LEWIS CAPALDI walked into the conference room happily dancing along to his song Grace, which was playing in the background.
It was the Scottish musican’s first time visiting Malaysia. Capaldi was set to perform in KL Live on Jan 14, and spared some time to talk to media representatives at a press conference prior to the show.
He broke the ice with a joke: “Whoever sings that song sounds very handsome.” His sense of humour flowed throughout the room, enlightening the hearts of the crowd.
When asked about his debut album, the intriguingly-named Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, Capaldi shared that it took him three years to write the whole album, which he described as very personal.
“I’m an open book. Open up and have a read. See what you think.”
But behind his sorrowful chart-topping hits, Capaldi is actually a cheerful person. He explained: “I think you get all the sadness out in the songs. Yeah, and then you are just a happy guy.”
The singer-songwriter did not hesitate to share his impending plans for 2020. “Well, I guess I’ll try and write a new album, and [it] would probably not be good as the first one.
“The first album, done very well. Very happy. So pleased. Excited. But, I don’t know if I’ve got another one in me.”
He added: “I will try and make it not terrible.”
Capaldi also said he wishes to release the first single for his upcoming second album by the end of this year.
Another plan in 2020 for Capaldi is for him to lose some weight. Along with that, he joked about the possibility of releasing a fitness DVD.
He claimed: “You can do whatever you want. You can have the best of both worlds.”
He then sang a few verses from the 2006 hit song The Best of Both Worlds by Miley Cyrus, causing the crowd to burst into laughter.
Aside from questions about music, media representatives took the opportunity to ask Capaldi more personal questions. When asked what he would be doing if his music career had not been set in motion, he responded: “I’d still be living at home with my mum and dad, so I just wouldn’t have a job.”
He added: “[Maybe playing] Playstation in my pants.”
Capaldi continuously entertained the crowd throughout the press conference. When asked what he would like to be remembered for besides his music, he replied: “My handsome good looks.”
The Someone You Loved singer also gave his two cents on the topic of fame. Capaldi shared: “(Fame) It could be very fun. But I think if you take it seriously, you’d have trouble. If you value yourself for how famous you are, you are in big trouble.”
He claimed that fame has not changed him, saying that the only difference is that he now spends two-and-a-half hours instead of the usual one hour to buy a pair of jeans at the store.
Capaldi pointed out: “It is a stupid concept to be famous. The fact that people now care about what I have to say is so stupid.
“I’m just like a young chubby boy from Scotland, do you know what I mean? I didn’t even finish high school.”
He added: “It’s not stupid or what, but just like very surreal.”
He continued: “I don’t do this (music) to be famous, I do it to make lots of money.”
Incidentally, at the 2020 Brit Awards set to take place on Feb 18, Capaldi will be up for four awards in the Male Solo Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artiste, and Album of the Year categories.
Capaldi highlighted that his songwriting skills, instead of his voice, are what brought him the recognition he received. “Technically, I’ve never seen myself as that good of a singer.”
He humbly expressed: “If I didn’t write my own songs, I wouldn’t be here.”
After the interview, Capaldi was presented with a Platinum Award by Universal Music Malaysia for the chart success achieved by Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, which was released May 17 last year.
