Lewis Capaldi: Scottish singer-songwriter who became a global superstar at 22 with his debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent and the hit Someone You Loved.
What this episode covers
Lewis Capaldi sits down with Stephen Bartlett to discuss his childhood in Scotland, his early obsession with performing, and the roots of his anxiety and hypochondria. He speaks candidly about developing panic attacks and being diagnosed with Tourette's after fame hit, including a harrowing 2020 arena tour where he twitched and froze on stage. Capaldi explains that playing live is the only reason he endures the parts of music he hates, and how therapy and accepting his emotions have helped him cope. He also reflects on imposter syndrome, dating as a famous person, his self-deprecating humour, and his fears about releasing his second album after the runaway success of his first.
Recommended on this episode
Let Me Entertain You
Robbie Williams
“remember that robbie williams song hey oh here she goes... it's just all like cool and thing and it's a great song i love that song”— Lewis Capaldi
The guest's own work
Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Lewis Capaldi
“my first album's called divinely uninspired to a hellish extent which is like kind of getting seeing my album before i can see my album”— Lewis Capaldi
Bruises
Lewis Capaldi
“the first song i ever released was bruises which was on my album that's the first one i've ever put out”— Lewis Capaldi
Rush
Lewis Capaldi
“there was a song called rush but these are songs i still love song called rush and song called tough”— Lewis Capaldi
Also referenced (named, not recommended)
We Will Rock You
Queen
“we were at like one of those like cat like a band was playing it was like a karaoke thing... and i sang we will rock you by queen”— Lewis Capaldi
We Are the Champions
Queen
“it had like we were rocky by queen on it and i had we are the champions as well and i remember like just i became obsessed with”— Lewis Capaldi
Austin Powers
Jay Roach
“when i was like five i watched austin powers like i was like religiously watching austin powers i don't know why”— Lewis Capaldi
The Trip
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon
“the trip with steve coogan and rob brydon when he goes oh well she's only going out are you famous because you're famous”— Lewis Capaldi
Big reveals from this episode
- Capaldi says he never had a panic attack until after he became famous; success tipped his lifelong anxiety over the edge.
- He reveals he was diagnosed with Tourette's about two months before the interview, which explained the twitching he'd long had.
- His March 2020 arena tour was 'the worst two weeks of my life' with panic attacks and twitching every single night.
- He paid for a private MRI scan and cancelled a festival in Austin because his hypochondria convinced him something was seriously wrong.
- His dad cried in the car because he thought Lewis was having a seizure, before anyone knew it was Tourette's.
- His mother has had to sleep in his bed as recently as a month before the interview because his anxiety got so bad.
- Capaldi turns the show's central question on himself, admitting he struggles to know what makes him happy outside of music.
Worth remembering
- His first performance was singing We Will Rock You aged four at a French caravan-holiday karaoke night.
- He stopped using all social media at 16 because he thought being offline was 'cool and edgy'.
- His only career goal as a teen was making enough money from music to avoid a 'real job'.
- Bruises was the first song he ever officially released, after roughly 10-12 years of writing songs.
- His breakout social-media moment came filming himself in daft cat-eye glasses joking about being famous.
- A festive marketing campaign was just a close-up of his face saying 'Merry Christmas' on London Tube posters with nothing being promoted.
- He had a panic attack the entire time at the Grammys and felt relieved when he didn't win.
- He was kicked off Hinge, Bumble and Tinder because people assumed his profile was fake.