Andrew Watt is an American guitarist, songwriter, singer, and Grammy-winning record producer who has become one of the most in-demand rock and pop collaborators of the last decade.

Quick Scoop on Andrew Watt

  • Full name: Andrew Watt (often credited simply as “Watt”).
  • Born: October 20, 1990, from Great Neck, New York, USA.
  • Main roles: Guitarist , producer, songwriter, singer.
  • Styles: Rock, pop, hard rock, pop-rock, with strong classic-rock influences.

Early Life & Guitar Beginnings

  • Grew up in Great Neck, New York, and attended John L. Miller Great Neck North High School, graduating in 2008.
  • Started out as a working guitarist, taking early professional gigs with artists like Jared Evan, Cody Simpson, and Justin Bieber, which pulled him into the pop touring world.
  • Briefly studied in NYU’s Music Business program before fully diving into making and performing music.

Band Days: California Breed

One of Watt’s early big rock moments was co-founding the band California Breed.

  • In 2013, he became a founding member and guitarist of California Breed alongside Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) and Jason Bonham (son of Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham).
  • The group blended heavy classic-rock energy with modern edge, helping put Watt on the radar in the rock-guitar community.

Solo Artist and “Ghost In My Head”

  • In 2015, Watt released his first solo label EP, Ghost in My Head.
  • The title track “Ghost in My Head” reached No. 30 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, signaling that he could stand on his own name as a frontman and guitarist.

Shift into Super-Producer (But Still a Guitarist)

Over time, Watt pivoted from just “touring guitarist” to “studio mastermind,” without dropping the guitar identity.

  • He became a go-to producer for major pop and rock acts, working on records for Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Demi Lovato, and more.
  • His production style often combines modern pop polish with live-band rock energy, letting guitars, real drums, and big riffs sit alongside radio-ready hooks.
  • Publications have profiled him as one of rock’s “youngest, hottest producers,” pointing to his ability to refresh the sound of legacy bands while keeping it contemporary.

Work with Rock Legends (Where the Guitar Really Shows)

Andrew Watt’s reputation as a guitarist and producer exploded once he started working closely with rock legends.

  • Ozzy Osbourne: Produced Ozzy’s album Ordinary Man (2020) and subsequent work, helping re-energize Ozzy’s late-career sound with big guitars and classic-metal vibes.
  • Iggy Pop: Produced Iggy Pop’s nineteenth studio album Every Loser , released in January 2023.
  • The Rolling Stones: Produced and co-wrote three songs on the Rolling Stones’ 2023 album Hackney Diamonds , a key part of their modern-era studio comeback.
  • Pearl Jam: Produced Pearl Jam’s 2024 album Dark Matter and even joined them live on stage at Madison Square Garden on September 4, 2024.
  • Eddie Vedder: Produced Vedder’s solo album Earthling and became the guitarist in Vedder’s backing band, the Earthlings, for solo shows.

These projects show him not just as a behind-the-glass producer, but as a hands-on guitarist shaping riffs, arrangements, and tones.

Guitar Style, Gear & Approach

  • Watt often cites rock as the music that speaks to him most, and he loves tracking live bands in the studio to capture raw performance energy.
  • In interviews, he describes the importance of putting artists in a comfortable creative “conversation,” letting them sing or play from the same emotional space where the song was written.
  • One of his noted main guitars earlier in his career was a 1962 SG Special with a P-90 in the neck, modified with a different bridge to give him a distinctive feel and sound.
  • As both shredder and producer, he tends to balance melodic, song-serving parts with flashy lines when the track calls for it.

Where You Might Have “Heard” Him Lately

If you’re asking “whois Andrew Watt guitarist” because you’ve seen his name in credits or interviews recently, here’s where he’s been especially visible:

  • Modern rock albums: Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter , Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds , Iggy Pop’s Every Loser , Ozzy Osbourne’s recent records.
  • Big pop and crossover releases: Songs and albums for Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and others, where he often contributes both guitar and production.
  • Live: As guitarist in Eddie Vedder’s Earthlings and as a guest player with some of the same acts he produces.

Mini FAQ

Is Andrew Watt more of a guitarist or a producer now?
He started as a guitarist and remains a serious player, but in the 2020s he’s primarily known as a high-profile producer who still uses his guitar skills heavily in the studio.

Why is he suddenly “everywhere”?
Because legacy rock bands and major pop stars alike are turning to him to modernize their sound while keeping a live, guitar-driven feel, which has put his name in a lot of major 2020s album credits.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.