Lewis Capaldi says he may quit music due to Tourette’s syndrome symptoms

Virgin Radio

2 Apr 2023, 19:19

The Scottish singer was diagnosed with the condition in September 2022.

Lewis Capaldi has opened up about the potential impact of his Tourette’s syndrome on his music career.

In an interview with The Times, the singer-songwriter revealed that performing is the only trigger for his tics, and that it is a "very real possibility" that he may have to stop making music if his condition worsens.

"It’s only making music that does this to me, otherwise I can be fine for months at a time, so it’s a weird situation," Lewis shared. "Right now, the trade-off is worth it, but if it gets to a point where I’m doing irreparable damage to myself, I’ll quit."

He added, "It’s a weird situation... I hate hyperbole, but it is a very real possibility that I will have to pack music in." Capaldi, 26, has previously talked about the physical pain and discomfort he experiences while performing, and the impact that his tics can have on his mental health.

In his upcoming Netflix documentary, How I’m Feeling Now, Capaldi discusses how his twitches have affected his life, saying, "Either I feel like I’m going to be stuck with it forever or I’m going to die."

He says in the film, "The twitches became out of control it was awful, absolutely horrific. I started to get in my head about it, you know these pressures about things. Rather than just me singing my silly little songs other people are depending on me."

He added: "My twitch gets worse when I sit down to play piano, physically painful. And I get really short of breath and it’s like my back f****** kills me when I go to do it."

Lewis talks about the pressure he feels to perform and how his Tourette's can make him feel disconnected from reality. Capaldi believes that sharing his condition with his fans helps him feel better.

He said, "If something’s going on with me, I’ll share it with the room... [It] makes me feel better to share."