Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Tasha Hall & Iona Young

West Lothian star Lewis Capaldi confirms reason he may be forced to give up music

Lewis Capaldi has shared fears he may need to quit his music career if his Tourette's gets any worse.

The West Lothian singer, 26, first opened up about his diagnosis of the neurological condition in September last year and candidly talks about the struggles that come with it in his new Netflix documentary 'How I'm Feeling Now'.

READ MORE - Young Scottish family gutted as dream new build home turns into a 'swamp'

Explaining how he manages the condition - which is characterised by involuntary noises and movements known as tics - he said that performing on stage during tours can make his symptoms worse and they can escalate.

"It's only making music that does this to me, otherwise I can be fine for months at a time, so it's a weird situation," he told The Times.

"Right now, the trade-off is worth it, but if it gets to a point where I'm doing irreparable damage to myself, I'll quit.

"I hate hyperbole but it is a very real possibility that I will have to pack music in."

The Pointless singer admitted that his tic is getting "quite bad" whilst performing on stage at the moment and that he's trying to get it under control.

“I’m trying to get on top of that. If I can’t, I’m f***ed. It’s easier when I play guitar, but I hate playing guitar," he added.

Speaking in his documentary Lewis said: “My twitch that I have gets worse when I sit down to play piano. ­Physically painful. I get really short of breath and my back f****** kills me but I’ve got to do it.”

Lewis's parents, nurse mum Carol, 56, and fishmonger dad Mark, 56, are concerned for his health and question whether the fame is worth it in his upcoming Netflix documentary as they said he went from a carefree teenager into a stressed superstar.

Quizzed on why he decided to be filmed for Netflix, he explained that producers approached them and that he went along with it.

"At the time, I was due to go on all these tours so I said they could come and hang out. Bask in my success, hahaha! I imagined it as a pat on the back, my victory lap," he said.

Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

But at the time Covid hit across the country and the documentary was halted as he produced a second record. He had originally also not wanted his family featured in the show, but eventually caved.

He added: "Then it became a deeper look into aspects of my life that even I wasn’t aware of. In a way, it ended up like my career — it just got away from me."

Lewis Capaldi's Netflix show How I’m Feeling Now films Lewis across four years – from performing in Glasgow’s pubs and clubs to a man often struggling with the pressure of worldwide fame.

Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now will stream on Netflix on Wednesday, April 5.

READ NEXT:

Plans progressing for luxury Edinburgh hotel on Princes Street with rooftop bar

Startled woman finds 'secret shower' with tiles and mirror while decorating home

Easter egg warning for supermarket customers who could be 'missing out on cash'

Fascinating Midlothian footage shows crowds gathered for Dalkeith Gala parade almost 100 years ago

Sleep expert shares fruit we should be eating before bed to fall asleep faster

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.