New Jersey’s young and rising R&B/soul singer, Ahsan Watts, is no stranger to phenomenal performances. In May 2012, his spine-chillingly awesome cover of “Who’s Loving You” by The Jackson 5 went viral on YouTube. Ahsan had only turned 13 that year, but his voice, fresh, crystalline, and flawless, took the internet by storm.
Fast forward to December 2012, and Ahsan’s insane vocal abilities scored him another viral video just in time for Christmas; this time, a cover of soul legend Stevie Wonder’s 1982 track, “Ribbon In The Sky.” Since amassing over 4.4 million YouTube views, this was no ordinary cover. Stevie Wonder himself stepped into the recording studio to give Ahsan the surprise of his life! Check out the video on The Music Man below!
Ahsan ran through his track, his voice like sweet, liquid velvet against the live piano beside him. He even captured Stevie’s own tones through his soulful scales. But, as Ahsan stood singing with his eyes shut, getting lost in the grooves, Stevie Wonder appeared next to him. Ahsan’s reaction was priceless, shocked beyond belief and asking his pianist to pinch him, speechless and standing with his hands clasped behind his head as Stevie suggested featuring on his cover.
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As Stevie plays the opening chords on the piano, Ahsan looks on spellbound, before breaking into song. Here at The Music Man, we just can’t get over how flawlessly Ahsan and Stevie’s harmonies work together, seemingly without a single rehearsal, while Stevie’s extension chords radiate pure bliss. As their track rolls through key changes and insane vocal scales, a moment of passion and perfection is created, and Ahsan feels it, hugging Stevie immediately afterwards and exclaiming, “That was awesome!”
The 13-year-old had just been signed to Interscope Records when Stevie walked into Ahsan’s studio session, helping to launch his career with a bang. His debut original single, “Under,” dropped in 2013, but as far as The Music Man can tell, Ahsan sadly hasn’t released much since other than the atmospheric R&B/trap track, “Fallen,” on Spotify in 2018.
After going viral, Stevie invited Ahsan to perform at his 17th Annual House Full of Toys Benefit Concert in 2012; a benefit gig dedicated to helping impoverished children around Christmas time. This was, of course, the fateful year of the Newtown school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which Stevie tributed through insights which, sadly, still ring disturbingly true to this day: “I think people can’t think like they’re living in the wild, wild west going into 2013. With guns and their accessibilities, there have to be stronger and stricter gun laws.”
If you would like to hear more from this talented performer, you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel for more incredible music.