Curtis Waters
Canadian-American musician (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abhinav Bastakoti (born December 20, 1999),[1] known by his stage name Curtis Waters, is a Canadian-American musician, rapper, singer and songwriter.[2][3] He is known for his 2020 debut single "Stunnin'".[4] He is the first Nepal-born musician to attain international success.[3]
December 20, 1999
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.[3][5] At the age of 14, Bastakoti returned to Nepal for three months to receive his Bratabanda, a Hindu coming of age ceremony.[3] Around this time he downloaded FL Studio onto his laptop and started making beats.[2] Posting them online in 2017 as Frank Waters, before changing it to Curtis Waters, a homage to his two favourite artists Joy Division’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.[7] In 2017, he moved to Cary, North Carolina, as a result of his parents' educational pursuits.[8] He then enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.[9]
Career
In April 2020, Waters posted a 15-second snippet of his pop rap song, "Stunnin'" which went viral on TikTok.[10][8] 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.[3] By July 2020, "Stunnin'" had been streamed over 35 million times on Spotify.[8]
Waters was approached by numerous labels.[10][3] He decided to stay independent, but did sign a licensing deal with BMG.[10][8][3] He also signed a management deal with Chris Anokute.[3][9]
In June 2020, Rolling Stone magazine ran an article about Waters.[10][4] In July 2020, "Stunnin'" was used in a Mercedes-Benz commercial.[10]
Water's second single was "System."[10] He recorded his debut album, Pity Party, in his dorm at UNC Greensboro.[3] The album was commercially released in October 2020.[11][9] 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."[11] On June 23, 2023, he released his sophomore album, Bad Son.[12]
Artistry
His musical influences include Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Odd Future, Tyler the Creator, and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis.[citation needed]
Personal life
Bastakoti lives in Los Angeles, California.[7] 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]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Pity Party |
|
| Bad Son |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [13] |
IRE [14] |
NZ Hot [15] |
UK [16] |
US Bub. [17] | ||||
| "Stunnin'" (featuring Harm Franklin) |
2020 | 36 | 27 | 21 | 69 | 11 | Pity Party | |
| "System"[10] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "The Feelings Tend to Stay the Same"[21] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Freckles"[22] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Doodoodoo"[23] | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Conceited"[24] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Plastic World"[25] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Manic Man"[26] | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | Bad Son | |
| "Star Killer"[27] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Riot"[28] (featuring Chlothegod) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Himbo" / "God's Lonely Man"[29] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Death Keeps Calling My Name"[30] (featuring Shrimp) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" 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)[31]
- 2020: "Quarantine Party" (Jay2thekim featuring Curtis Waters)[32]
- 2020: "Sensual Healing" (Susanne Davis featuring Asher Porter and Curtis Waters)[33]
- 2021: "SugarCrash!" (ElyOtto featuring Kim Petras and Curtis Waters)