Cirkut

Cirkut
Cirkut in 2015
Cirkut in 2015
Background information
Born
Henry Russell Walter
(1986-04-23) 23 April 1986
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter

Henry Russell Walter (born April 23, 1986),[1] known professionally as Cirkut, is a Canadian record producer and songwriter. He has produced and co-written commercially successful singles since 2008. His credits include songs and albums for prominent artists including Katy Perry, Becky G, Ava Max, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, R. City, The Weeknd, Kesha, Ciara, Pitbull, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Adam Lambert, B.o.B, Marina and the Diamonds, will.i.am, Jungkook, Kygo, Juicy J, Sam Smith, and Ed Sheeran, among others. He has numerous collaborations with American record producer Dr. Luke and Swedish producer Max Martin.

Walter has written and produced the Billboard Hot 100-number one singles "Part of Me", "Roar" and "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry, "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus, "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 and "Starboy" and "Die for You (Remix)" by the Weeknd.[2][3] He co-produced Jungkook's 2023 single "Standing Next to You". He won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for his work on the latter two songs' parent album, Starboy.[4] Walter has co-written and produced every song on Becky G's Play It Again, R. City's What Dreams Are Made Of, Ava Max's Heaven & Hell and Diamonds & Dancefloors, and Lady Gaga's Mayhem.

Life and career

Walter was born in Ottawa and mostly lived in Montreal. In his teenage years he had moved to Halifax where he attended Armbrae Academy and St. Pat's High School in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he met some other musical artists. He then moved to Toronto in 2004. He co-produced the Britney Spears song "Mmm Papi" which appeared on her 2008 album Circus.[5] He sent it as an instrumental track to Kobalt Music Group via their attorney Chris Taylor, where songwriter Nicole Morier began using it to write with Britney Spears.[6]

Walter opened Dream House Studios in Toronto. He then relocated to Los Angeles, California.[7] He co-produced "Part of Me", the title song to Katy Perry's 2012 concert film Katy Perry: Part of Me. Walter was also responsible for producing and co-writing the Weeknd's track "High for This". In 2016, he co-produced and co-wrote 9 songs on the Weeknd's album Starboy.[8]

Discography

Title Year Album Writer Producer Remix
"Mmm Papi"[5]2008 Britney SpearsCircuscheckYcheckY
"Blow (Cirkut Remix)" 2011 KeshaI Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix AlbumcheckYcheckYcheckY
"Seal It with a Kiss" Britney Spears – Femme FatalecheckYcheckY
"High for This" The WeekndHouse of BalloonscheckYcheckY
"Wild Heart", "Where Do They Do That At?" SabiAll I WantcheckYcheckY
"Domino" Jessie J – Who You ArecheckYcheckY
"Good Feeling" Flo RidaWild OnescheckYcheckY
"Hangover", "Tattoo"[9]Taio CruzTY.OcheckYcheckY
"You Da One", "Where Have You Been", "Fool in Love" RihannaTalk That Talk[10]checkYcheckY
"Turn All The Lights On" T-PainRevolvercheckYcheckY
"Never Close Our Eyes", "Better Than I Know Myself"[11]2012 Adam LambertTrespassingcheckYcheckY
"Part of Me", "Wide Awake" Katy PerryTeenage Dream: The Complete ConfectioncheckYcheckY
"Problem (The Monster Remix)" Becky G – Hotel Transylvania Soundtrack checkYcheckY
"Young Forever", "Va Va Voom", "Masquerade" Nicki MinajPink Friday: Roman ReloadedcheckYcheckY
"Brokenhearted"[12]KarminHellocheckYcheckY
"Both of Us" (featuring Taylor Swift), "Strange Clouds" (featuring Lil Wayne), "Arena" (featuring T.I. & Chris Brown)[13]B.o.BStrange CloudscheckYcheckY
"Primadonna", "Lies", "How To Be A Heartbreaker"[14]Marina and the DiamondsElectra HeartcheckYcheckY
"One More Time" Baby E – N/AcheckYcheckY
"High For This" The Weeknd – TrilogycheckYcheckY
"Wish U Were Here" (featuring Becky G)Cody SimpsonParadisecheckYcheckY
"Rock Me" One DirectionTake Me HomecheckYcheckY
"Oath" (featuring Becky G)Cher Lloyd feat Becky G – Sticks + StonescheckYcheckY
"Warrior", "Die Young", "C'mon", "Thinking of You", "Crazy Kids", "Wherever You Are", "Dirty Love", "Wonderland", "Only Wanna Dance With You", "Supernatural", "Gold Trans Am", "Last Goodbye" Kesha – WarriorcheckYcheckY
"Till The World Ends (Twister Remix)" Britney Spears – N/AcheckYcheckYcheckY
"Die Young", "Supernatural" Kesha – DeconstructedcheckY
"Fall Down" (featuring Miley Cyrus), "Far Away from Home" (featuring Nicole Scherzinger), "Geekin" 2013 will.i.am – #willpowercheckYcheckY
"Ooh La La" Britney Spears – Music From and Inspired by the Smurfs 2checkYcheckY
"Vacation" G.R.L. – Music From and Inspired by the Smurfs 2checkYcheckY
"Walks Like Rihanna" The WantedWord of MouthcheckYcheckY
"Play It Again", "Can't Get Enough" (featuring Pitbull), "Zoomin' Zoomin", "Built for This", "Lovin' What You Do" Becky G – Play It Again (EP)checkYcheckY
"Roar", "Legendary Lovers", "Birthday", "Unconditionally", "Dark Horse" (featuring Juicy J), "International Smile", "Ghost" Katy Perry – PrismcheckYcheckY
"Wrecking Ball" Miley CyrusBangerzcheckYcheckY
"Harder We Fall", "Excuse My Rude", "Gold" Jessie J – AlivecheckYcheckY
"Smokin Rollin", "Bounce It" Juicy JStay TrippycheckYcheckY
"Give It 2 U" Robin ThickeBlurred LinescheckYcheckY
"Brightest Morning Star" Britney Spears – Britney JeancheckYcheckY
"Timber" (featuring Kesha)PitbullGlobal Warming: MeltdowncheckYcheckY
"Show Me What You Got", "Ugly Heart", "Rewind" 2014 G.R.L.G.R.L.checkYcheckY
"Quiero Bailar (All Through The Night)" 3BallMTY – GloballcheckYcheckY
"Dare (La La La)" ShakiraShakiracheckYcheckY
"La La La (Brazil 2014)" ShakiraOne Love, One Rhythm - The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official AlbumcheckYcheckY
"We Are One (Ole Ola)" (featuring Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte)PitbullOne Love, One Rhythm - The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official AlbumcheckYcheckY
"Wild Wild Love" (featuring G.R.L.)PitbullGlobalizationcheckYcheckY
"Zipper" Jason DeruloTalk DirtycheckYcheckY
"Shower", "Can't Stop Dancin'", "Can't Get Enough (Spanish Version)" Becky GN/AcheckYcheckY
"I Don't Mind" UsherN/AcheckYcheckY
"Get on Your Knees" (featuring Ariana Grande), "Only(featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown)", "Trini Dem Girls" (featuring LunchMoney Lewis), "The Night is Still Young", "Pills N Potions" Nicki MinajThe PinkprintcheckYcheckY
"She Knows" Ne-YoNon-FictioncheckYcheckY
"Stayin Out All Night" Wiz KhalifaBlacc HollywoodcheckYcheckY
"Sugar" Maroon 5VcheckYcheckY
"Low" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Lil Bibby and Young Thug), Juicy JThe Hustle ContinuescheckYcheckY
"Never Been in Love", "One More" ElliphantOne MorecheckYcheckY
"Completement Fou", "Coca Sans Bulles", "Florence En Italie", "Un Jour Viendra" YelleComplètement foucheckYcheckY
"This Is How We Roll" 2015 Fifth HarmonyReflectioncheckYcheckY
"Lighthouse" G.R.L.N/AcheckYcheckY
"For Everybody" Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa, R. CityN/AcheckYcheckY
"Dance Like We're Makin' Love", "Give Me Love", "Lullaby", "Kiss N Tell", "Special Edition" CiaraJackiecheckYcheckY
"Best People in the World" Elliphant – N/AcheckYcheckY
"The Water Dance" Chris Porter – The Water DancecheckYcheckY
"Once in a Lifetime" Flo RidaMy HousecheckYcheckY
"Like This", "Locked Away" (featuring Adam Levine), "Checking for You", "Take You Down", "Broadway", "Over", "Make Up", "Again", "Live by the Gun", "Slave to the Dollar", "Save My Soul", "Crazy Love", "Don't You Worry", "Our Story" R. CityWhat Dreams Are Made OfcheckYcheckY
"Marching Band" (featuring Juicy J)R. KellyThe BuffetcheckYcheckY
"Lovin' So Hard", "Break a Sweat", "You Love It" Becky GN/AcheckYcheckY
"Everybody" (featuring Azealia Banks), "Love Me Badder" ElliphantLiving Life GoldencheckYcheckY
"Whip It!" (featuring Chloe Angelides), "Ain't Too Cool" Lunchmoney LewisN/AcheckYcheckY
"Silk Road" Rick RossBlack MarketcheckYcheckY
"Ain't Your Mama" 2016 Jennifer LopezN/AcheckYcheckY
"Tabú" Pablo Alborán, Ava MaxTabúcheckY
"Greenlight" (featuring Flo Rida & LunchMoney Lewis)PitbullClimate ChangecheckYcheckY
"Guys My Age" Hey VioletFrom the OutsidecheckY
"Starboy" (featuring Daft Punk), "False Alarm", "Reminder", "Secrets", "Six Feet Under", "Ordinary Life", "Nothing Without You", "I Feel It Coming" (featuring Daft Punk)The WeekndStarboycheckYcheckY
"Bang Bang" (featuring R. City, Selah Sue and Craig David)DJ Fresh, DiploN/AcheckY
"Another Love Song" 2017 Ne-YoN/AcheckYcheckY
"I Don't Want It at All", "Slow It Down" Kim PetrasN/AcheckYcheckY
"All Night" (featuring LunchMoney Lewis)Big BoiBoomiversecheckYcheckY
"Ugly" Jaira BurnsN/AcheckYcheckY
"A Little Work" FergieDouble DutchesscheckYcheckY
"Girls Like You" (featuring Cardi B)2018 Maroon 5Red Pill BluescheckYcheckY
"Savior" (featuring Quavo)Iggy AzaleaN/AcheckYcheckY
"Hurt You" (featuring Gesaffelstein)The Weeknd – My Dear MelancholycheckYcheckY
"Heart to Break", "Can't Do Better", "All the Time" Kim PetrasN/AcheckYcheckY
"Any Weather" BirdmanBirdman presents: Before Anythang (Soundtrack)checkYcheckY
"Nights Like These", "On Ur Mind", "Ocean Sure" Ne-YoGood MancheckYcheckY
"Animal", "Priceless" Trey SongzTremaine the AlbumcheckYcheckY
"Come See About Me" Nicki MinajQueencheckYcheckY
"Creep on Me" (featuring French Montana & DJ Snake)GashiGashicheckYcheckY
"Treasure Island" checkYcheckY
"Sweet but Psycho"[15]Ava MaxHeaven & HellcheckYcheckY
"So Am I", "Torn", "Salt" 2019 checkYcheckY
"Kings & Queens", "Who's Laughing Now", "OMG What's Happening", "Heaven", "Naked", "Tattoo", "Call Me Tonight", "Born to the Night", "Take You to Hell", "Belladonna", "Rumors", "My Head & My Heart" 2020 checkYcheckY
"On Me" (featuring Ava Max)checkYcheckY
"EveryTime I Cry" 2021
Ava MaxN/A
checkYcheckY
"Let you" checkYcheckY
"Echo" (featuring blackbear), "One Light" (featuring Bantu), "Convince Me Otherwise" (with H.E.R.)Maroon 5 - JordicheckYcheckY
"Hurricane" checkYcheckY
"Tears in the Club" FKA twigsCaprisongscheckYcheckY
"House on Fire" 2022 checkYcheckY
"Hold Me Closer" Elton John and Britney SpearsThe Lockdown SessionscheckY
"Maybe You're the Problem", "Million Dollar Baby", "Weapons", "Dancing's Done" checkYcheckY
"Star Walkin' (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)" checkYcheckY
"Everything to Everyone" and "Moon" checkYcheckY
"Press It (Fast & Furious Drift Tape/Phonk Vol 1)" BludnymphcheckYcheckY
"Unholy" (with Kim Petras)checkYcheckY
"Lose You", "How to Cry" 2023 checkY
"Sleepwalker", "Ghost", "Hold Up (Wait a Minute)", "Diamonds & Dancefloors", "In the Dark", "Turn Off the Lights", "One of Us", "Get Outta My Heart", "Cold as Ice", "Last Night on Earth" checkYcheckY
"Red Flags"[16]checkYcheckY
"Lights Out", "Watch Me", "End of the World", "Grim Reaper" BludnymphcheckYcheckY
"Oral Hex (Spell on You)" checkY
"Bite Me" checkYcheckY
"King of Hearts", "Claws" Kim PetrasFeed the BeastcheckYcheckY
"Seven" checkYcheckY
"Y.O.Universe" VchaSeVit (New Light)checkYcheckY
"Drown", "My Favorite Drug", "Imagination", "Selfish", "Conditions" 2024 Justin TimberlakeEverything I Thought It WascheckYcheckY
"360", "Rewind", "365" Charli XCX - BratcheckYcheckY
"Brought The Heat Back" Enhypen - Romance: UntoldcheckYcheckY
"Wonder" Katy Perry - 143checkYcheckY
"APT." (with Bruno Mars), "Vampirehollie" Rosé - RosiecheckYcheckY
"Disease" Lady Gaga - MayhemcheckYcheckY
"It Girl" 2025 JADE - That's Showbiz BabycheckYcheckY
"Big Sleep," "Red Terror" The Weeknd – Hurry Up TomorrowcheckYcheckY
"Abracadabra", "Garden of Eden", "Perfect Celebrity", "Vanish into You", "Killah" (featuring Gesaffelstein), "Zombieboy", "LoveDrug", "How Bad Do U Want Me", "Don't Call Tonight", "Shadow of a Man", "The Beast", "Can't Stop the High", "Kill for Love" Lady Gaga - MayhemcheckYcheckY
"Opening", "In Other Words", "A Little More" Ed Sheeran - PlaycheckYcheckY

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014"Roar" Song of the YearNominated
2018StarboyBest Urban Contemporary AlbumWon
2022DondaAlbum of the YearNominated
2024"Higher than Ever Before" Best Dance/Electronic RecordingNominated
2025BratAlbum of the YearNominated
"360" Record of the YearNominated
2026MayhemAlbum of the YearNominated
"Abracadabra" Record of the YearNominated
Song of the YearNominated
Best Dance Pop RecordingWon
"APT." Record of the YearNominated
Song of the YearNominated
Producer of the Year, Non-ClassicalWon
  • Juno Awards
    • 2014: Jack Richardson Producer of the Year (Won)
    • 2015: Songwriter of the Year (Nominated)

References

  1. ^"Cirkut on Apple Music".
  2. ^"Number one singles". Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  3. ^Hung, Steffen. "swedishcharts.com - Henry Walter". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  4. ^ ab"Henry Walter". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  5. ^ ab"Mmm Papi". Toronto Star. December 3, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  6. ^Nemetz, Andrea (December 3, 2008). "Canadian trio behind Spears tune Mmm Papi". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  7. ^Gormely, Ian (April 2013). "The Dreamhouse". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  8. ^"Starboy liner notes"(PDF). umusic. Archived(PDF) from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  9. ^"Taio Cruz - TY.O". Discogs. December 2, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  10. ^"Track Review: Rihanna, 'Where Have You Been'". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  11. ^"Track Review: Adam Lambert, 'Better Than I Know Myself'". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  12. ^"Broken Hearted". Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  13. ^"Strange Clouds". Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  14. ^"News - Entertainment, Music, Movies, Celebrity". MTV News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  15. ^"Atlantic Records Press | Ava Max". press.atlanticrecords.com. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  16. ^Major, Michael (January 13, 2023). "Mimi Webb Releases Releases New Single 'Red Flags'". Broadway World. Retrieved February 3, 2023.

Further reading