The hiatus is over at last. Lewis Capaldi is back with his brand new EP Survive, an extremely intimate journey through the loss and grief of his recent years. In classic Capaldi fashion, this four track collection is full of soaring power ballads, guaranteed to get the tears flowing in how relatable and honest they are.
Running for a short but effective fourteen minutes, Survive exists in the thick of heartbreak, in the place where it feels impossible to pack up and move on with your life. As a songwriter who rose to fame with such iconic anthems as ‘Someone You Loved’ and ‘Before You Go’, Lewis Capaldi knows how to deliver a sad tune. This project feels timeless in its sound and lyricism, proving music that speaks to the heart will hit hard no matter who or where you are in life. It also smartly cuts to the core of grief as a feeling, applying to many different circumstances and experiences.
The opening title track ‘Survive’ highlights Lewis’s trademark raw vocals, bursting to life on a powerful chorus where he bellows, “I’ve still got something to give”. ‘Survive’ is a battle cry to getting through the tough times. Its stadium rock guitar licks lift the dynamics to feel cinematic and intense, as Lewis shows off impressive vocal control through memorable, strong melodies. There’s no question why this is his sixth number one single to date. His promise that “I refuse to spend my best years rotting in the sun” comes to life in how his creations strike such an emotional chord with his fans.
It’s followed by a more down-tempo number in ‘Something In The Heavens’. This dreamy tune explores all the ways we justify holding onto those we’ve lost, but we still value. The delicate, detailed piano instrumental makes Lewis’s gorgeous falsetto shine. His feelings of utter longing sparkle in the breathtaking production, which is made even more magical as the orchestra blossoms late in the track. It’s simple, polished and effective, showing off the little finishing touches that make Capaldi’s sound so commanding.
It only gets more honest from here. Somehow, despite his constant vulnerability, Lewis Capaldi has a knack for letting his listeners feel even closer to his authentic self with every song on this EP. Listening in order will drag you into the depths of his mind in a way few artists can ever pull off. ‘Almost’ is a brutal track about how pain never truly goes away. Lewis ruminates on the past with a desperate passion, belting out a huge chorus with gospel influenced backing that makes the song feel like a spiritual journey. “I swear to God I’m almost alright,” he says, before contradicting himself in heartbreaking fashion with a sigh of, “I only think about you all the time”.
Survive closes with the absolute gut punch that is ‘The Day That I Die’. This is perhaps Lewis’s darkest song ever. It vividly depicts his own passing, written in his darkest days contemplating the value of his life, and the imagined impact on the loved ones he’d leave behind. This is graphic and extremely heavy, but in a way that can feel cathartic, and work as a tool to process our mortality. His insistence that “I will love you just the same from somewhere different” is thought-provoking, tear-jerking and strangely comforting all at once.
The music is earnest and expressive in that unique style Lewis Capaldi has truly mastered. To Survive is to move through life’s greatest challenges and keep pushing and growing as a person, and Lewis Capaldi has shown his ability to do that once again, with such a stunning collection. If this EP speaks to you, make sure to catch Lewis live in Aotearoa this December, as he plays Auckland’s Spark Arena and Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena. Lewis is an artist who’s even better live, pouring his heart out on stage in a way that must be seen to be believed.
