Very rarely does an artist come along, out of nowhere, that is able to instantly connect to an audience on a global scale, thus embarking on a journey as an internationally recognizable name within a matter of weeks. Curtis Waters is that artist. Since uploading his debut video and single Stunnin Ft. Harm Franklin to the internet, and launching his own TikTok campaign to hype the track back in May, the 20-year-old Nepal-born artist, producer and songwriter Curtis Waters’ debut song has already amassed a staggering 80 million plays including 50 million streams on Spotify alone.

With radio support across the country as Stunnin Ft. Harm Franklin continues to build momentum at Top 40 and Rhythm, the song’s global success soon attracted a swarm of interest from record labels.

However, Curtis was determined to maintain 100% control of his music, and signed a license deal with BMG in June. Angered, upset and triggered by the death of George Floyd, having experienced racism himself growing up in Europe, Canada and North America, coupled with his recent dehumanizing experience of feeling like a mere product to some in the music industry, Curtis released his follow-up track, System in June. Written and produced in Curtis’ bedroom, System is a modern-day punk anthem, commanding even the most passive of listeners to sit up and pay attention. Curtis released the audio on Bandcamp donating 100% of the profits to local bail fund Charlotte Uprising plus matching the profits with his own money (made from his BMG advance).

“My songs reflect how I feel that day,” Curtis notes. “I try not to box myself in. I listen to so much music and I soak so many different influences in, so I’m a product of everything I’m into. I’m into so much random stuff and I want to bring it all into the Curtis Waters universe.” says Waters.

True to his word, Curtis Waters has revealed yet another side to his artistry today, with the release of his latest track The Feelings Tend To Stay The Same. Demonstrating a softer side, Curtis draws from his own mental health struggles, dealing with his bi-polar disorder and life as a young adult in the modern world.

He candidly reveals, "I wrote this song about a close friend of mine that I was seeing in college. I wrote it after I dropped out of college because of my own health issues. I stopped talking to everybody and couldn’t message her anymore but I wanted to say thank you, and sorry. I knew I was getting sick and I secretly knew I was dropping out of college soon. The last night we saw each other I planned a really special date. I wrote her a letter, I bought her flowers and chocolates and I took her to a movie. It was supposed to be really romantic but I was on a lot of medication for my bi-polar and they made me really sick so I couldn’t even watch the movie, I just kept throwing up in the bath room all night. I was nervous she would be mad or disappointed, but instead she stood outside and waited and wasn’t disgusted at all. She was really kind and supportive. It meant a lot. I felt really cared for. And then we never saw each other again. After I dropped out, most days I would reminisce about what happened and the mistakes I made. I hope she’s doing good, and even though things may have ended bad between us. The feelings don’t ever go away. The song is a bittersweet thank you/apology letter that I wish I could say to her face. I wrote it hoping she would be curious enough to search me up and listen to my song about her and understand what happened and how I felt about the situation.”

His songs showcase two totally different sides of the musician, but it’s his debut album, ‘Pity Party’, that will open the door into the vast world of Curtis Waters when it drops in October. The album, written as the musician was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, embraces both a carefree, fun spirit and a depressed, uncomfortably honest feeling, and reveals Curtis’ versatility as an artist.

Curtis Waters was born Nepal and grew up moving around between Germany, Nepal and Calgary, eventually settling in North Carolina at age 17, encouraging him to find his interests online. His love of writing poetry and doing graphic design as a kid evolved into teaching himself how to make beats and produce music using YouTube tutorials at 14. At first he sold his beats to artists he met on Soundcloud, but eventually Curtis realized he should be the one singing. Inspired by Tyler, the Creator and Odd Future, Curtis started writing, producing and engineering his own tracks at 17.

“My songs reflect how I feel that day,” Curtis notes. “I try not to box myself in. If you listen to the album every song sounds completely different. They’re completely different genres and ideas. I listen to so much music and I soak so many different influences in, so I’m a product of everything I’m into. I’m into so much random stuff and I want to bring it all into the Curtis Waters universe.”