Lewis Capaldi struggled to hold back tears as he was asked some heartfelt questions in his first interview since cancelling all his shows. The Scottish popstar announced the news to fans following his emotional performance on the Pyramid Stage during this year's Glastonbury Festival last month.
The singer-songwriter revealed he would be taking a break from touring "for the foreseeable future" in wake of his BBC Glastonbury set, which saw him battling voice issues during a Tourette's Syndrome flare-up. Over a week later, he has joined talk show host Sean Evans on the latest episode of Hot Ones on popular YouTube channel First We Feast.
The show sees Evans chat with various celebrities as they each tuck into hot chicken wings, that gradually increase in heat - often leaving guests in tears and sweating. In the latest instalment, uploaded yesterday (July 6), Capaldi begins by expressing how nervous he is.
Evans then asks how he is around spicy food, adding how he is the first Scottish person on the show. "Yes, the first Scottish person on here feels good, I feel like I'm gonna let a nation down here."
As the pair got stuck into some of the hottest wings on the table - including ones covered in a hot sauce that hits 641,000 on the Scoville level - things quickly got serious. "I spent most of the time hating myself when I'm writing songs," Capaldi said while opening up on his career. "I think that's fine - that's my process.
"I subject the general public to the pain of listening to music, so I feel like I should have to suffer as well," he joked. While crying and gulping down glasses of lemonade and milk, Evans asks the singer advice he has for people regarding success and the music industry.
"The question is a good one," Capaldi replied. "Right, you just don't know anything. You learn you don't know anything and nobody has the answers. You don't know what a hit is - every time I think a song is a smash hit, it's a failure. Labels know nothing, you know nothing.
"Nobody knows anything. No offence." He later asked: "Am I visibly crying?" before adding: "You are your own person. Americans make an effort to understand me - but posh British people are like 'I don't understand a word you're saying'."
Capaldi, who has just released a new album called 'Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent', continued: "Right now it's hard to collect my thoughts... I was on the verge of a panic attack."
Evans then asks: "Do you have any foundational advice for people struggling with feelings of inadequacy even when their lives are seemingly otherwise going well?"
Capaldi said: "If you feel like an imposter... life is meaningless... None of this means anything... Hell is awaiting us all!" In less than 24 hours, the episode has been watched more than one million times, with thousands of comments.
Roanneanad wrote: "People with Tourette's couldn't have hoped for a more loveable, relatable ambassador. Lewis is a treasure." Leighflagg3532 put: "I LOVE Lewis Capaldi. He is the whole package: amazing, hilarious, talented, irreverent, brave, burpy, sweaty, and soulful!"
ScissortailGaming added: "Lewis is one of the most genuine, raw dudes in the biz and I love him for being unapologetically himself. Easily one of my fave guests on this show!! Thanks for having him." Jamitsista typed: "I just love Lewis so much. He’s such a normal and likeable person who just happens to be ridiculously talented. He’s a diamond in the rough."
