Curtis Waters

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Curtis Waters

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Abhinav Bastakoti

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|12|20}}

| birth_place = Kathmandu, Nepal

| origin = Cary, North Carolina, U.S.

| occupation = Musician, rapper, singer, songwriter

| label = BMG

| genre = Pop, indie pop, alt pop

}}

Abhinav Bastakoti (born December 20, 1999),{{Cite web |last=Das Shrestha |first=Kashish |date=14 July 2020 |title=The rise of Curtis Waters |url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-rise-of-curtis-waters/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Nepali Times |language=en-US}} known by his stage name Curtis Waters, is a Canadian-American musician, rapper, singer and songwriter.{{Cite web|last=Pant|first=Shashwat|date=July 6, 2020|title=In the spotlight: Curtis Waters' Stunnin'|url=https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2020/07/06/in-the-spotlight-curtis-waters-stunnin|url-status=live|access-date=August 10, 2020|website=Kathmandu Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706144939/https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2020/07/06/in-the-spotlight-curtis-waters-stunnin |archive-date=2020-07-06 }}{{Cite news |last=Das Shrestha |first=Kashish |date=July 14, 2020 |title=The rise of Curtis Waters |work=Nepali Times |url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-rise-of-curtis-waters/ |access-date=August 10, 2020}} He is known for his 2020 debut single "Stunnin'".{{Cite magazine|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=June 23, 2020|title=Curtis Waters' 'Stunnin' Is a TikTok Hit -- And a Threat to the Major Label System|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/curtis-waters-stunnin-1018890/|access-date=August 10, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} 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{{Cite web |last=Miao |first=Hannah |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Meet Curtis Waters, the Cary Musician Going Viral on TikTok with "Stunnin'" |url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/926567ee-a04d-11ea-9425-1244d5f7c7c6/ |access-date=August 10, 2020 |website=Indy Week |language=en-us }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Weg |first=Zachary|title=Curtis Waters is the triple-threat rising star to watch this year |url=https://www.altpress.com/curtis-waters-bad-son-interview/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Alternative Press Magazine |date=6 February 2023 |language=en}} As a teenager attending Sir Winston Churchill High School{{Cite web |last=Volmers |first=Eric |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Rising Waters: Calgary-raised pop sensation Curtis Waters returns home |url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/rising-waters-calgary-raised-pop-sensation-curtis-waters-returns-home |access-date=February 24, 2023 |website=Calgary Herald |language=en-CA}} he struggled with depression and used music and graphic design to overcome it.{{Cite web |last=Segalov |first=Michael |date=July 19, 2020 |title=Curtis Waters, TikTok king: 'There are no gatekeepers to the industry anymore' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/19/curtis-waters-is-the-next-big-thing-in-pop-thanks-to-a-music-clip-on-tiktok |access-date=August 10, 2020 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} 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."{{Cite web |last=Fay |first=Seamus |date=July 16, 2020 |title=No One Believed in Curtis Waters, Until Everyone Did |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2020/07/curtis-waters-stunnin-interview |access-date=August 10, 2020 |website=Complex |language=en}} 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 former 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.{{Cite web|last=Wang|first=Steffanee|date=September 23, 2020|title=Curtis Waters On "Stunnin'" & Finding Success Beyond TikTok|url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/curtis-waters-faces-of-fall-interview|access-date=September 24, 2020|website=Nylon}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Damien |date=2023-06-25 |title=Curtis Waters: Bad Son review – genre-busting second album from pop outsider |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/25/curtis-waters-bad-son-review-genre-busting-second-album-from-pop-outsider |access-date=2023-06-27 |issn=0029-7712}}

Artistry

His musical influences include Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Odd Future, Tyler the Creator, and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Discography

= Studio albums =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Album details
scope="row"\| Pity Party \| Released: October 9, 2020 Label: BMG Formats: Digital download, streaming
scope="row"\| Bad Son \| Released: June 23, 2023 Label: Guin Records Formats: Digital download, streaming

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Album details

scope="row"| Pity Party

Released: October 9, 2020
Label: BMG
Formats: Digital download, streaming

scope="row"| Bad Son

Released: June 23, 2023
Label: Guin Records
Formats: Digital download, streaming

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" \|Title ! rowspan="2" \|Year ! colspan="5" \|Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" \|Certifications ! rowspan="2" \|Album
scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" \|CAN {{Cite magazine\|title=Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 29, 2020\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2020-08-29\|access-date=August 27, 2020\|magazine=Billboard}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" \|IRE {{Cite web\|title=Discography Curtis Waters\|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Curtis+Waters\|access-date=August 10, 2020\|website=irish-charts.com}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" \|NZ Hot {{Cite web\|date=June 29, 2020\|title=Hot 40 Singles\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2020-06-26\|url-status=live\|access-date=August 10, 2020\|website=Recorded Music NZ\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628094316/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4878 \|archive-date=2020-06-28 }} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" \|UK {{Cite web\|title=CURTIS WATERS FT HARM FRANKLIN {{!}} full Official Chart History\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/57937/curtis-waters-ft-harm-franklin/\|url-status=live\|access-date=August 10, 2020\|website=Official Charts Company\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425201433/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/57937/curtis-waters-ft-harm-franklin/ \|archive-date=2021-04-25 }} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" \|US Bub. {{Cite magazine\|title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 1, 2020\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles/2020-08-01\|access-date=August 10, 2020\|magazine=Billboard}}
scope="row" \|"Stunnin'" {{small\|(featuring Harm Franklin)}} \| rowspan="4" \|2020 \|36 \|27 \|21 \|69 \|11 \| PMB: Platinum{{Cite certification\|region=Brazil\|artist=Curtis Waters\|access-date=March 30, 2021}} MC: 2× Platinum{{Cite certification\|region=Canada\|artist=Curtis Waters\|access-date=March 1, 2021}} RIAA: Gold{{Cite certification\|region=United States\|artist=Curtis Waters\|access-date=March 1, 2021}} \| rowspan="4" \|Pity Party
scope="row" \|"System"{{Cite web\|title=System - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/system-single/1520056300\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"The Feelings Tend to Stay the Same"{{Cite web\|title=The feelings tend to stay the same - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-feelings-tend-to-stay-the-same-single/1524266519\|accessdate=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"Freckles"{{Cite web\|title=Freckles - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/freckles-single/1527977022\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"Doodoodoo"{{Cite web\|title=Doodoodoo - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/doodoodoo-single/1548257370\|accessdate=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \| rowspan="3"\| 2021 \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \| \| rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}}
scope="row" \|"Conceited"{{Cite web\|title=Conceited - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/conceited-single/1553752813\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"Plastic World"{{Cite web\|title=PLASTIC WORLD - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/plastic-world-single/1570222975\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"Manic Man"{{Cite web\|title=MANIC MAN - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/manic-man-single/1679073625\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \| rowspan="3"\| 2022 \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \| \| rowspan="5"\| Bad Son
scope="row" \|"Star Killer"{{Cite web\|title=Star Killer - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/star-killer-single/1638795149\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"Riot"{{Cite web\|title=RIOT (feat. chlothegod) - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/riot-feat-chlothegod-single/1679073629\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} {{small\|(featuring Chlothegod)}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"Himbo" / "God's Lonely Man"{{Cite web\|title=HIMBO/GOD'S LONELY MAN - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/himbo-gods-lonely-man-single/1673858215\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} \| rowspan="2"\| 2023 \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
scope="row" \|"Death Keeps Calling My Name"{{Cite web\|title=DEATH KEEPS CALLING MY NAME (feat. Shrimp) - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/death-keeps-calling-my-name-feat-shrimp-single/1678892216\|access-date=February 7, 2025\|via=Apple Music}} {{small\|(featuring Shrimp)}} \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \|
colspan="14" style="font-size:90%" \| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! rowspan="2" |Title

! rowspan="2" |Year

! colspan="5" |Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2" |Certifications

! rowspan="2" |Album

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |CAN
{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 29, 2020|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2020-08-29|access-date=August 27, 2020|magazine=Billboard}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |IRE
{{Cite web|title=Discography Curtis Waters|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Curtis+Waters|access-date=August 10, 2020|website=irish-charts.com}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |NZ
Hot
{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2020|title=Hot 40 Singles|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2020-06-26|url-status=live|access-date=August 10, 2020|website=Recorded Music NZ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628094316/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4878 |archive-date=2020-06-28 }}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |UK
{{Cite web|title=CURTIS WATERS FT HARM FRANKLIN {{!}} full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/57937/curtis-waters-ft-harm-franklin/|url-status=live|access-date=August 10, 2020|website=Official Charts Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425201433/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/57937/curtis-waters-ft-harm-franklin/ |archive-date=2021-04-25 }}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US
Bub.
{{Cite magazine|title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 1, 2020|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles/2020-08-01|access-date=August 10, 2020|magazine=Billboard}}

scope="row" |"Stunnin'"
{{small|(featuring Harm Franklin)}}

| rowspan="4" |2020

|36

|27

|21

|69

|11

PMB: Platinum{{Cite certification|region=Brazil|artist=Curtis Waters|access-date=March 30, 2021}}
MC: 2× Platinum{{Cite certification|region=Canada|artist=Curtis Waters|access-date=March 1, 2021}}
RIAA: Gold{{Cite certification|region=United States|artist=Curtis Waters|access-date=March 1, 2021}}

| rowspan="4" |Pity Party

scope="row" |"System"{{Cite web|title=System - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/system-single/1520056300|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

|—

scope="row" |"The Feelings Tend to Stay the Same"{{Cite web|title=The feelings tend to stay the same - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-feelings-tend-to-stay-the-same-single/1524266519|accessdate=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

|—

scope="row" |"Freckles"{{Cite web|title=Freckles - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/freckles-single/1527977022|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

|—

scope="row" |"Doodoodoo"{{Cite web|title=Doodoodoo - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/doodoodoo-single/1548257370|accessdate=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

| rowspan="3"| 2021

|—

| rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}}

scope="row" |"Conceited"{{Cite web|title=Conceited - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/conceited-single/1553752813|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

|—

scope="row" |"Plastic World"{{Cite web|title=PLASTIC WORLD - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/plastic-world-single/1570222975|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

|—

scope="row" |"Manic Man"{{Cite web|title=MANIC MAN - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/manic-man-single/1679073625|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

| rowspan="3"| 2022

|—

| rowspan="5"| Bad Son

scope="row" |"Star Killer"{{Cite web|title=Star Killer - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/star-killer-single/1638795149|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

|—

scope="row" |"Riot"{{Cite web|title=RIOT (feat. chlothegod) - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/riot-feat-chlothegod-single/1679073629|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}
{{small|(featuring Chlothegod)}}

|—

scope="row" |"Himbo" / "God's Lonely Man"{{Cite web|title=HIMBO/GOD'S LONELY MAN - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/himbo-gods-lonely-man-single/1673858215|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}

| rowspan="2"| 2023

|—

scope="row" |"Death Keeps Calling My Name"{{Cite web|title=DEATH KEEPS CALLING MY NAME (feat. Shrimp) - Single by Curtis Waters on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/death-keeps-calling-my-name-feat-shrimp-single/1678892216|access-date=February 7, 2025|via=Apple Music}}
{{small|(featuring Shrimp)}}

|—

colspan="14" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

=Featured singles=

2019: "Food Court Heart Break" (33 Life featuring Curtis Waters and Yung Star Ballout){{Cite web|title=Food Court Heart Break (feat. Curtis Waters & Yung Star Ballout) - Single by 33 Life on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/food-court-heart-break-feat-curtis-waters-yung-star/1481723944|url-status=live|access-date=November 20, 2020|via=Apple Music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818201030/https://music.apple.com/us/album/food-court-heart-break-feat-curtis-waters-yung-star/1481723944 |archive-date=2020-08-18 }}
2020: "Quarantine Party" (Jay2thekim featuring Curtis Waters){{Cite web|title=Quarantine Party (feat. Curtis Waters) - Single by Jay2thekim on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/quarantine-party-single-feat-curtis-waters-single/1508924852|url-status=live|access-date=November 20, 2020|via=Apple Music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818200957/https://music.apple.com/us/album/quarantine-party-single-feat-curtis-waters-single/1508924852 |archive-date=2020-08-18 }}
2020: "Sensual Healing" (Susanne Davis featuring Asher Porter and Curtis Waters){{Cite web|title=Sensual Healing (feat. Asher Porter & Curtis Waters) - Single by Susanne Davis on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sensual-healing-feat-asher-porter-curtis-waters-single/1541169321|access-date=November 20, 2020|via=Apple Music}}
2021: "SugarCrash!" (ElyOtto featuring Kim Petras and Curtis Waters){{Cite web|title=SugarCrash! (feat. Kim Petras & Curtis Waters) - Single by ElyOtto on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sugarcrash-feat-kim-petras-curtis-waters-single/1563978558|url-status=live|access-date=May 8, 2021|via=Apple Music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423123505/https://music.apple.com/us/album/sugarcrash-feat-kim-petras-curtis-waters-single/1563978558 |archive-date=2021-04-23 }}

References

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:Canadian people of Nepalese descent

Category:American people of Nepalese descent

Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States

Category:Nepalese emigrants to Canada

Category:People from Cary, North Carolina

Category:Musicians from Kathmandu

Category:People with bipolar disorder

Category:University of North Carolina at Greensboro alumni

Category:21st-century Canadian male singers

Category:21st-century Canadian singers

Category:Bertelsmann Music Group artists