Lewis Capaldi opens up on 'heartwarming couple of weeks'

Glasgow Times

3 days ago

In a revealing interview, Lewis talks about his return to music, the fans' reaction, how performing at this year's Glastonbury Festival after a two-year break was 'the best day' of his life, and how his new chilled lifestyle helps his wellbeing.
Lewis, 28, performed a secret set at Glastonbury last month, after taking a two-year break from the spotlight.
He said: 'I'm not great at keeping secrets. I wanted it to be a surprise, but we had to start leaking it out a couple of weeks before because it would have been strange to come out to an empty field.
"By that weekend it was the worst-kept secret. It was genuinely the best day of my life. I loved every moment of it.
"Almost immediately, I was overcome with emotion and I started to well up. So I was like, 'Get it together', but then I turned around and looked at my drummer and he was in floods of tears.
"It was weird, I knew it was going to be fine this time around. I had nerves and butterflies, but it wasn't the same as 2023 when I was so stressed and I knew something bad was going to happen. It was spectacular.'
Lewis Capaldi on The Tonight Show on Monday, July 14, 2025 (Image: Todd Owyoung/NBC)
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The musician announced he was taking time off shortly after performing at the festival in 2023 due to vocal issues, anxiety and his Tourette's syndrome.
Speaking about his return to the spotlight and the reaction from fan, Lewis said: 'It's been such a heartwarming couple of weeks. You don't know if anyone's going to be interested after two years away.
"People have been really kind. I was in the airport the other day and a lot of people were coming up to me and asking for pictures, then you had others going, 'Give him some space' and being protective.
'I can't overstate the importance of the last two years, getting the chance to take time off.'
After two years out of the spotlight, he recently returned with the release of his new single, 'Survive'.
Speaking about the song, Lewis said: 'I'm trying to write songs for myself these days and if other people find something in it, that's amazing for them.
"I've written a lot of songs about my mental health and how it was debilitating me at certain points in my life, but I wanted to write something about overcoming it.
"People have come up to me and been really complimentary about the song, telling me how it's helped them and how they relate to it.
'Usually if I'd just released a single, I'd be doing so much more promotion and social media, but I'm really trying to take days off where I can.
"I'm putting emphasis on not overdoing it. With 'Survive' I really wanted to let the song do the talking.
"People want to know where I've been and how things are going, but I have to take my time out and chill.'
Lewis Capaldi 'Music That Soothes Me' on Apple Music (Image: Apple Music)
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He was speaking ahead of Apple Music launching a brand-new curated playlist series, '[[Music]] That Soothes Me', for listeners to chill, relax, and unwind to.
The new guest curated playlist series kicks off with comforting song choices by Lewis as well as American singer-songwriter Reneé Rapp and British rock band Bring Me The Horizon.
Lewis's playlist features songs by acts including The 1975, Fontaines D.C., Gracie Abrams, Lana Del Rey and The Beatles.
Lewis revealed how he's trying to implement a more 'chilled out' lifestyle: 'I use music in meditation a lot - ambient music, not what I usually listen to.
"But when I'm going to bed, I'll listen to a lot of green noise and rain noises, especially when I'm trying to get to sleep, to soothe me … Slowing down and being outside help.
"I like meditation, and I also go to therapy, which has really helped me with stress.
"I'm not someone who enjoys going for long walks or spending a ton of time outside, but I force myself to do it these days because the effect it has on my mood and my stress levels is just mind-blowing.
"I think for a long time I was either working or going to the pub, and these days, I spend a lot more time with friends in a way that isn't just going out.
"Doing wholesome things with friends is always a nice change … Get outside, go to therapy, do some meditation and hang out with people.'
Lewis Capaldi opens up on 'heartwarming couple of weeks' (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire) And he revealed some unconventional tunes that "help him to sleep."
He said: 'If I'm going to fall asleep, especially on a plane, I put on Eminem because I feel like it really puts me at ease.
"I listen to a lot of the older stuff like The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show - for some reason it lulls me into a delightful little sleep, or I'll put on some of my own demos, which also really knock me out!'
See the full tracklisting and listen to Lewis Capaldi's 'Music That Soothes Me' playlist here.