Henry Russell Walter (born April 23, 1986), known professionally as Cirkut, is a Canadian record producer and songwriter. He has co-produced and co-written commercially successful singles, often in tandem with American record producer Dr. Luke and Swedish producer Max Martin since 2008. His credits include songs and albums for prominent artists including Katy Perry, Becky G, Ava Max, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, 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 and Juicy J, among others.

Cirkut
Cirkut in 2015
Cirkut in 2015
Background information
Birth nameHenry Russell Walter
Also known asDream Machine
Born (1986-04-23) 23 April 1986 (age 38)[1]
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
Member of

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 won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for his work on the latter two songs' parent album, Starboy.[4] He co-produced Jungkook's 2023 single "Standing Next to You".

Life and career

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Walter was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia and 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

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Title Year Album Writer Producer Remix
"Mmm Papi"[5] 2008 Britney SpearsCircus  Y  Y
"Blow (Cirkut Remix)" 2011 KeshaI Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album  Y  Y  Y
"Seal It with a Kiss" Britney Spears – Femme Fatale  Y  Y
"High for This" The WeekndHouse of Balloons  Y  Y
"Wild Heart", "Where Do They Do That At?" SabiAll I Want  Y  Y
"Domino" Jessie J – Who You Are  Y  Y
"Good Feeling" Flo RidaWild Ones  Y  Y
"Hangover", "Tattoo"[9] Taio CruzTY.O  Y  Y
"You Da One", "Where Have You Been", "Fool in Love" RihannaTalk That Talk[10]  Y  Y
"Turn All The Lights On" T-PainRevolver  Y  Y
"Never Close Our Eyes", "Better Than I Know Myself"[11] 2012 Adam LambertTrespassing  Y  Y
"Part of Me", "Wide Awake" Katy PerryTeenage Dream: The Complete Confection  Y  Y
"Problem (The Monster Remix)" Becky G – Hotel Transylvania Soundtrack  Y  Y
"Young Forever", "Va Va Voom", "Masquerade" Nicki MinajPink Friday: Roman Reloaded  Y  Y
"Brokenhearted"[12] KarminHello  Y  Y
"Both of Us" (featuring Taylor Swift), "Strange Clouds" (featuring Lil Wayne), "Arena" (featuring T.I. & Chris Brown)[13] B.o.BStrange Clouds  Y  Y
"Primadonna", "Lies", "How To Be A Heartbreaker"[14] Marina and the DiamondsElectra Heart  Y  Y
"One More Time" Baby E – N/A  Y  Y
"High For This" The Weeknd – Trilogy  Y  Y
"Wish U Were Here" (featuring Becky G) Cody SimpsonParadise  Y  Y
"Rock Me" One DirectionTake Me Home  Y  Y
"Oath" (featuring Becky G) Cher Lloyd feat Becky G – Sticks + Stones  Y  Y
"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 – Warrior  Y  Y
"Till The World Ends (Twister Remix)" Britney Spears – N/A  Y  Y  Y
"High For This", "Halcyon" Ellie GouldingHalcyon  Y  Y
"Die Young", "Supernatural" Kesha – Deconstructed  Y
"Fall Down" (featuring Miley Cyrus), "Far Away from Home" (featuring Nicole Scherzinger), "Geekin" 2013 will.i.am – #willpower  Y  Y
"Ooh La La" Britney Spears – Music From and Inspired by the Smurfs 2  Y  Y
"Vacation" G.R.L. – Music From and Inspired by the Smurfs 2  Y  Y
"Walks Like Rihanna" The WantedWord of Mouth  Y  Y
"Play It Again", "Can't Get Enough" (featuring Pitbull), "Zoomin' Zoomin", "Built for This", "Lovin' What You Do" Becky G – Play It Again (EP)  Y  Y
"Roar", "Legendary Lovers", "Birthday", "Unconditionally", "Dark Horse" (featuring Juicy J), "International Smile", "Ghost" Katy Perry – Prism  Y  Y
"Wrecking Ball" Miley CyrusBangerz  Y  Y
"Harder We Fall", "Excuse My Rude", "Gold" Jessie J – Alive  Y  Y
"Smokin Rollin", "Bounce It" Juicy JStay Trippy  Y  Y
"Give It 2 U" Robin ThickeBlurred Lines  Y  Y
"Brightest Morning Star" Britney Spears – Britney Jean  Y  Y
"Timber" (featuring Kesha) PitbullGlobal Warming: Meltdown  Y  Y
"Show Me What You Got", "Ugly Heart", "Rewind" 2014 G.R.L.G.R.L.  Y  Y
"Quiero Bailar (All Through The Night)" 3BallMTY – Globall  Y  Y
"Dare (La La La)" ShakiraShakira  Y  Y
"La La La (Brazil 2014)" ShakiraOne Love, One Rhythm - The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album  Y  Y
"We Are One (Ole Ola)" (featuring Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte) PitbullOne Love, One Rhythm - The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album  Y  Y
"Wild Wild Love" (featuring G.R.L.) PitbullGlobalization  Y  Y
"Zipper" Jason DeruloTalk Dirty  Y  Y
"Shower", "Can't Stop Dancin'", "Can't Get Enough (Spanish Version)" Becky GN/A  Y  Y
"I Don't Mind" UsherN/A  Y  Y
"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 Pinkprint  Y  Y
"She Knows" Ne-YoNon-Fiction  Y  Y
"Stayin Out All Night" Wiz KhalifaBlacc Hollywood  Y  Y
"Sugar" Maroon 5V  Y  Y
"Low" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Lil Bibby and Young Thug), Juicy JThe Hustle Continues  Y  Y
"Never Been in Love", "One More" ElliphantOne More  Y  Y
"Completement Fou", "Coca Sans Bulles", "Florence En Italie", "Un Jour Viendra" YelleComplètement fou  Y  Y
"This Is How We Roll" 2015 Fifth HarmonyReflection  Y  Y
"Lighthouse" G.R.L.N/A  Y  Y
"For Everybody" Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa, R. CityN/A  Y  Y
"Dance Like We're Makin' Love", "Give Me Love", "Lullaby", "Kiss N Tell", "Special Edition" CiaraJackie  Y  Y
"Best People in the World" Elliphant – N/A  Y  Y
"The Water Dance" Chris Porter – The Water Dance  Y  Y
"Once in a Lifetime" Flo RidaMy House  Y  Y
"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 Of  Y  Y
"Marching Band" (featuring Juicy J) R. KellyThe Buffet  Y  Y
"Lovin' So Hard", "Break a Sweat", "You Love It" Becky GN/A  Y  Y
"Everybody" (featuring Azealia Banks), "Love Me Badder" ElliphantLiving Life Golden  Y  Y
"Whip It!" (featuring Chloe Angelides), "Ain't Too Cool" Lunchmoney LewisN/A  Y  Y
"Silk Road" Rick RossBlack Market  Y  Y
"Ain't Your Mama" 2016 Jennifer LopezN/A  Y  Y
"Tabú" Pablo Alborán, Ava MaxTabú  Y
"Greenlight" (featuring Flo Rida & LunchMoney Lewis) PitbullClimate Change  Y  Y
"Guys My Age" Hey VioletFrom the Outside  Y
"Starboy" (featuring Daft Punk), "False Alarm", "Reminder", "Secrets", "Six Feet Under", "Ordinary Life", "Nothing Without You", "I Feel It Coming" (featuring Daft Punk) The WeekndStarboy  Y  Y
"Bang Bang" (featuring R. City, Selah Sue and Craig David) DJ Fresh, DiploN/A  Y
"Another Love Song" 2017 Ne-YoN/A  Y  Y
"I Don't Want It at All", "Slow It Down" Kim PetrasN/A  Y  Y
"All Night" (featuring LunchMoney Lewis) Big BoiBoomiverse  Y  Y
"Ugly" Jaira BurnsN/A  Y  Y
"A Little Work" FergieDouble Dutchess  Y  Y
"Girls Like You" (featuring Cardi B) 2018 Maroon 5Red Pill Blues  Y  Y
"Savior" (featuring Quavo) Iggy AzaleaN/A  Y  Y
"Hurt You" (featuring Gesaffelstein) The Weeknd – My Dear Melancholy,  Y  Y
"Heart to Break", "Can't Do Better", "All the Time" Kim PetrasN/A  Y  Y
"Any Weather" BirdmanBirdman presents: Before Anythang (Soundtrack)  Y  Y
"Nights Like These", "On Ur Mind", "Ocean Sure" Ne-YoGood Man  Y  Y
"Animal", "Priceless" Trey SongzTremaine the Album  Y  Y
"Come See About Me" Nicki MinajQueen  Y  Y
"Creep on Me" (featuring French Montana & DJ Snake) GashiGashi  Y  Y
"Treasure Island"  Y  Y
"Sweet but Psycho"[15] Ava MaxHeaven & Hell  Y  Y
"So Am I", "Torn", "Salt" 2019  Y  Y
"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  Y  Y
"On Me (featuring Ava Max)"  Y  Y
"EveryTime I Cry" 2021
Ava MaxN/A
 Y  Y
"Let you"
Iann DiorN/A
 Y  Y
"Echo (featuring blackbear)", "One Light (featuring Bantu)", "Convince Me Otherwise (featuring H.E.R)" Maroon 5 - JORDI  Y  Y
"Hurricane"  Y  Y
"Tears in the Club" FKA twigsCaprisongs  Y  Y
"House on Fire" 2022  Y  Y
"Hold Me Closer" Elton John and Britney Spears – N/A  Y
"Maybe You're the Problem", "Million Dollar Baby", "Weapons", "Dancing's Done"  Y  Y
"Star Walkin' (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)"  Y  Y
"Everything to Everyone" and "Moon"  Y  Y
"Press It (Fast & Furious Drift Tape/Phonk Vol 1)" Bludnymph  Y  Y
"Unholy (featuring Kim Petras)"  Y  Y
"Lose You", "How to Cry" 2023  Y
"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"  Y  Y
"Red Flags"[16]  Y  Y
"Lights Out", "Watch Me", "End of the World", "Grim Reaper" Bludnymph  Y  Y
"Oral Hex (Spell on You)"  Y
"Bite Me"  Y  Y
"King of Hearts", "Claws" Kim PetrasFeed the Beast  Y  Y
"Seven"
Jungkook feat. LattoN/A
 Y  Y
"Y.O.Universe" VchaSeVit (New Light)  Y  Y
"Drown", "My Favorite Drug", "Imagination", "Selfish", "Conditions" 2024 Justin TimberlakeEverything I Thought It Was  Y  Y
"360", "Rewind", "365" Charli XCX - Brat  Y  Y
"Brought The Heat Back" ENHYPEN - ROMANCE : UNTOLD  Y  Y
"Wonder" Katy Perry - 143  Y  Y
"Apt." (with Bruno Mars) Rosé - Rosie  Y  Y
"Disease" Lady Gaga - N/A  Y  Y

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 "Roar" Song of the Year Nominated
2018 Starboy Best Urban Contemporary Album Won
2022 Donda Album of the Year Nominated
2024 "Higher than Ever Before" Best Dance/Electronic Recording Nominated
  • Juno Awards
    • 2014: Jack Richardson Producer of the Year (Won)
    • 2015: Songwriter of the Year (Nominated)

References

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  1. ^ Seabroke, John (October 14, 2013). "The Doctor Is In". The New Yorker. pp. 44–56.
  2. ^ "Number one singles". Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  3. ^ Hung, Steffen. "swedishcharts.com - Henry Walter". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Henry Walter". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "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. 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

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