'There is still this discovery process with Lewis': Capitol's Greg Marella talks Capaldi's US breakthrough

'There is still this discovery process with Lewis': Capitol's Greg Marella talks Capaldi's US breakthrough

Greg Marella, EVP of promotion at Capitol Music Group, has told Music Week that Lewis Capaldi’s Grammy nomination is going to boost discovery for the debut album.

As revealed in the latest issue, the US label will now be in sync with other global markets as it switches to the single Before You Go, which is in the running to be the UK Christmas No.1 after moving 19-2.

Capaldi has hit No.1 in the US with Someone You Loved, while debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent is hovering around the Top 20.

“We’ve had one gigantic single campaign over the last year,” said Marella. “There is still this discovery process happening with Lewis. More and more people are going to discover the depth of his album, especially with the Grammy campaign as that gets closer.”

Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent is the biggest seller for the year to date in the UK, with 522,358 sales (Official Charts Company). Capaldi also has the biggest single of 2019: Someone You Loved has sales so far of 2,229,719 (OCC).

There is just this love and connection with Lewis, because of his wit, his charm, his sense of humour

Greg Marella

Someone You Loved is nominated for Song Of The Year at the Grammys. Marella said the ceremony in LA on January 27 will be a “big moment” for Capaldi. 

“It is incredibly significant and it's also very validating for his fans, for everybody that's put in all the hard work in the last year with this single,” said Marella.

Capaldi has performed on American TV shows including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and twice on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. He will appear on Live With Kelly And Ryan on December 19, as well as playing US iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concerts. 

“We're working with Lewis’ to carve out some time in the early part of 2020 to be able to bring him to television, radio and everything else that we can plug in,” said Marella.

Capaldi has just launched a TV commercial for HMV. The Scot’s humour and social media antics have successfully travelled to the US, according to Marella. 

“Once people look who's behind the music, there is just this love and connection with Lewis, because of his wit, his charm, his sense of humour,” he told Music Week.

To read the full interview, pick up the latest issue – or subscribers can click here.

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