnin'" which became a "viral TikTok sensation."[9] In one month, "Stunnin'" was viewed more than two million times on YouTube. In June, "Stunnin'" was ranked #3 on Rolling Stone's Breakthrough 25 Chart. By July 2020, "Stunnin'" had been streamed over 35 million times on Spotify.

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

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

Water's second single was "System." He recorded his album Pity Party in his dorm at UNC Greensboro. After production, Pity Party was re-released in October 2020.[10] 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." On June 23, 2023, he released his sophomore album, BAD SON.[11]

Artistry

His musical influences include Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Odd Future, Tyler the Creator, and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis.

Personal life

Bastakoti lives in Los Angeles, California. 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.

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum details
Pity Party
Bad Son

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
CAN
[12] 		IRE
[13] 		NZ
Hot
[14] 		UK
[15] 		US
Bub.
[16]
"Stunnin'"
20203627216911 Pity Party
"System"[20] —————
"The Feelings Tend to Stay the Same"[21] —————
"Freckles"[22] —————
"Doodoodoo"[23] 2021—————rowspan="2"
"Conceited"[24] —————
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Featured singles

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Das Shrestha . Kashish . 14 July 2020 . The rise of Curtis Waters . 2022-07-21 . . en-US.
  2. Web site: Pant. Shashwat. July 6, 2020. In the spotlight: Curtis Waters' Stunnin'. live. August 10, 2020. Kathmandu Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706144939/https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2020/07/06/in-the-spotlight-curtis-waters-stunnin . 2020-07-06 .
  3. News: Das Shrestha . Kashish . July 14, 2020 . The rise of Curtis Waters . . August 10, 2020.
  4. Leight. Elias. June 23, 2020. Curtis Waters' 'Stunnin' Is a TikTok Hit -- And a Threat to the Major Label System. August 10, 2020. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  5. Web site: Miao . Hannah . May 27, 2020 . Meet Curtis Waters, the Cary Musician Going Viral on TikTok with "Stunnin'" . August 10, 2020 . . en-us .
  6. Web site: Weg . Zachary. Curtis Waters is the triple-threat rising star to watch this year . 2023-02-24 . Alternative Press Magazine . 6 February 2023 . en.
  7. Web site: Volmers . Eric . February 10, 2023 . Rising Waters: Calgary-raised pop sensation Curtis Waters returns home . February 24, 2023 . . en-CA.
  8. Web site: Segalov . Michael . July 19, 2020 . Curtis Waters, TikTok king: 'There are no gatekeepers to the industry anymore' . August 10, 2020 . . en.
  9. Web site: Fay . Seamus . July 16, 2020 . No One Believed in Curtis Waters, Until Everyone Did . August 10, 2020 . . en.
  10. Web site: Wang. Steffanee. September 23, 2020. Curtis Waters On "Stunnin'" & Finding Success Beyond TikTok. September 24, 2020. Nylon.
  11. News: Morris . Damien . 2023-06-25 . Curtis Waters: Bad Son review – genre-busting second album from pop outsider . en-GB . . 2023-06-27 . 0029-7712.
  12. Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 29, 2020. August 27, 2020. Billboard.
  13. Web site: Discography Curtis Waters. August 10, 2020. irish-charts.com.
  14. Web site: June 29, 2020. Hot 40 Singles. live. August 10, 2020. Recorded Music NZ. https://web.archive.org/web/20200628094316/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4878 . 2020-06-28 .
  15. Web site: CURTIS WATERS FT HARM FRANKLIN full Official Chart History. live. August 10, 2020. Official Charts Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20210425201433/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/57937/curtis-waters-ft-harm-franklin/ . 2021-04-25 .
  16. Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 1, 2020. August 10, 2020. Billboard.
  17. Brazil. Curtis Waters. March 30, 2021.
  18. Canada. Curtis Waters. March 1, 2021.
  19. United States. Curtis Waters. March 1, 2021.
  20. Web site: System - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music. live. August 10, 2020. Apple Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20200818202648/https://music.apple.com/us/album/system-single/1520123554 . 2020-08-18 .
  21. Web site: The feelings tend to stay the same - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music. live. August 10, 2020. Apple Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20200731044452/https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-feelings-tend-to-stay-the-same-single/1523863272 . 2020-07-31 .
  22. Web site: Freckles - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music. live. September 15, 2020. Apple Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20200906083431/https://music.apple.com/us/album/freckles-single/1528076000 . 2020-09-06 .
  23. Web site: Doodoodoo - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music. February 28, 2021. Apple Music.
  24. Web site: Conceited - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music. February 28, 2021. Apple Music.
  25. Web site: Food Court Heart Break (feat. Curtis Waters & Yung Star Ballout) - Single by 33 Life on Apple Music. live. November 20, 2020. Apple Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20200818201030/https://music.apple.com/us/album/food-court-heart-break-feat-curtis-waters-yung-star/1481723944 . 2020-08-18 .
  26. Web site: Quarantine Party (feat. Curtis Waters) - Single by Jay2thekim on Apple Music. live. November 20, 2020. Apple Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20200818200957/https://music.apple.com/us/album/quarantine-party-single-feat-curtis-waters-single/1508924852 . 2020-08-18 .
  27. Web site: Sensual Healing (feat. Asher Porter & Curtis Waters) - Single by Susanne Davis on Apple Music. November 20, 2020. Apple Music.
  28. Web site: SugarCrash! (feat. Kim Petras & Curtis Waters) - Single by ElyOtto on Apple Music. live. May 8, 2021. Apple Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20210423123505/https://music.apple.com/us/album/sugarcrash-feat-kim-petras-curtis-waters-single/1563978558 . 2021-04-23 .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Curtis Waters".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.