Scottish Artists to Watch

Lewis Capaldi. Photo Christoph Kostlin

This November Lewis Capaldi and Nina Nesbitt played at London’s Sheppard’s Bush Empire. It was an excellent night of great singing and heart wrenching lyrics. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I left being a huge fan of both artists. They both have albums scheduled to come out next year, so get a head of the crowd and give them a listen. 

Lewis Capaldi is a young singer song writer from small town in Scotland, who’s powerful voice will have your emotions swinging. For such as young person, it is surprising how well he passing the emotion of sadness, love, and everything in between. His debut EP ‘Bruises’ came out in 2017 and he’s had a trail of success blazing after him since. If you’re a fan of James Bay, you won’t be able to get enough of Mr Capaldi. For anyone, like myself, who’s recently gone through a break up I would say the EP pairs well with a gin and tonic.

His voice and band filled the theater, making the hair on the back of my neck stand with his heart breaking swooning. If Capaldi’s recorded material is good, then his live performance is better. It fills you with emotion inevitably making you sway along with the music, hug your friends and sing along in solidarity as Lewis croons about the ins and outs of relationships. With a small number of songs released and selling out a 2000 person venue, it is easy to predict further success for the young Scot. 

Nina Nesbitt is another talented Scot who has been touring across North America and Europe this year. There must be something in the water in Scotland because she’s bursting with talent that will leak out into the world with her international debut in February. Singing about everything from how to handle f*ck boys to the natural changes in life, the album promises to be worth a listen.

It is really refreshing to hear two singers who are genuinely better live than in their recordings in a single evening. Nesbitt’s range is wild, reaching drastically high notes in her cover of Britney’s “Toxic” and smashing it.  She’s a queen of Instagram and the stage, with enough witty banter to make you laugh. I can’t wait to hear the rest of her new album, as I am sure it will live up to the songs she has already released.  Nina Nesbitt will be touring in North America in early 2019, and I would definitely recommend getting a ticket because I’m sure it won’t be long until she sells out bigger venues. She’s just released a new song “Colder” which you can find on Spotify; it is well worth a listen.