After two years away from the limelight, Lewis Capaldi has made a momentous return—debuting his poignant new single “Survive” and delivering a surprise, emotionally-charged set at Glastonbury 2025. The Scottish singer-songwriter’s return marks a powerful new chapter following a much-publicized hiatus to prioritize his mental and physical health, particularly after his Tourette’s syndrome diagnosis.
Released earlier this week, “Survive” is Capaldi’s first new material since 2023, and finds the chart-topping artist baring his soul with raw, emotional honesty fans have come to expect from him. “Most nights I fear that I’m not enough, I’ve had my share of Monday mornings when I can’t get up,” he admits in the verses, before rallying with a defiant, uplifting chorus: “I swear to God I’ll survive, if it kills me to, I’m gonna get up and try, if it’s the last thing I’ll do.”
Co-written with his longtime collaborator RØMANS, the same creative partner behind the global hit “Someone You Loved”, “Survive” is a gripping anthem that channels resilience, raw vulnerability, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going. It unfolds like both a battle cry and a lyrical breath of release, echoing the inner turmoil of mental health struggles while offering a cathartic sense of hope. For anyone weathering life’s storms, it resonates as a deeply human moment of reckoning and emotional rebirth.
In May, Lewis Capaldi quietly returned to the stage for a series of low-pressure warm-up shows across Scotland, in collaboration with mental health charity CALM during Mental Health Awareness Week. These intimate gigs helped him gauge his emotional readiness before stepping back under the global spotlight and commercial expectations. The response was overwhelmingly positive, paving the way for Friday evening’s surprise Glastonbury set.
Listed simply as “TBA” on the festival’s schedule, Capaldi walked onto the Pyramid Stage just before 5PM, greeted by an thunderous ovation. “It’s so good to be back. It’s just amazing to be here and thank you for coming to see me,” he told the crowd. “Second time’s the charm on this one.”
Opening with “Before You Go”, the 35-minute performance set included hits like “Grace”, “Forget Me”, and a stirring debut of “Survive” midway through the performance. “The last two years haven’t been the best for me,” he admitted. “This has been my f***ing goal—to get back here.” His voice cracked as he added, “I thought maybe this return wouldn’t happen. Genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, it means the f***ing world. I’m back, baby.”
It was a full-circle moment. At Glastonbury 2023, Capaldi had struggled visibly during his set due to uncontrollable tics caused by Tourette’s, with the audience stepping in to sing “Someone You Loved” when he could not finish. This year, the crowd still sang with him, but in celebration, not rescue. This time, it ended in triumph!
Capaldi’s meteoric rise to global stardom began with 2019’s Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, the UK’s best-selling album for two consecutive years and the launchpad for the multi-Platinum single “Someone You Loved”, now officially the most-streamed song in UK history and the fourth most-streamed worldwide. In 2023, he followed it up with Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, another UK No. 1 that spawned chart-toppers like “Pointless“, “Wish You The Best”, and “Forget Me”.
Yet despite the accolades and record-breaking statistics, it’s Capaldi’s vulnerability and unwavering honesty that continue to define his connection with fans. With “Survive”, he doesn’t just pick up where he left off; he sets a new tone: one of unflinching honesty, grit, and hope. As Glastonbury’s first night rolled on—headlined later by The 1975—Capaldi’s surprise set reminded everyone of music’s redemptive power, both for its makers and listeners.
Whether Survive is the start of a new full-length project or a gradual reintroduction remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Lewis Capaldi is back, and this time, he’s surviving on his own terms, louder and stronger than ever!
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