Today we’d like to introduce you to NATHAN WATERS
Hi NATHAN, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Nathan Waters is a multifaceted creative artist from South Central, Los Angeles who specializes in musicianship, photography, and fashion. Since a child, “AQUAS” has had a knack for creative expression whether loving voiceover acting in anime, looking at 2D-3D designs, screenwriting, or even graffiti art through the streets of South Central. Waters grew up in a home full of struggling love addicts that had a very difficult time knowing how to consistently express their love. From witnessing family incarceration, family court battles, mental health disorders, gang affiliation, Nathan finds his way healing from those childhood experiences through his artistic endeavors.
As a child, Waters grew up with a single father amidst a mother struggling with systematic oppression as a black woman in the very cruel world we know to be. He states that as a kid, he felt so much frustration as to why his mother wasn’t there but as life progresses, he understands how we as a society can have a hard time adjusting to the “norms” of a world that does’t feel normal at all.
Nathan stated that, “This world creates a one-size fits all box for us instead of allowing space for your own box size. We shrink ourselves so that we are to be validated by other standards which disregards our inner standards. How fun is that ?”
Given the fact that Nathan has family traumas, he recognizes the infinite amount of love that was around him despite not having it all. “I grew up with so many beautiful loved ones who were so smart. Maybe they didn’t have guidance or exposure which we all need, but that doesn’t define them as an individual who still wants more for themselves.”
Going to Foshay Learning Center, he learned how to make beats in a school program called “Young Producers Group” that educated the youth about Ableton Live which is the software Waters uses to creatively express his pain and passion from life’s journey.
Leaving Los Angeles to pursue higher education at Chico State helped shaped his own alternative, electric, psychedelic funk style that we hear today.
“Growing up in LA is fun, but there’s so much for us to see and leaving home helped me find a voice for what I wanted to express out in the world. Going to frat parties and listening to house music changed so much. I grew up on G-Funk, Oldies, and R&B so integrating those sounds with EDM gave me a sort of Multiverse experience.”
Waters has been going…that has motivated him to deeply look in the mirror despite the good personality traits.
“Learning to adapt amongst family now that you are a different person than what you were in High School can be very difficult for certain family members. I was learning many things about myself while dealing with unrealistic expectations from family while dealing with the 5 stages of grief. Wasn’t easy but that pain is what allowed me to lean more into music, art itself really.”
This is exactly why Waters constantly emphasizes the importance of finding your rhythm.
“BE YOURSELF” Waters says because what else is there to be…
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As mentioned above, the road has not been busy and I personally would not want my life to be any other way because going through storms shapes up to be strong similar to the beautiful mountains and rocks we see on earth today.
Nathan says “One of the most difficult but accepted challenges was hearing how the people around me experienced me versus what I perceive myself to be in my own head. I feel many of us are very de-lu lu or delusional I should say. Knowing how to experience yourself outside yourself is a skill that very few obtain but that skill is very important.”
“To never be full of myself” Nathan included. Being in a relationship and learning more about love reflects so much of what we saw as children growing up which he did not know correlated. Such a humbling experience for him but that’s the thing about life, when you’re always a student of the game, you can never lose.
“Making mistakes, repenting is not for the weak but what else am I to do? Be a sack of sh*t? Incorrect, I truly do my best to look DEEPLY in the mirror because that also always sets boundaries amongst others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m currently working on my debut album “BE YOURSELF” which should most definitely drop very soon actually. I am excited by this because I had to do some deep cleaning inside to find a way to even feel comfortable to put myself out there in the world which can be very scary. I had to literally tell myself – WE ALL START SOMEWHERE.”
Waters has been finding ways to depict an original sound while finding relatable topics that his kid self would enjoy listening to. He said, “I don’t think my kid self would like it but maybe that’s just my insecurity of my adult self speaking foolishly. Although life at 25 right now has areas where it’s on fire, there is still so much to be thankful for. I’m alive, have loved ones around me, universe behind me, and I’m looking in the mirror. We will get to where we want, just BE YOURSELF and keep going.”
Nathan is currently in the mixing and mastering stage of the project.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being authentic to oneself for Aquas is what truly makes him happy. Not fitting into a paradox and not being validated from others before validating himself. Being around the younger siblings, the children because he see’s not only himself but the beauty of innocence they have.
“I think back a lot about my upbringing and how for a lot of us, we have a hindered growth rate because of what we see, what we are conduced to get used to. Love was there for certain, but so was the juxtaposition of pain. I would not change everything because those beautiful difficulties shaped my level of gratitude and thankfulness when those blessings hit like direct deposit on a payday.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nnathanwaters.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nnathanwaters/
- Twitter: https://x.com/nnathanwaters
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nnathanwaters
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nnathanwaters
- Other: https://nnathanwaters.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONN SHERRILL
ASSISTED BY GULIE ROSE
NATHAN WATERS
AT ARTURA STUDIOS
@jonnsherrill
@gulie_rose
@nnathanwaters
@artura_studios
