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Since the release of his brilliant breakthrough single “Someone You Loved”, Lewis Capaldi<\/strong><\/a> has been an absolute tour de force in the UK, spending seven weeks atop the UK Singles Chart, and scoring a number one record with his debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. <\/em><\/h4>\n

Now with a second North American Tour set to begin in September, and a recent platinum certification of “Someone You Loved” in the US, Lewis Capaldi seems poised to take over the world.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

But if worldwide fame is on the horizon for Lewis Capaldi, it certainly hasn’t gone to his head. Humble and at times self-effacing, Lewis Capaldi spoke at length with AltWire about his reactions to his sudden stardom, his songwriting process, and what lies ahead for the 22-year-old musician. Read on for more…<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: Tell us about how you got your start in music. What inspired you to take up singing and songwriting and ultimately make music your career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> What inspired me to do it was my older brother was always in bands growing up \u2013 and he would play around where I\u2019m from in Scotland (Edinburgh and all of that).  My first proper gig was when I was 11 and I would just gig around Glasgow and Edinburgh. And that was what I did for such a long time. Like, from the age of 11 through to 18 I was just basically solely doing that.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: We\u2019d love to learn more about your songwriting process and how you normally approach writing songs. Could you tell us more about that?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> So the process definitely just kind of differs from time to time. But, most of the time they\u2019re all personal experiences that the songs come from. Just because I find that that\u2019s the only way that I can write stuff that\u2019s any good because I need to have experienced something to be able to write something decent about it \u2013 you know what I mean?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s either melody or lyrics first, but it kind of differs and if I\u2019m writing about something, I need to write about it usually, like\u2026 four months after it happened. For example, on this album, I broke up with someone, and then I wasn\u2019t able to write songs about it until about six months after. Because I feel like that space and time gives you the ability to look back at things and analyze it properly before you write about it.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: You mentioned that writing your first album was a bit of a grind. Tell us about some of the challenges you faced when writing Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> It wasn\u2019t so much the writing that was difficult \u2013 the writing I really enjoyed and actually arranging the songs was really enjoyable, too. But, for me, what I found difficult about it was \u2013 the actual process of recording, for me, it is quite an uninspiring thing. I think once you\u2019ve written the song and then arranged it – actually recording the parts – is quite, as I say, \u2018a grind\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018Cause I got into music to write songs and play live, not to sit in a recording studio for months at a time. And it\u2019s always the same way, where you\u2019ll be doing the vocal, and you\u2019ll sing the same line\u2026 40 times, and then the producer will just say to you, \u2018Oh we actually really enjoyed the first take. Let\u2019s just go with the first take.\u2019<\/p>\n

So, it was mainly that, but yeah, for me when I\u2019m writing songs, I immediately want to just get out and play them live, like it is. I had never recorded properly before this process and I guess I just found it to be a bit of a slog. Once we got to the end of it, I was like, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m glad we did that \u2013 but the actual recording, mixing and stuff like that is all, it\u2019s all very important and I think it\u2019s an art-form in itself doing that but, for me, I didn\u2019t like being cooped up.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]:  Tell us about what kind of music inspires you to create your own. Do you have a go-to artist or album that really speaks to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> Recently, I\u2019ve been really getting back into The Beatles<\/strong>. I kind of fell back in love with their music and, it\u2019s inspiring to have those [and] be able to listen back and, like, you think, \u2018It\u2019s crazy that they were able to create such amazing music and such a high standard for such a long time.\u2019<\/p>\n

But, I think anytime I hear a song that I love, irrespective about genre – that is inspiring. For example, Kendrick Lamar<\/strong>\u2019s a big one for me. Listening to his music\u2026 I don\u2019t ever listen to \u2018HUMBLE.\u2019 and think, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m gonna go make a song that sounds like that.\u2019 But I listen to it, and it\u2019s so amazing to listen to someone who\u2019s at the top of the game and smashing it and making music that\u2019s this good.<\/p>\n

And it makes you want to go off and kind of try to strive to be anywhere near as good as that. But, I think I\u2019m still a bit out from [doing tours with] Kendrick Lamar. By a mile.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]:  Do you have a preference for the way that you consume music?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> Naw, not really! I think for me that just depends on where I am, what I\u2019m doing. If I\u2019m on the move, Spotify or Apple Music is much easier [for me]. If I\u2019m at home, I buy vinyl and stuff like that. So it\u2019s different \u2013 I do it every single way. I\u2019ll often just buy albums on iTunes and if I really love them, I\u2019ll just go out buy it as well. I just kind of do it \u2018as and where\u2019, I don\u2019t really have a preferred medium.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: <\/strong>What was it like in the moments when you found out that your song \u2018Someone You Loved\u2019 hit number one on the UK Singles Chart and when your album hit number one in the UK?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> The single was weird because that was just never something that I\u2019d expected. To have a number one album in general as well has been mental – but a number one single – especially for the type of music that I\u2019m making, just seemed very strange. I never expected it to get to that stage, especially because it was a piano ballad\u2026 and it was coming up to summer, and it was just a bit of a sad song. But the fact that it went there [to number one] was just, genuinely, so weird.<\/p>\n

When it happened I was in my hotel room by myself, so I\u2019d just ordered some beers up to my room. But I think I went bowling afterward\u2026 so it wasn\u2019t a very [celebration]-filled day. But it was mad. Because the thing is, as well, you find out in the morning \u2013 so I found out at, like, 10 am that it went to number one, but it doesn\u2019t get announced publicly until somewhere around 4 pm in the UK.<\/p>\n

And it wasn\u2019t until I listened to it then that it actually felt real. When I was told about it, I\u2019d be like, \u2018Oh, this doesn\u2019t really feel like a big thing\u2019, and then you heard it on the radio: \u201cThis week, number one: Lewis Capaldi – \u2018Someone You Loved\u2019\u201d, and it was just mind-blowing.<\/p>\n

And the album especially\u2026 meant a lot to me because it showed that people who were listening to \u2018Someone You Loved\u2019 went out and wanted to hear more of my music, do you know what I mean? I think that was kind of the thing I was scared about when \u2018Someone You Love\u2019 did what it did.<\/p>\n

I was worried that people would maybe just listen to this song and not go beyond and try and find some more [of my] music. But the album was cool because it just shows that people liked what they heard with \u2018Someone You Loved\u2019 and then \u2018Grace\u2019 and decided that they wanted to go and hear more stuff from me. So yeah, it was very cool.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: Did you go and do anything, in particular, to celebrate once it all set in?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> Erm, no! I mean I got drunk\u2026 and it was number one for seven weeks in the UK so I got drunk one night out every week. But the thing as well is, when a song does that \u2013 when it does that well \u2013 you have less time\u2026 it means you\u2019re a lot more busy. So it\u2019s probably a blessing in disguise. Because otherwise, I would have been fuckin\u2019 out for ages! But erm (laughs)\u2026no I haven\u2019t. I think getting to play the shows we\u2019re doing is fuckin\u2019 celebration enough!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“I think everyone needs to have a cry sometimes. And you know what you can do with my music? You can have a big cry.” – Lewis Capaldi<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: Did reaching number one change your perspective or goals for your career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> My goal \u2013 back when I started this \u2013 was to play King Tuts** in Glasgow \u2013 it\u2019s like a 350-capacity room. And we did that and, for me, ever since then everything\u2019s just been kind of like a bonus. So yeah, I didn\u2019t ever think, \u2018Right, okay. This is it. I\u2019m gonna aim for the number one\u2019. I\u2019ve never been this overly mad ambitious person.<\/p>\n

I just\u2026 I just do this because I enjoy [it]. So I\u2019m kind of lucky that I had the people around me \u2013 management and label and agents \u2013 who really believed in what I was doing, enough work on it. But, yeah, no \u2013 it\u2019s weird. It hasn\u2019t really changed it.<\/p>\n

Because now, for example, I don\u2019t think just because I\u2019ve had a number one that I\u2019m ever going to get one again. For me, I feel like that was a one-time deal. I just think you can\u2019t be getting greedy! So instead I just kind of say, \u2018that\u2019s cool and it\u2019s nice that it happened but you\u2019re only as good as your next song\u2019\u2019 You\u2019ve just got to keep writing.<\/p>\n

For album two, I\u2019m not really expecting this response again. Not because I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll be good, but because I think if you just \u2018play things by ear\u2019 a bit and just go, \u2018OK, I\u2019m gonna make music that I like and release it and see what happens\u2019, you\u2019re going to enjoy it a lot more.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: You\u2019ve worked with a lot of globally recognized artists like Malay and TMS. Is there anyone, in particular, you\u2019d really love to work with?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> Paul McCartney<\/strong> would be cool, because it\u2019s Paul McCartney. But I think he\u2019s got bigger fish to fry, but erm (laughs)\u2026it\u2019d be cool to try and do something with people like Calvin Harris<\/strong>, or maybe Zedd<\/strong> \u2013 just because I think it\u2019d be something completely different. I like the idea of, if I ever do work with someone else, being able to work with someone who doesn\u2019t really do collaboration stuff often.<\/p>\n

Because I think it\u2019d be cool to have that thing where it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh, this person? How the fuck did Lewis manage to get this person to do this song?\u2019 I think it\u2019d be quite cool to be able to work with someone who doesn\u2019t really do many collaborations at all. So, I dunno \u2013 maybe someone like Adele<\/strong>, as she doesn\u2019t really do collaborations, but she doesn\u2019t have much to gain from doing a song with me. But, er (laughs), I\u2019ll try my best.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: <\/strong>From your social media and public appearances you look like you\u2019re having fun doing what you do. Are there times when you\u2019re on the road and it becomes difficult to remain positive?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> Hmm, I don\u2019t know! Because, I don\u2019t think about it. I don\u2019t think about it in those terms. I like to have a laugh most of the time and I think, when I\u2019m away on tour and I ever feel down, I never try and rally myself to be positive when I don\u2019t want to be positive. Because I feel like, it\u2019s good that you have balance.<\/p>\n

If I feel sad one day I will allow myself to feel sad, because that\u2019s fine. But for the most part, no, I\u2019m still pretty much [having] a good laugh. You know, cause there\u2019s times where I think this is all so fucking weird \u2013 like, it\u2019s crazy, what\u2019s happened. So, like, I think that you can\u2019t take it too seriously. Otherwise you can lose your mind a bit.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: So you recently performed in front of a US audience on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and you performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden, and you\u2019re scheduled to tour this fall. So how does an American audience compare to back home in the UK?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> I don\u2019t think there are many differences. When we went over the first time \u2026 I can\u2019t remember where I read it, but someone in some article had said that they don\u2019t think American audiences would be that into me. And I can\u2019t remember where it was I read it, but I remember thinking, \u2018(nonchalantly) <\/em>well\u2026 alright? Cool.\u2019<\/p>\n

Like, at the time I was just a bit, like, \u2018Well, we\u2019ll see.\u2019 I don\u2019t feel like people are different. I don\u2019t think the audiences are too vastly different. I think you\u2019ve got to give people a lot more credit than that.<\/p>\n

I think, for me with the American audiences, it\u2019s still quite early but we\u2019ve been able to do some cool stuff. But, I don\u2019t try and change anything, or tailor anything for audiences personally. I just try and be myself and make the music I make and see what happens \u2013 and hopefully people will like that. I think everyone needs to have a cry sometimes. And you know what you can do with my music? You can have a big cry.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: And, you\u2019ve sort of just answered this, but what can fans who have never seen you expect at one of your live shows?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> (Lewis Capaldi jokes)<\/em> at one of my live shows, they should expect it\u2019s gonna be sad. It\u2019ll be a sad hour. And then I\u2019ll make some fart jokes in between songs and it\u2019ll be just fine. But you know, I do like a good laugh. I just like to have everyone come along and just have a good time.<\/p>\n

Maybe\u2026 I\u2019ll do, like, a strip show\u2026 \u2018cause I hear that sex sells. So I\u2019ll maybe do some strip tease or something like that. But, erm, yeah, it\u2019s a guy\u2026 a little chubby boy on stage, singing about his feelings. And that\u2019s what you\u2019re gonna get.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: Any interesting tour stories that you\u2019d like to share with us?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> There was the time a member of my band, who will remain nameless, and I won\u2019t say their instrument either, farted and thought he\u2019d shit his pants [Ed. Note \u2013 for Americans, pants in the UK = underwear]<\/em>. That was pretty funny. Well [actually] he did shit his pants. He\u2019s in the car with me right now and he\u2019s furious that I\u2019m divulging this. (laughs)<\/p>\n

But I was in the dressing room and he ran in and he was like, \u2018(annoyed tone) Aww…\u2019 and he grabbed a pair of underwear from his suitcase. And he tried to run out, and I said, \u2018Wow wow wow, what\u2019s going on here?!\u2019 And he said, \u2018What? Nothing…\u2019 And I said, \u2018Where are you going with those pants?\u2019 And he said, \u2018I think I trusted a fart a bit too much.\u2019 And we were going on stage in, like, 20 minutes. That time (laughs) one of the band members almost shit himself was a pretty interesting one.<\/p>\n

AltWire [Luke Morrison]: Alright Lewis, the last question is, with a number one album and number one single and international recognition already under your belt, what\u2019s the next stage for you as an artist?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis Capaldi:<\/strong> I just want to see how far we can take [the live show] situation at the moment. In the UK and Ireland, we\u2019ve got to a point now where we can do arenas, which is crazy. But I just want to play as many shows as possible and take that and kind of grow that \u2013 see how close we can get, like, everywhere else to that level. I think, I really want to spend as much time as possible over in America as well over the next few months, just trying to see what I can [do now that I\u2019m coming to play shows there].<\/p>\n

So yeah, I don\u2019t know, I think I\u2019m just going to try and keep making music, and keep writing. I want to maybe put out something new \u2013 not, like, an album or something, but it\u2019d be nice to maybe put out something relatively new, maybe towards the end of the year. I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll get to do that, though. But we\u2019ll see what happens! I\u2019m going to keep writing, and try and keep gigging and just try and get the music out there to as many people as possible. Maybe release a fitness DVD. And we\u2019ll see what happens.<\/p>\n