THE MAN
Wowing audiences with his voice and stage presence for over two decades Chris can look back at a vast array of experience in the music industry.
As some of his main musical influences throughout his journey he counts high profile musicians and performers such as Freddy Mercury (Queen), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Ozzy Osbourne, Jim Morrison (The Doors), Yuja Wang, Nina Simone, Nina Hagen, gospel singer Maranda Curtis, The Clark Sisters, Lady Gaga and composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Growing up in Germany to German parents his father, a business man, and his mother, an educator, always fought to open doors for their son to receive a high quality education. As a cosmopolitan person Chris enjoys all cultures and feels a particularly strong connection to the American mindset, culture and values. Serving his local community is one of those values. For the past 5 years he has been working for his multi-ethnic local church as a music director supporting the work of his spiritual parents, a pastoring christian couple from Nigeria/Africa. Besides helping build his home church Chris has also helped bring a series of christian sing-along concerts on the way for the youth of the German catholic church.
Born to rock the stage, the story of Chris Watrin as a performer started at the age of 11. Soon after joining a kids choir Chris found himself entertaining crowds in large venues along with winning a music competition on German television. Following the casting call of Lou Pearlman, founder of the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync, Chris at age 16 overnight became part of the multi-platinum selling international boyband US5 traveling the world for 3 years and collaborating with international music stars such as Robin Gibb from The Bee Gees. But living the teenage pop star dream doesn’t always allow the creative freedom to expand and grow as a developing artist.
Due to lack of creative fulfilment, too little say in artistic and music-related decisions and burn out Chris eventually decided to leave US5 and withdrew from the public eye. After going back to school and graduating from college he went on to study communication in social and economic context at Berlin’s art university while still following his number one passion of performing music. This time for a change on the streets of Berlin trying to find a more genuine and down-to-earth approach to his craft. 8 years down the line Chris is about to graduate from The Cologne Conservatory Of Music with a bachelor’s degree in music in early 2021 and is also a graduate of Rhema Bible College having completed a 4-year training in theology and leadership in 2019.
During challenging times of severe personal and mental health crisis in 2012 and 2013 Chris fought to convert his pain and his struggles into finding his true purpose in life which he now says is to inspire and serve people through his music and story. In 2013 Chris founded a music group of people with handicaps working together for 7 years. Experiencing new forms of unfiltered love and care and exploring the freedom of creative utterance the members and Chris helped each other find their own unique voices and musical expression.
Chris is also a passionate photographer and graphic and video editor responsible for much of his music-related visual work.
Being a visionary, entrepreneur and strategic thinker Chris always strives to challenge himself and the people around him to set the bar higher. His debut album ‘The Rise’ tells the story of Chris's personal transformation from hopelessness to triumph referring to the latest chapter of his life. The performer and entrepreneur aspires to encourage and spread a message of hope while challenging the industry standard in music, art and creativity.
A 2014 performance of Chris's choir of people with special needs