Chris Waters
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Chris Waters

Denver, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2018 | SELF | AFTRA

Denver, Colorado, United States | SELF | AFTRA
Established on Jan, 2018
Solo Pop Hip Hop

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"Chris Waters Unveils New Single "Rise""

Time for some catchy pop music! L.A.-based singer-songwriter and actor Chris Waters has just unveiled his brand new single Rise, the title track of his upcoming debut EP, out today June 8th! This is a song about not giving up, an anthem for those that don't let life beat them up, and decide to rise and keep on going. Musically it's a pop/dance track with a catchy beat, being the drop/bass-line my favourite part. If you're into acts such Owl City, The Chainsmokers, etc, then you will enjoy this track. Stream Rise below!

Speaking about the song Chris said,
Let's face it... we all get knocked on our asses at some point during our lives. The question is.... what are you going to do about it ? It's definitely a song that I think a lot of people can relate to. In the verses, we painted a picture of some common issues most of us deal with, while the chorus is basically saying "I've been there too, and it's all good. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going/ keep fighting.

Rise was produced by Mike Geier at The Hidden Studio in Canyon Lake, CA, and is the title track of his 5-track EP out today. EP includes a dance cover of the Simple Minds' hit single Don't You (Forget About Me), and another favourite song of mine is Feel Something, the smoothest of the entire EP. Check it out below! - Caesar Live N Loud


"Not Everything Is "As It Seems" with Chris Waters"

LA-based singer and actor, Chris Waters released a new song titled ‘As It Seems’ at the end of October which marked a significant milestone in his journey so far. This single was his first original release in over a year (as opposed to covers) and also the first time he has rapped on a track.

‘As It Seems’ goes back and forth between melodic choruses and “angry raps” which show off Waters’ dynamic range. The content of his lyrics covers topics such as a having a dual identity on social media and the paltry income gained from music these days. How he frames his thought and structures it in the track almost verges on spoken word poetry, but it lends to a very honest dialogue about what many people are facing right now.

As the social media and music landscape continue to grow and shift, songs like ‘As It Seems’ serves as an important marker for where we are at in this period of time. Chris Waters has very evidently been deliberating on these topics at length and they come across very powerfully in this latest single. - Music Crowns


"Chris Waters Puts an Acoustic Spin on Post Malone's "Feeling Whitney""

Chris strips back ‘Feeling Whitney’ with soulful vocals and a beautiful piano melody, thanks to Melissa Peiris and first class production by Huca Bera.

Chris and Melissa manage to make their take on it as magical as the original. You can get it from most digital stores via this link.

Chris is a pop & hip-hop singer/songwriter and rapper from Wisconsin, USA; his six track debut EP ‘Rise’ hit virtual shelves and streaming sites in June 2018.

Melissa Peiris is a pianist & producer from Melbourne, Australia and her interest in music began at the tender age of 4 when she first started playing the piano. - Music Crowns


"Single Review: Chris Waters "Blurry""

In his latest single and music video, indie powerhouse Chris Waters breaks down the nightmare of a year that has been 2020 thus far with a cutting lyricism I would rank among the sharpest in an increasingly insular Austin scene this fall. Titled “Blurry,” this track blends the beats and fluidity of trap with an abrasive strain of alternative rock that isn’t shy about penetrating the harmony with smart melodicism every now and again, but don’t write it off as just another hybrid. Waters puts too much heart into his lyrics here, and moreover, too much soul into his performance for his work in this release to be regarded as anything less than personal.

Beyond the lyricism in “Blurry,” the rhythm of the music is anxious from the get-go and easily one of the more powerful influencers of the mood. The percussion and the keys collide into one another to create a bit of discordance on the backend while Waters’ vocal ties everything together up front, but the duality of the narrative isn’t restricted to the presentation of cosmetics alone.

Through both his explanation of the year as he’s experienced and the tonal expressiveness he affords every word he raps and sings, this artist creates an environment of emotionality that is essentially inescapable when we listen to his new song.

A thoroughly stimulating single and music video, Chris Waters’ diehard fans – as well as newcomers to his sound in general – are going to like what they hear in “Blurry” this October. There’s still a couple of months left in 2020, but when all is said and done, I think this track conveys just how pleased most of us will be to put this year behind us and look forward to a new chapter in history (and the soundtrack independent players like Waters are forging for it).

Loren Sperry - Music Existence


""Blurry" by Chris Waters"

A lot of rappers have been putting more focus on speed and a nimble instrumental arrangement than they have the substance of their storytelling, but this isn’t the case with Chris Waters, an Austin-based hip-hop singer/songwriter who has been taking his scene by storm in the last few years. His latest single, “Blurry,” and its companion video take the dark clouds of 2020 and compress them into a pop-friendly rap number that relies more on tonality than it does tempo to send chills across the audience, and to some (including me), it feels like the breakout Waters has been working towards for a while now.

Right around the two and a half minute mark in “Blurry,” a crushing band of instrumental noise smacks us in the face with as much of a sonic wallop as an artist can muster from within the recording studio, but even as this feels like the fever pitch in the track, it ultimately gives way to the most cathartic set of verses we’ll hear from Waters on the other side of the beat.

We’re on the edge of our seats from beginning to end amidst his performance not through synthetic tricks but via poetic lashings and a musical moxie uncommon on the FM dial, regardless of the genre we’re talking about.

“Blurry” drifts away into the fog much as most of us wish 2020 would, but when it’s all over, its message isn’t lost on us within minutes of the track coming to a conclusion. This might be the most intimate track we’ve collectively seen and heard from Chris Waters since his arrival on the scene back in the early 2010s, but if there’s anything that it doesn’t indicate about the future of its creator, it’s a sense of the inspiration – and the creativity – hitting its peak anytime soon.

Mindy McCall - Indie Pulse Music


"Chris Waters "Blurry""

We’ve all seen the images: police brutality, civil unrest, politicians acting the fool, and the streets of the cities evacuated as a precaution against the global pandemic. Life in 2020 has been graphic and unsettling, but at least we’ve all gone through our trials together. With everyone confined at home during quarantine, the bad news has become inescapable. Chances are, everything has gone more than a little blurry for you.

Enter Chris Waters – an artist with a gift. He’s a clarifier, a sense-maker, a believer in meaning in a time of bewilderment. Having just moved to Austin, Texas and found himself on lockdown, the singer/songwriter and rapper has struggled with the same fears for the future of the nation (and civilization) that we’ve all had. But he’s chosen to cling to reason, and he’s determined to keep his footing no matter how treacherous things get. “Blurry,” his ferocious new single, is a heartfelt, moving, incisive, and often vulnerable account of life during quarantine, and a close examination of the destabilized psychological state we’ve all grown accustomed to. It’s hard to imagine a smarter, tougher, more fitting soundtrack for the global crisis.

Waters’s fans have come to count on him for exactly this kind of frankness, and boldness, and willingness to keep the flame of hope burning, no matter how desperate the hour. On “Blurry,” Waters keeps the rhymes tight and succinct, the mood intense and focused, and the beats fierce. By the end of the song, “Blurry” slides into hallucination: the relentless slowed-down vocal sample is a sonic testament to the pressure we’re all feeling, and the thunderous drum beats are blows against the walls of the rooms in which we’ve been confined. Nevertheless, Waters never loses his balance. He doesn’t promise a miracle. Instead, he pledges perseverance, and thoughtfulness, and self-reflection. This may be the sanest man in show business – a much-needed counterweight during a period of lunacy.

In the “Blurry” clip, Chris Waters confronts the madness of 2020 head-on. World-famous images pulled from the news, some of them only weeks old, but already part of media history, play on a rippling sheet in a dark room. He is alone with them, and they threaten to absorb him and pull him into their dark logic. But he’s got the will to fight back – and the stamina to stay on his feet. By the end of the video, there’s reason for hope. From the moment he begins to rhyme, we know it: his battle is our battle. - The Hype Magazine


"Keeping It Real with Rapper Chris Waters"

Austin, Texas singer-songwriter and rapper Chris Waters recently unveiled the music video for “Blurry,” a song about the impact of the last seven months, the surreal feeling of living through a nightmarish world transformed by the pandemic, social unrest, and the never-ending series of talking heads on television.
Despite the sensation of wading through the mist of ongoing circumstances, Chris is maintaining his balance by releasing his thoughts and emotions via his music, serving as both catharsis and anchor.
Written while being locked-down like the rest of the world, “Blurry” probes the hallucinatory atmosphere pervading present reality — the anxiety, fear, and unsettling mental status most people are experiencing as what was taken for granted appears to be changing irrevocably.
“Blurry” rides a brawny trap beat capped by sparkling piano tones reflecting echoes of trembling tension, while Chris’ cool rapping flow infuses the lyrics with tight energy vaguely reminiscent of Eminem. Smooth melodic sections infuse the tune with smooth, delicate savors, and then return to the galvanizing almost reckless momentum.
“Say goodbye to the 2020 vision / Things are blurry now and I’m sitting in this prison… / I’m wondering why I’ve been put in this position / Someone check my pulse / I’m not in the best condition.”
Medium caught up with Chris Waters to find out how he got started in music, how his sound comes together, and where his head is at right now.

How did you get started in music? What’s the backstory there?
I always loved music and used to sing and rap all the time but never really took it seriously. It was more for fun. As I got older, I started to take it a little more seriously. I started by hopping in a real studio and singing a few covers. First one I did was “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia. Next one I did was “Truce” by Twenty One Pilots.
What singers/musicians influenced you the most?
I’m influenced by U2, Coldplay, NWA, Eminem, Angels and Airwaves, Owl City, and Jon Bellion. Jon Bellion is a huge influence because if it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I’d be rapping on tracks.
Is your sound evolving? If so, in which direction? Toward R&B, trap, or some other direction?
I try not to think too much about that. Sometimes I just start working on something and it just happens. I like emotional music that makes the listener feel something. I strive for that, so it’s less about a specific sound type or genre type. I am also open to experimenting and trying new things, so I try not to limit my sound to a specific type or genre.
Hip-hop is by far the most popular music genre in the world. How do you keep your sound fresh and avoid coming across as derivative?
Just by being myself and keeping it real to myself and my experiences. If I do that, I can’t go wrong.

Chris Waters
What is your songwriting process? Do the rhymes come first, or the music?
Usually, I will have an idea or a concept first. Then I start working with a producer on the music … It’s easier for me to write to a piece of music. A lot of times, the music will organically bring about a melody/chorus etc. and I start writing from there.
Why do you make music?
It’s for the love of the game. I’m passionate about it. I love it. It will be around even after I’m gone. And people in countries all over the world are listening, which is really cool. They spent 3–4 minutes with me, and I may have improved their day in some way.
What was the inspiration for your new single/music video “Blurry?
I had just moved to Austin, TX and was on lockdown/quarantine. I was incredibly frustrated and fairly bored. I just wrote about what I was going through. Overall, it also was just about what a crazy year 2020 had been for all of us, so the video just added images of how messed up this year has been. I think everyone out there can relate to it in some way or another.
What do you want people to take away from the video?
To me, it’s capturing a moment in time. You can look back at this video years from now as a reminder of 2020 and how crazy this time has been for all of us. I am hoping that folks grow/learn something in some way from the challenges that this year has thrown at all of us.

Chris Waters — ‘Blurry’
Where was the video shot and who directed it?
We shot it at Renegade Studios in Taylor, TX and it was directed by Phillip Guzman.
How are you handling the coronavirus situation?
I know things will get better, so I am holding on to that. I have just been exercising every day, hanging out with my dog, and always trying to work on some new music.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Chris Waters?
I just want to keep putting out high quality music. I am focusing on releasing singles at this time, but eventually I will look at putting out a new EP or maybe even an album. I am also interested in DJing as well, and I also want to explore performing live. I have mainly just been more in the studio, but as I am now in Austin, I definitely want to explore performing live and also maybe DJing at a venue or two here once things get back to normal. We shall see! - Medium.com


"Chris Waters "Blurry""

Having just moved to Austin, Texas. where he found himself in lockdown, it’s understandable that singer/songwriter and rapper Chris Waters struggled with his fears for the future of the US and the world. However, he decided rather than to sink into depression, to use his gift of music, with his new single, ‘Blurry’ a heartfelt, moving, and quite vulnerable view on life in quarantine.
And that’s an accurate description of what life has been like; with the images on every screen of police brutality, civil unrest, politicians spouting nonsense, and the empty city streets in order to stem the tide of the pandemic. It’s been a wacky old year, this 2020, but to an extent we all have shaered experiences, and quite frankly, some of it’s been a little blurry.

Fans of Chris Waters will know to expect from him frankness, and boldness, in the face of mounting desperation. ‘Blurry’ sees him keep his rhymes tight and his mood intense, while the beats are characteristically fierce. Water never loses his balance in the track, even though the end is a virtual hallucination, with a slowed down vocal sample testifying to what pressure we’ve all come to appreciate as the new normal. Drum beats thunder blows against the walls of the rooms in which we’ve now been confined – Waters promises no miracle cure, but instead he suggests we should all persevere, stick at it, be thoughtful, and reflect.

The video for ‘Blurry’ sees Chris facing 2020 head on. Images which have so quickly become familiar to us, and which are already part of the history of this year, play out on a rippling sheet in a dark room. Waters is alone in the room, the images threatening to suck him in with their dark logic. He however has the will to fight back, and the strength to carry on. At the end, we realise his battle is our battle – and when he has reason for hope, so do we also.

Watch the video for Chris Waters song, ‘Blurry’, below. Find out more about Chris Waters and his music online on his Facebook page. - Essentially Pop


"Chris Waters releases "Blurry""

Despite almost nothing else going right in the world, 2020 has been a remarkably good year for the American hip-hop community and particularly its growing alternative underground. Out of the Austin scene, which had previously struggled to put anything on the map in terms of rap, artists like Chris Waters are gaining a lot of traction at home and abroad thanks to a talent that often fuses elements of multiple genres into a singular, hip-hop focused format accessible to millennials as much as it is old generations of rap fans. Waters’ new single “Blurry” is the latest in a string of underground hits for his brand, and I had the pleasure of taking a peek at it just this week.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswaters_actor_singer/?hl=en&fbclid=IwAR0MPAff-P8WPbGqvWksTtXUPSeNZ4fNgoVuOduKH1E0nYjdsZOFsstlBfM

We get a lot of rapping but also a little bit of singing from the leading man in this track, and both means of linguistic communication do a lot to advance the emotionality behind the narrative here without question. The transition from the main verses into the chorus is nearly flawless, and if it’s at all indicative of the stage presence Waters has when he performs live, his would be a show I definitely want to check out the next time he’s gigging near me.

The integration of the bassline and the percussion in this single is absolutely seamless, and for me personally, I don’t think there’s anything worse than rigidity in an otherwise smooth, melodic hip-hop release. You don’t have to have been listening to Chris Waters for years to pick up on the experience he’s bringing to the table in this recording, and I would even argue that he sounds a lot more mature in his construction of the lyricism than some of the bigger name acts he’s contending with down in Texas right now.



While the music video for “Blurry” has a strong pop varnish that might be a little off-putting to the more puritanical among us, its substance is definitely sharp and relentlessly affective in a manner that is as far away from disingenuous as it gets in my book. I don’t think we need to have a completely DIY experience here to understand where Waters’ heart is at – truthfully, I don’t think you really need to listen that closely to pick up on how much time and attention was clearly put into the creation of this most recent studio offering. That’s more than I can say for a lot of the mainstream rap out this October, to put it quite mildly.

I hadn’t been following Chris Waters as closely as some of the other critics who keep up with Austin do in the last few years, but now that I’ve gotten a better look at his abilities through the release of “Blurry” in 2020, I’m going to be looking out for more of his work in the future. He’s still got a bit of creativity that he isn’t tapping into as much as I’d like him to, but for the time being, this is a great look that should bring him a lot more exposure on both ends of the spectrum.

John McCall - Too Much Love Magazine


"Chris Waters "Blurry""

Blurry has a crisp sound to it that puts ample highlighting to Chris Waters’ inimitable rap style. A beautiful set of keys allows the track to pick up pop fans, while the song’s hook provide the counterpoint for the punchier rap flow that comprises Blurry’s main body. Fans of Owl City and Tom McDonald will be able to sink their teeth easily into this cut. The production of the track takes a left turn in the final minute, adding up some seriously tempestuous arrangements. The ecliptic blend of drums and distorted synths in the final sixty seconds provides an emphatic exclamation to this composition. - Neu Futur Magazine


"Chris Waters "Blurry""

If you want something different to start your new week then check this new release called ‘Blurry’ from Chris Waters. He wrote this song during quarantine and trust me, his writing style can’t be beaten at all, it’s one of the best. His flows and beats are impressive and the production style is perfect. Chris’s vocals are confident and he really knows how to catch your ears. Play the song and enjoy it!


–You can find Chris Waters on– :

Facebook: Click
Instagram: Click
Twitter: Click
Youtube: Click
Soundcloud: Click - Yellow and Black Music


"Chris Waters Releases New Music Video for "Blurry""

We’ve all seen the images: police brutality, civil unrest, politicians acting the fool, and the streets of the cities evacuated as a precaution against the global pandemic. Life in 2020 has been graphic and unsettling, but at least we’ve all gone through our trials together. With everyone confined at home during quarantine, the bad news has become inescapable. Chances are, everything has gone more than a little blurry for you.

Enter Chris Waters – an artist with a gift. He’s a clarifier, a sense-maker, a believer in meaning in a time of bewilderment. Having just moved to Austin, Texas and found himself on lockdown, the singer/songwriter and rapper has struggled with the same fears for the future of the nation (and civilization) that we’ve all had. But he’s chosen to cling to reason, and he’s determined to keep his footing no matter how treacherous things get. “Blurry,” his ferocious new single, is a heartfelt, moving, incisive, and often vulnerable account of life during quarantine, and a close examination of the destabilized psychological state we’ve all grown accustomed to. It’s hard to imagine a smarter, tougher, more fitting soundtrack for the global crisis.

Waters’s fans have come to count on him for exactly this kind of frankness, and boldness, and willingness to keep the flame of hope burning, no matter how desperate the hour. On “Blurry,” Waters keeps the rhymes tight and succinct, the mood intense and focused, and the beats fierce. By the end of the song, “Blurry” slides into hallucination: the relentless slowed-down vocal sample is a sonic testament to the pressure we’re all feeling, and the thunderous drum beats are blows against the walls of the rooms in which we’ve been confined. Nevertheless, Waters never loses his balance. He doesn’t promise a miracle. Instead, he pledges perseverance, and thoughtfulness, and self-reflection. This may be the sanest man in show business – a much-needed counterweight during a period of lunacy.

In the “Blurry” clip, Chris Waters confronts the madness of 2020 head-on. World-famous images pulled from the news, some of them only weeks old, but already part of media history, play on a rippling sheet in a dark room. He is alone with them, and they threaten to absorb him and pull him into their dark logic. But he’s got the will to fight back – and the stamina to stay on his feet. By the end of the video, there’s reason for hope. From the moment he begins to rhyme, we know it: his battle is our battle. - Vents Magazine


"Chris Waters Releases "Blurry""

A pandemic-created isolation. Controversy stemming from corruption in politics. Legends meeting an untimely end. Villains elevated to superstardom. This is 2020, but more specifically, these are the visuals that comprise the new music video for “Blurry,” the latest single from rapper-singer-songwriter Chris Waters currently out everywhere top-shelf indie hip-hop is sold and streamed. Waters doesn’t want to waste our time with halfhearted messages about getting out the vote in this track, nor does he want to pretend like nothing is wrong with the current state of our society. Here, he’s venting, cutting loose, and getting back to the roots of what hip-hop is supposed to sound like at its most unrestrained.

The master mix here is pretty raw and edgy, but in all honesty I think that it needs to be for us to appreciate the depth of Waters’ songcraft as it relates to the narrative in this song. He has nothing to hide here, nor does he ever come off as an artist who has any concern for the popular trends of a generation frequently cited as the most self-serving and intellectually polarizing in centuries. He’s attacking the verse and snapping back to give us as melodic a hook as he can, scarcely leaving any unutilized space for us to draw implied pessimism from.

In the competitive Austin, Texas scene he has chosen to call home as a professional musician, Chris Waters is absolutely a man who stands out in the crowd, and tracks like “Blurry” are the reason why. It’s difficult to make a statement single like this one in 2020 and not sound as though you’re trying to follow the ‘revolution’ narrative in some way, shape or form, but it’s made more than clear to us through Waters’ direct action in the performance he gives here that inauthenticity is the last thing he wants to incorporate into his artistry.
Zachary Rush - Indie Music Reviews


"Chris Waters- Ones and Zeros"

“The already known Chris Waters rise up the standards in Hip-Hop production with his mind-blowing "Ones and Zeros"! Find out lyrics of deep meaning about how technology has invaded and distorted our lives, artistic rhymes and the switching between two different vocal styles. Don't skip this bomb!”

-Nagamag.com
twitter.com/ChrisWaters2011
www.instagram.com/chriswaters_actor_singer/

Chris Waters is a singer/songwriter/rapper and DJ originally from Milwaukee, WI and now living in Austin, TX. Chris started by recording a few covers, and more recently started writing and creating original music. His debut EP "Rise" was released on June 8, 2018. He followed that up w a cover of When in Rome's "The Promise" in Sept 2019. He then released 2 new original rap/hip hop/ pop tracks- "As It Seems" on Nov 1st, 2019 and "Chutes and Ladders" on Jan 17th, 2020. His music could be decribed as "electro-pop with soul and a little urban influence." His latest release "Blurry" was released on June 5th, 2020 and addressed the global pandemic and quarantine situation that has slowed us all down. "Blurry" quickly became his biggest song to date. His DJ mixes on Soundcloud have also been very well received by listeners in many countries all over the globe. - Nagamag


"Chris Waters- "Ones and Zeros""

Enter the Matrix! Austin, TX based singer/songwriter/rapper/DJ Chris Waters latest single “Ones and Zeroes” takes the red pill and gives a conscious look at how disconnected people are from each other than ever before. The old school hip-hop single features a futuristic sound with insightful lyrics that reflects on the life we’re missing buried behind all of our screens.

Since his debut EP Rise in 2018, Chris has been creating music that’s described as "electro-pop with soul and a little urban influence". He conquered his drinking addiction and now uses all of his energy to combat the norm by fusing together hip-hop with pop and electronic styles. Expect to see Chris around for many years to come questioning the status quo and dropping gems. - Music Metaphor.com


"Chris Waters Serenades with Dreamy Tierra Whack Cover of ‘Dolly’"

Austin, Texas based rapper, DJ, and singer-songwriter Chris Waters is back with a new cover of “Dolly” originally by Tierra Whack, which acts as a slower acoustic ballad with some ethereal harmonies and synthesizers that give it a nice pop music twist.

“I had never heard of Tierra Whack- but when I heard ‘Dolly’ I felt an instant connection to it. It’s a beautiful/ touching track. So sometimes when I’m really feeling a track…. I hop in the booth and cover it. It’s as simple as that. I really love this track, but all credit to Tierra Whack for the original”.

This is a pretty faithful cover in terms of song structure, but the feel is very divergent from the original in that its sense of introspection is vast and expansive. Its dreamier and easier to get lost inside of, and the way that Waters works in a version of the popular mumble rap style works well with the laid back oceanside vibes that it gives off – and that’s not to say that the lyrics aren’t full of breath or crisply executed and because they absolutely are.

Overall, there’s a sense of endearment coming through each note that almost feels nonchalant, but it slowly draws you in and holds you tightly. It’s a comforting song that beautifully captures the interpersonal connection of the original while expanding its reach and love to fill an ocean.

Dolly is available on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. A music visualizer for the track is also available on YouTube. Also find it on the Alchemical Records Multigenre Mixture playlist on Spotify and YouTube. - Alchemical Records


"Chris Waters shares a new single “Wait For You”"

Denver-based artist Chris Waters presents a new single called “Wait For You,” a love song that grabs you immediately. The production brings a modern sound to this record with great instrumentation, that makes the music feel golden in a real way, as he’s able to give his talent to the world.

Chris Waters‘s “Wait For You” is amazing music that is ready for the world to enjoy in every way. In every facet of music, this record is stellar in every way. From the impressive vocal and the production that sets the stage perfectly, the things to enjoy about this record are truly endless.

Stream “Wait For You” by Chris Waters - Landon Buforfd.com


"New Music Friday- Chris Waters "Road to Damascus" video Premiere"

VENTS Magazine is proud to host the music video premiere for Chris Waters “Road to Damascus”!

Midway through the harrowing clip for “Road to Damascus” by Chris Waters, we’re shown a kid shattering a classroom window with the back of his skateboard. He’s running for his life, fleeing from a school that has become a death trap. The impending violence is only the second most frightening thing about the shot. The scariest part of the video is the strangely impassive look on the child’s face. There’s been so much gun violence in the USA and within our educational system that no one is surprised anymore when it happens — not even the victims. Somehow the unimaginable has become commonplace.

But Chris Waters still believes there’s hope for us. The rapper/singer/songwriter is outraged, but he’s not ready to give up. America is reeling from the epidemic of school shootings and mass shootings. Believe it or not, there have been 67 mass shootings already this year in 2023. The most recent being just last week at Michigan State University. Our leaders are either powerless or unwilling to act. Thoughts and prayers will never be enough. But minds can change, and persuasion is still a possibility, and Waters is turning all the rhetorical force he can muster toward that end. His rhymes on “Road to Damascus” are articulate, fiery, and blunt; there’s not a word wasted or a momentary digression. He raps like a man who knows we’re running out of time.

This sort of urgency and commitment to communication isn’t a new thing for Waters. Though his songs are always entertaining, they’re not merely made for the party. He’s motivated by his desire to raise consciousness and restore our collective humanity through music. “Blurry,” his 2020 single, took the pandemic head on and made the rapper’s empathy for the campaigns of social-justice protesters manifest. His 2018 debut single, “Rise,” was a statement of absolute determination and a testament to lessons learned. “Road to Damascus” is just the latest (and fiercest) of his broadsides — a much-needed topical song that matches stinging words to muscular guitar and a huge, relentless, irresistible beat provided by producer Lang Freeman.

Watch the “Road to Damascus” video on YouTube HERE!


Philip Guzman’s video for “Road to Damascus” is just as uncompromising as the song’s lyrics. We’re shown the uncomfortable facts, including an infographic of school shootings across the country that lights up the map with a constellation of flashpoints. Footage pulled from the news and shot inside classrooms makes the crisis palpable to even the hardest-hearted among us. With every frame and every sequence, Waters asks: is this really the nation we want to be? Are we really so callous that we’re willing to do this to our children? Will we ever intervene? Waters is also encouraging folks to share the video with anyone who needs to see it, including government representatives. - Vents Magazine


Discography

Singles:

"Blue to Purple"- (2023) 
"Road to Damascus"- (2023) 
"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" -(2022)
"Ones and Zeros"- (2022)
"Dolly"- (2022)
"Wait For You"- (2022)

"80's Films"- (2021) 

 "Blurry"- (2020)
 "Feeling Whitney"- (2020)
 "Chutes and Ladders"- (2020)
 "As It Seems"- (2019)
 "The Promise"- (2019)
 "People Crying Every Night"- (2017)
 "Truce"- (2016)


RISE- EP (2018) 

1) "Intro" 
2) "Another Try"
3) "Deleted Scenes"
4)" Don't You (Forget About Me)"
5) "Feel Something"
6) "Rise "



Photos

Bio

Chris Waters is a singer /songwriter/ rapper/ and DJ from Milwaukee, WI and now living in Denver, CO. His debut was an EP called "Rise," released in June 2018. The EP established him as a solid electro-pop artist, but since then he's been changing lanes through combining hip-hop/rap, pop, and electronic elements in most of his songs. He also has received attention for some acoustic covers... his Post Malone cover of "Feeling Whitney" has amassed a quarter million views on Youtube. His single "Blurry" released in 2020 touched on the pandemic, and quickly became his biggest single to date, having been streamed over 500,000 times across various platforms. His DJ mixes on Soundcloud have also been well received by listeners in many countries all over the globe.

 "I would describe myself as a reformed partier.... lol. I grew up in Wisconsin and started drinking at a very young age. I kept that going for a long time, but eventually it just wasn't working for me anymore. I decided to stop drinking in March of 2016, and I haven't looked back since. I still have that addictive "thing" going on, but now I'm more addicted to exercise and making music and DJing. It's been a long journey, but my love of music is only growing as I get older.... so I plan on being around for awhile and I see no end in sight."
 

Influences? Jon Bellion, Owl City, Eminem, Coldplay, Twenty One Pilots"

Band Members