KYDIS WATTS – One Sheet
Musician & Producer
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Contact: penz.watts@gmail.com
── BIOGRAPHY ──
At just 16 years old, Auckland-based artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and Tipene-St Stephens student Kydis Watts is breathing fresh, independent life into modern neo-soul. Drawing deep inspiration from the timeless, laid-back pocket of icons like
D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, Kydis crafts music designed for the ultimate "head-bop,
face-scrunch" groove. Completely self-produced from his home studio, his tracks are defined by absolute instrumental freedom and fearless sonic experimentation.
Refusing to be bound by standard structures, Kydis treats both his instruments and
his voice as evolving, fluid landscapes. The result is a sophisticated, deeply soulful
sound that honor's the architects of classic R&B while pushing boldly into the
future.
CURRENT FOCUS / LATEST RELEASE ──
“Makaurau” (Kydis Watts x Tāwai Kingi) — Release Date: After the
Play It Strange comps cycle for 2026.
The Vibe: A mesmerising blend of deep, late-night neo-soul groove and rich cultural
storytelling. Built on a foundation of D’Angelo-inspired swing, Makaurau moves
with a heavy, hypnotic pocket, layered with organic keys and soulful, fluid guitar
lines.
The Story: Entirely composed, recorded, and produced in Kydis’s bedroom studio,
the track is a collaborative masterclass in creative freedom between two young
artists. Both Kydis and Tāwai Kingi wrote and performed their own verses, treating
their voices as fluid instruments.
The Standout Feature: Tāwai Kingi anchors his verse and chorus using his family’s
ancestral tauparapara in te reo Māori. Set against Kydis’s sophisticated, smoky R&B
production and jazz-inflected keyboards, the result is a striking, deeply moving
fusion of heritage and modern soul.
Focus Track: "Makaurau"
