Outed(S3) OOP35: Craig Watutu - "Champain"

"Officially Outed" Podcast

Craig Watutu is a singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY. He developed a passion for music from an early age. He was classically trained from the age of 7, and after graduating from NYU where he majored in psychology and minored in music business and Africana studies, he decided to pursue a career in music. He describes his music as eclectic R&B and soul with a pop appeal, taking elements from various genres of music. His inspirations come anywhere from jazz music in the 1920s and Motown music in the 1960s, to China’s mando-pop and Ghana’s highlife, to the new era of electro and trap music. He cites Sarah Vaughan, Kim Burrell, Frank Ocean, Brandy, Jazmine Sullivan, Lauryn Hill and Beyonce as some of his biggest influences. After a life-altering event and loss, he went on a spiritual quest to find meaning and healing and it led him further into music. He channeled all his energy into writing and has been perfecting his craft under the guidance of Tony Conniff and Jodi Gray, and it’s his hope to bring back the classic sound of R&B and Soul that connects with people. His lyrics are often introspective, emotional, raw and often deal with topics such as love, heartbreak, loss, substance abuse and mental health, all through the eyes of an Asian in America. Apart from his music endeavors, Craig has always been actively involved in his community. From serving on various boards of student organizations at NYU, to his extensive volunteer experience with World Vision, he’s always firmly believed in giving back to the community. During his time in Ghana, he spearheaded a benefit concert for underprivileged youth, as well as worked as a PA for the biggest talent show in Ghana called Stars of the Future. Just in the past year, he worked as a publicity fellow for Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative, a gay rights organization based in New York, and he started his own accountability group called Accountability Periodt, which seeks to help artists achieve their goals through weekly goal setting and mentorship. Currently he’s the president of Future Executives, an organization that equip young entrepreneurs with tools to achieve their dreams. For more on Craig Watutu, you can go to his website www.craigwatutu.com or find him on IG @craigwatutu. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/officiallyout/message