Lewis Capaldi’s next album will see him ditch his signature sad songs

October 20, 2025 – Radio 854 Music News:

From Heartbreak to Happiness — Lewis Capaldi’s Next Chapter

Scotland’s global hit-maker Lewis Capaldi is signalling a bold shift in his artistry. Known for soul-wrenching ballads like Someone You Loved and Before You Go, he’s now promising that his forthcoming third album will show a different, brighter side — a departure from his signature sad songs.

A change in tone

During a chat on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, Capaldi made his intentions clear:

“I would like to start making happy music. News flash, breaking news. Next album I am doing, it’s happy. It’s happy, happy stuff.”

This is significant, because over the years his emotional ballads — often of love lost, regret and raw vulnerability — have become his trademark. His second album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent (2023) reinforced that identity.

Why this pivot now?

Several factors seem to be converging:

• Personal evolution: Capaldi has been open about his mental-health journey, his struggles with Tourette’s syndrome, the pressures of fame and being on tour. This context may be shaping his desire to explore a lighter emotional palette.

• Artistic ambition: As he matures as a writer and performer, he may be seeking to expand his range — not just the sad, tear-jerker mode, but something more upbeat, hopeful, perhaps even playful.

• Fan-base and expectation: While his ballads have connected deeply, the shift might refresh his sound, broaden his appeal and prevent being boxed into one emotional style.

What we know so far

• Capaldi’s comeback single Survive (June 2025) marked his return after a hiatus, and it debuted strongly.

• His September 2025 single Something in the Heavens still leaned into themes of loss and longing — so the new album may not abandon the emotional territory, but rather re-balance it.

• The album is described in press coverage as “happy… happy stuff” in contrast to the heavier, emotional tone he’s known for.

What this could mean for listeners & radio

For your team at Radio 854, this shift presents several opportunities:

• Introducing the new era: You can create a radio feature or segment highlighting Capaldi’s transformation — playing excerpts of his older, iconic ballads, then contrasting them with his newer material to show the evolution.

• Audience engagement: Ask listeners how they feel about the change. Are they excited to hear a “happy” Capaldi? What does “happy music” mean to them when coming from an artist known for heartbreak songs?

• Programming strategy: While the sad ballads will always have a place in Capaldi’s catalogue, his new singles may fit more upbeat or general-pop slots rather than the emotional late-night segment.

• Promotion tie-ins: When the album drops, you might invite Capaldi (or his reps) for a chat on air about the change in direction — what it meant for him, how the writing process differed, what fans can expect.

A note of caution

Change always carries risk. Some fans love Capaldi because he wears his heart on his sleeve, and a shift to happier themes may feel unexpected or even jarring to them. But if done authentically — and given his obvious talent for emotional honesty — this move could mark a refreshing new chapter rather than a loss of identity.

Looking ahead

With his next album on the horizon (details yet to be fully revealed), we’ll be keeping an ear out for:

• The lead single and whether it embodies the “happy” new mood

• Song-titles and lyrical themes: do they reflect brighter horizons, more optimism, fewer tears?

• Production and instrumentation: perhaps a shift toward lighter, sunnier arrangements

• How fans and critics respond: adoption, surprise, resistance?

One thing remains clear: if Lewis Capaldi is truly pivoting away from sad-song territory, it’s poised to be a bold move — and one worth tuning in for.