Hunter Watts

About Hunter Watts Born in Newport Beach and raised in Orange County, California, Hunter Watts is a Los Angeles-based songwriter, pianist, multi-instrumentalist, and recording engineer whose music blends the rich traditions of American folk, country, and rock. Drawing inspiration from artists including Fred Neil, Chris Gantry, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Leon Russell, Watts crafts songs that balance timeless songwriting with an understated contemporary sensibility. A longtime fixture of Southern California's independent music community, Watts has spent the past decade performing and recording with projects including American Slang, Sylvie and Drugdealer, while earning a reputation as both an accomplished collaborator and engineer. His musical worldview has been shaped as much by formative records like John Phillips' John, the Wolf King of L.A. and Bob Lind's Since There Were Circles as by the countless hours spent recording live to tape at the legendary Valentine Recording Studios. In April 2026, Watts opened for Drugdealer, further establishing himself as one of Los Angeles' most compelling emerging songwriters and performers. His debut self-titled EP, produced by Nic Jodoin and recorded at Valentine Recording Studios, is the inaugural release on the studio's new vinyl label.