Featured artist: Lewis Capaldi

Who? Lewis Capaldi.

What? Bruised, powerhouse folk.

From where? West Lothian.

What’s the story? The last year and a bit has been pretty staggering for 22 year-old Lewis Capaldi. A guitarist since the tender age of nine, the singer-songwriter’s debut single Bruises exploded online in March 2017 and provided a heartfelt introduction to his emotive songcraft and raw, powerhouse vocals.

Since then, he’s amassed nearly 250 million plays for just a handful of released tracks, been added to the Radio 1 Brit List, played mammoth support slots for the likes of Sam Smith, Rag’n’ Bone Man and Niall Horan and won over crowds on his own sold-out headline tours.

It’s all a stark contrast to just 18 months ago, when Lewis was a fixture on Glasgow’s local pub gig circuit — and he’s only just getting warmed up. Next year is set to get bigger for the rising star; he’s already featured in a slew of tastemaker predictions for 2019 and was recently shortlisted for the BRIT Awards 2019 Critics’ Choice award.

With a 30-date support slot for Bastille booked in for the New Year and his debut album on the horizon, get set for a Capaldi takeover…

Sounds like? Intimate and brooding, this is sure to please fans of James Bay and Hozier.

Predicted to? Dominate 2019.

Must hear? Latest track, Someone You Loved -