Earlier this month, Lewis Capaldi did a live-streamed gig to mark one year since the release of his debut album, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. Given that it was the UK’s biggest seller of 2019, it’s inevitable that hungry record companies will be launching “next Capaldis” at a rate of knots while he goes away to write the follow-up. Not that there was any shortage of big-voiced tearful troubadours before now, but Northern Ireland’s JC Stewart is an obvious candidate for the role.
He co-wrote a song on the Capaldi album, Hollywood, and seems to have the same personality mix that has served Capaldi and also James Blunt so well: heartbroken in song, funny online.
He labels himself “professional sad boy” on his social media channels, and recently went viral when Jennifer Aniston shared his coronavirus-themed update of the Friends theme tune. Meanwhile, on record, he’s got big tunes and his heart on his sleeve.
Last week’s new single, I Need You to Hate Me, is a break-up song, naturally, but with a poppy bounce that makes it sound ready for arena crowds. If a crowd ever gets into an arena again, he’s ready.
Watch JC Stewart on YouTube:
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