Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi recently revealed the toll of fame on his mental health and his willingness to step away from the music industry to prioritize his well-being. In a candid conversation with Rebecca Judd on Apple Music, the 26-year-old artist discussed his struggles and their impact on his life.
Capaldi shared that his mental health had suffered greatly, particularly during his 2020 tour experiences. Despite achieving success with his first arena tour in the UK and subsequent performances in Australia and Asia, he battled panic attacks and overwhelming shyness daily while on stage. The challenging circumstances prompted him to reflect on his love for music and the distress it had unexpectedly caused him.
Capaldi expressed the importance of balancing his well-being and pursuing his music career.
“I think on this album, in particular, I talk a bit more about my mental health, which has taken a beating over the last little while.
“I’m managing it better now, but I think in 2020, I was kind of glad when we got put in lockdown because I had done my first arena tour in the UK, and we had just done an Australia and Asia tour before that.
“I was in a bad way where I was just having panic attacks every single day on stage, and I was just shy.
“I still haven’t quite got there, but, interestingly, this thing that you love to do and you’ve always wanted to do becomes something that causes you such distress, but such is the modern world.
“If I did another album and my head was scrambled, and I felt horrible, right now, I’m at a point where I can balance my mental health and how I feel.
“Not even just mental health, but the trade-off is worth it.
“I’ll take a few panic attacks and my Tourettes and stuff for what’s happening, but if it gets to the point where things get worse mentally and I stop kind of looking after myself in that regard, I think that would be a point where I’d be like, ‘I’m just not going to do this anymore.’”
‘Struggling to Perform Live’
Capaldi’s passion for performing live for his fans remains a driving force in his career. He admitted that the main reason he entered the music industry was to share his music with audiences, and he would feel devastated if he could no longer do so. However, he recognized that if the stress and lack of enjoyment became predominant in his music career, it would signal a need for change.
“The main reason I got into music was to play live, and if I’m struggling to do that ever, that’s where I’m in trouble because otherwise, that’s the payoff, that’s the point of doing it.
“At that point, if it felt like it was becoming something that I was not into or was causing me stress or I hated (it), then that’s when I would probably pack it in.”
With his heartfelt and honest revelations, Capaldi sheds light on the complex relationship between fame, mental health, and pursuing one’s passion. Furthermore, his openness serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing well-being in the face of success and the need to make difficult choices regarding personal happiness and self-care.
