Up and coming singer Billy Lockett has credited chart topping star Lewis Capaldi for helping him come out of his shell.
The 31-year-old singer supported 26-year-old Lewis on tour back in 2019 and has credited the Someone You Loved star for helping him with his own self confidence.
Billy has opened up about his own struggles with Tourettes - a condition of the nervous system which can provoke ‘tics’ within those that live with it, which can manifest in a number of ways including involuntary movements and sounds.
Northampton singer Bily said sharing a tour bus with Lewis helped him embrace his own relationship with the condition.
Billy explained to The Sun on Sunday: “Lewis was sleeping above me on the tour bus and I could hear his tics going.
"They were setting mine off – it was a domino effect. I was so embarrassed about my Tourette’s but Lewis has inspired me to just be open about it.
"It’s made me embrace who I am and not hide behind the artist thing.”
During a candid discussion with fans in September last year, Lewis opened up about his own experience of living with Tourettes.
The chart-topping star felt compelled to address his diagnosis at the time after a video of him went viral online.
He explained in September 2022: “I’ve seen this video here doing the rounds on TikTok and I see a lot of people in the comments concerned because I’m twitching quite a lot.”
He continued: “I’m doing this quite a lot and look a bit uncomfortable. I’ve got Tourette’s so I’m just twitching quite a bit but it’s not an issue in the slightest. I’m absolutely fine.
“It’s just that this happens when I get tired, nervous, excited or whatever so it just gets more intense.
“I’m not doing it now at all because I’m lying in my bed in my pants but this [the original video] is at the end of an hour-and-a-half gig and I’m singing in front of 15,000 people.
“So I’m tired and I’m very excited because this whole arena is singing my songs back to me but I’m fine.”
Billy Lockett unleashed his debut album on Friday - and could follow Lewis to the top of the charts after his songs found near immediate support from music fans.
Taking to Twitter on the eve of his album release, Billy wrote: “It’s been a long time coming but my debut album Abington Grove is out at midnight. Hope it was worth the 10 year wait.”
Billy was stunned to see the album fire up the charts - updating fans via Twitter mere hours after it was released, writing: “Number 3 in the main album charts! Madness, thank you everyone.”
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