Lewis Capaldi thinks his fans “deserve better” than for him to just “chase” hits.
The Someone You Loved hitmaker has been inspired by his friends Sam Fender and Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten to really “care” about his work in the studio and to think more consciously about his output.
He told Billboard UK: ““[Sam and Grian] talk about music as art – and I know this sounds f****** mental coming from someone who is also a musician – but they really f****** care about everything they’re putting out.
“It is so inspiring. What they have instilled in me is to really take time [in the studio], and start properly giving a f*** about what I’m saying and what the songs sound like…
“Around the second album, I became so hyper-focused on chasing a hit record that I was just doing s*** on the fly and handing off songs to producers. I don’t want to phone in anything ever again. The people who listen to my music deserve better; I deserve better.”
Lewis feels “happy and secure” enough to admit he is currently “unsure” what the future looks like but for his next album, he is keen to work with different people and be involved in “every single aspect of the production,” as well as “not compromise” on the recording process.
He said: “I feel the most confused and lost I’ve ever been in my career. But it’s a really good thing; I feel like I have absolutely no idea what the f*** I’m doing.”
After struggling with burnout and Tourette’s syndrome, Lewis received support from the likes of David Gray and Sir Elton John, and he is keen to “pay it forward” to other artists going through difficulties, and got in touch with Lola Young as she struggled with her growing profile last year.
He said: “Lola is amazing, she’s incredible.
“I sent her a big message where I was like, ‘Look, you don’t need to reply to this, but I know how you’re feeling.’
“When I went away, there were a lot of people reaching out to me; I didn’t get back to everybody, but it meant a lot. Everyone talks about the ‘duty of care’ that is required from labels, but I think we also have a responsibility as artists to share that support.”