BIGSONG:
Scottish singer/songwriter Lewis Capaldi began creating a buzz in early 2017 with the release of his debut single, “Bruises,” a brooding exploration of a failed relationship that introduced his intimate piano and vocal sound. On the strength of his lone single, the Bathgate native sold out legendary Glasgow club King Tut’s and notched millions of streams before dropping his follow-up single, the equally stark “Lost on You,” later that summer. After signing with Virgin Records, Capaldi included both songs on his debut EP, Bloom, and capped off his banner year with a Scottish Music Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The front half of 2018 was spent touring in North America and Europe in advance of his next single, “Rush,” featuring Jessie Reyez. “Tough” followed a few months later. Both tracks were featured on his next EP, Breach, which arrived in November of that year. Capaldi’s debut LP, titled Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, arrived in May 2019 on Virgin EMI and featured no less than four Top Ten U.K. singles, including the number one hits “Someone You Loved” and “Before You Go.” “Someone You Loved” spent eight weeks at number one and crossed over to the U.S. for a one-week stay in the top spot during late 2019. Capaldi earned a Grammy nomination for the song, and early in 2020, carried home Brit awards for Song of the Year and Best New Artist.