Prescription Songwriter Anthony Watts Claims His Own Artistry with Debut Single "wave" [PREMIERE]
Anthony Watts is no stranger to the prismatic world of music. The Prescription songwriter, hailing from Skokie, Illinois, put in his dues behind the scenes to start. Whether it be producing for rising star Saba, singing backup vocals on ASAP Rocky's album, or writing for KPOP, pop, and R&B artists, Watts initially honed in his craft as a supporting agent, helping artists realize their vision.
Yet often for creatives, this supportive artistic role leaves one wanting more. Though not unheard of, until now the classic “Carol King" type story of dedicated songwriters paving their own artistic path was somewhat rare, but as modern creatives like Julia Michaels, Sia, Delacey, etc. continue to gain more traction in the public eye through their own artistry, this Brill Building-esque dream is becoming a more common reality for a whole new generation of creatives who want both.
For Anthony Watts, this dream comes into fruition today, with the release of his debut single "wave." Inspired by a piece of advice offered to him by childhood idol and R&B legend Usher, "Be prepared for every moment," Watts decided to seize this moment, following a calling that had tugged on his soul since childhood.
Accompanied by a lush visual companion featuring Watts strumming a mint green electric guitar on an overcast beach, Watts sings of falling in love unexpectedly, using the principle metaphor of a "wave” to describe the phenomenon. Riffing smoothly over arpeggiated chords, Watts honeyed vocals ebb and flow with ease, allowing for euphoric listening experience. Building off the R&B-pop facing style, Watts ups the anti toward the middle of track, allowing for a chorus of tightly knit harmonies to embellish the melody. An almost spiritual moment, Watts ushers his listeners into his own sonic representation of falling in love. In his own words,
“I wrote this song after I fell hard for someone when I least expected it. I had commitment issues because of a past failed relationship and I kept my guard up ever since, avoiding anything serious in terms of dating. Then this person came around and immediately knocked down those walls I had put up without even trying, as the connection between was very real and genuine. I wrote this song right after one of our dates early on, it all just flowed out of me and the song was done in less than an hour."
Check out the video for "wave" below and be on the lookout for more Anthony Watts in the near future.
