In 2018, everything about Lewis Capaldi’s life changed forever. That’s when the Scottish singer-songwriter rocketed to a sudden, intense level of fame when his single, “Someone You Loved,” took off on Spotify, garnering 28 million streams worldwide. That number made Capaldi the fastest-ever unsigned artist to reach 25 million plays. It was momentous, to be sure — but for Capaldi, it was just the beginning.
Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now is an all-access documentary that follows the young artist as he attempts to return to his roots and reconnect with his former life, bringing with him all the trappings of global success. Directed by Joe Pearlman (After the Screaming Stops, Return to Hogwarts) and produced by award-winning studio Pulse Films, How I’m Feeling Now follows a year in Capaldi’s life as he tries to balance his fame with his desire for normalcy, while also dealing with the pressure to somehow eclipse his wildly successful first album amid increasingly difficult mental health issues. The artist says that despite his fame, working on a project like this didn't exactly come naturally.
“Initially I was very hesitant when it came to this documentary,” Capaldi tells Netflix. “I think I'm seen as someone who is very open, honest and forthcoming with information about themselves because of how I am on social media, in interviews or on stage. But in fact, there's quite a lot I like to keep to myself.”
Capaldi says he hopes this project gives his fans more insight into who he really is beyond the fame and assumptions, even if that means a bit of discomfort in the process.
“The thing about documentary is, you’re given a bit more leeway to talk about [your life] that’s not going to be sensationalized or taken out of context,” Capaldi says. “I was nervous, and still am.”
The Lewis Capaldi documentary premieres on Netflix on April 5.
