Student Spotlight – Watters

What inspired you to study at Riverside Music College, and how has your experience been so far?

I had previously done a year at another institution and while I felt the lectures were brilliant and understood me I felt that college faculty didn’t and were doing a disservice to the artists studying there. Being at Riverside where the sole focus is music has been a blessing. From the lecturers to my peers , to the reception staff and support staff everyone knows music and gets music and because of that I feel very nurtured and encouraged to grow.

Can you tell us about any projects, bands, or creative work you’re involved in outside of your studies?

I always find it funny talking about my “project” because my project is me. I am the artist known as Watters. Everyone might like to say it’s a characture but that’s not true. It’s me at 100 percent. I don’t like to generalise myself (unless I’m trying to score a gig or an award because you need to) but people have described what I do as everything from “Radiohead with hip hop vocals” to “Bon Iver Meets Death Grips” and for whatever reason people seem to love it. I’ve gotten to work with the likes of Kneecap, Kyle Falconer and YOUTH to name a few. Right now I’m heavily focusing on innovating by blending my music and my visual art. I think what I have going for me is that my music doesn’t pretend to be anything its not, I’m not on stage singing or wrapping every two seconds about being Scottish because I think that’s boring and reductive, I’m not out there changing what I’m making to sound more radio friendly and I’m certainly not out there putting my social media output before my music.

Of course a heavy focus of my platform is also to speak out on neurodivergent life being autistic myself, people seem to resonate with my straight shooter delivery when it comes to these messages as well as the honesty of them.

What skills or knowledge have you gained at Riverside that you’ve been able to apply in real-world music industry settings?

I’d say the most invaluable thing I’ve learned and this was particularly from the songwriting lectures was to really lean into making music for myself. Making music that I enjoy and not really caring whether or not people like it. Again that might sound on paper silly if you’re wanting to “make it in the industry” (which personally I regard as the lamest phrase in the English language) but the fact is there is a draught of authenticity and its only going to get worse. People want real stores.

What are your long-term goals in the music industry, and how is your time at Riverside helping you prepare for them?

I want to make it in the industry. I’m in part joking. I want to continue doing what I’m doing but on a higher level. I want my messages and stories to get out there and touch more people. Having worked in the industry for a couple of years already I’ve already encounter some of the most wonderful aspects but also the most ugly aspects. I like to think that not only have I overcome those and will continue to do so but I think I also have gained the knowledge through those experiences and through the advice of my peers and lectures to hopefully also impart some of that knowledge on to others.

Graded unit has also been great, I feel very much supported in the project I am currently pursuing. To do High concept pieces is a dream of mine. However to do that takes incredible skill and organisation and I feel like I’ve gained a lot of that from the lecturers thus far.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying at Riverside Music College?

You could study music at most institutions but only at Riverside does it feel like you’re put first. This place is run by musicians for musicians. You’d be silly not to check it out.