Yonatan Watts
Yonatan Watts | |
|---|---|
 Yonatan Watts in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | c. 2010s–present |
Yonatan Watts is a Canadian record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. He has written and produced music for artists including Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, Coi Leray, Muni Long, Ari Lennox, French Montana, and Leigh-Anne.[1][2][3] In January 2023, he signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Position Music through a joint venture with Tommy Brown's Champagne Therapy Music Group.[1][2]
Early life
Watts grew up in Toronto and, as a teenager, competed as a singing contestant on Canadian Idol.[1]He performed in a vocal trio and reached the show's Top 100 before being eliminated ahead of the duet rounds, before shifting his focus to production.[1] He subsequently relocated from Toronto to New York City to pursue work in the recording industry.[1]
Career
New York
In New York, Watts worked for roughly eight years as an R&B and pop engineer at Platinum Sound Studios.[1] During this period he connected with producer Murda Beatz at a SOCAN industry event, and later met producer Tommy Brown, who encouraged him to build out his own production team.[1]
Los Angeles and industry recognition
Watts relocated to Los Angeles to focus on production work. He is credited as a co-producer on "Main Thing," a track from the deluxe edition of Ariana Grande's 2020 album Positions — his first collaboration with Tommy Brown.[1][2] He went on to contribute writing and production work to Chris Brown's albums Breezy (2022), nominated for Best R&B Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards (2023), and 11:11 (2023), whose deluxe edition won Best R&B Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards (2025).[4][2] He is currently working with fellow Canadian producer The BLK LT$.[5]
Publishing deal
In January 2023, Watts signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Position Music, arranged through a joint venture between Position Music and Tommy Brown's Champagne Therapy Music Group. The deal was announced by Position Music CEO Tyler Bacon and Brown.[2]
Selected songwriting and production credits
Credits are courtesy of Discogs, Tidal, Apple Music, and AllMusic.
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Main Thing" | 2020 | Ariana Grande | Positions |
| "In The City" | 2022 | Chris Brown | Breezy |
| "Waste No Time" | 2024 | Muni Long | Revenge |
| "Won't Keep You Waiting" (featuring Mario) | Chris Brown | 11:11 | |
| "Back in Style" (interlude) | French Montana | Mac & Cheese 5 | |
| "Burning Up" | 2025 | Leigh-Anne | My Ego Told Me To |
Selected engineering and recording credits
Credits are courtesy of Discogs, Tidal, Apple Music, and AllMusic.
| Title | Year | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shea Butter Baby | 2019 | Ari Lennox | |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Signing Story: Yonatan Watts". Music Connection. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Tommy "TB Hits" Brown Enters JV w/Position Music Via Champagne Therapy Music Group, Signs Yonatan Watts To Publishing Deal". Music Connection. 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "Yonatan Watts – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "Chris Brown". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "The BLK LT$ Drips Honey For The Killa Bees". Flaunt.