Why Lewis Capaldi Thinks 'You Never Lose The 'Emo' In You'

Scotland's Lewis Capaldi never imagined that launching a pop career would lead to a family reunion. But the Bruises singer-songwriter recently met actor Peter Capaldi - his father's long-rumoured second cousin.

"He came down to a show - he asked to come down and stuff - and was a very, very lovely guy," Capaldi enthuses from New York, where he's performing, in a thick Glaswegian accent. His tale doesn't end there, either. "My mum sends me anything that's got my name in it, basically. She'll just send me fucking anything that's got anything to do with me. And there was a podcast with him just bigging me up. I was like, 'Fucking all right! Yeah, Peter Capaldi, Doctor Who - he's sought me out!'" 

This month, Capaldi, 21, will visit Australia for Splendour In The Grass - and he's "buzzin'". Hailing from the Medieval hub of Bathgate, Capaldi has been disingenuously tagged "Scotland's Ed Sheeran" (in fact, his vocal hero is Joe Cocker). Emulating an older brother involved in bands, Capaldi learnt to play guitar at nine and, by his tweens, was sneakily gigging in pubs. Later, having secured a manager, he steadily developed his songcraft. In March of 2017, Capaldi aired his debut single, Bruises - a piano-heavy break-up number. It quickly became a Spotify mega-hit - and Capaldi signed to Universal.

Capaldi's rise as a soulful popster seemed implausible in his youth, when he listened to heavy metal acts such as Slipknot. Capaldi regarded mainstream music with disdain until, at 18, he discovered Paolo Nutini. He then realised that his anti-pop stance was "absolute bullshit". Though that metal influence isn't apparent now, the muso still digs Slipknot. "I think you never lose the 'emo' in you," he chortles.

Before Bruises, Capaldi canvassed his management about the possibility of hiring the US songwriter/producer Malay - who, following his participation in Frank Ocean's channel Orange, worked with Zayn Malik (whose Mind Of Mine he deems "fucking incredible!"). They told him it was far-fetched. However, with Bruises blowing up, Team Capaldi determined to "give it a blast". Malay was intrigued by the Scottish lad with the gritty voice. Capaldi flew to NY and he and Malay made Fade - his favourite song on October's ensuing Bloom EP. Malay allowed Capaldi to express himself freely. "I'm very glad that I was afforded the opportunity to kinda do those lyrics on my own; that he was very cool with me just being in my own head about that stuff." They've since cut further songs - including Rush, a duet with Canada's Jessie Reyez. And Capaldi confirms that he's working towards an album. "We're planning on an album maybe early next year," he shares. "But if I've learned one thing from working in music or whatever and playing - or my experience, anyway - it's that these things change like nothing fucking else. It's very flexible, that." He's looking to drop a second EP first. 

Today, artists often speak of the challenges of prepping music while touring - yet Capaldi is unfazed. "We can basically do some stuff on the bus - and nut out demos in the bus," he reveals. "Every song I've ever released so far has been a demo; like a demo vocal, demo keys and stuff. It's always been the same. We've always went to record it with other people and then just came back to the demo." Capaldi prefers creating spontaneously - and the music industry's decision-making processes frustrate him. "There's a lot of opinions," he starts. "I hate - not hate, that sounds bad - [but] I don't like going in the studio and recording a song. I'd rather do demos." Indeed, re-recording songs to meet others' satisfaction is "laborious". "I've had to learn how to trust my own instincts a bit more, rather than just taking other people's word for gospel," Capaldi says. "I do take opinions on board, but I think, at the end of the day, you need to trust your gut sort of thing when it comes to your music and the stuff you're releasing."

Capaldi has powerful fans even beyond Doctor Who. One Direction's Niall Horan co-signed him early - and, in March, Capaldi opened for the Irishman at his Glasgow concerts. "It was the most informal way of organising a gig. They just messaged me on Instagram and it was like, 'Do you wanna come do this?' He's probably the nicest guy I've met on my travels with music so far." Capaldi is "humbled" by the ongoing patronage of 1D's audience. 

Describing himself live as "a very sweaty, chubby man," Capaldi will perform songs new and old in Oz. "It's a good time and I really enjoy myself - and I think that's a good enough sales pitch for people to come and see it."