Lewis Watson, the 19 year old singer songwriter from Oxfordshire has swiftly become an overnight YouTube sensation; with over 4 million views it is fair to say he has an already large and dedicated fan-base. This young musician has been playing guitar since he was a kid and only 3 years ago posted his very first cover on YouTube. After a wealth of comments and positive feedback, he gained the confidence to perform for live crowds in pubs and clubs in his hometown of Oxfordshire.
In April of this year he released his long awaited debut EP – It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW showcasing four original and independently recorded songs. The EP opens with ‘What About Today’ a love song which can only be described as melancholic; his masterful lyrics can’t help but warm the inner workings of your heart. With a simple guitar line throughout and Lewis’s sultry voice it’s not hard to believe that his fan base is largely female. The second song on the EP is ‘Windows’ – a personal favourite of mine, it has a brighter edge to its melody and yet still hints at a lost love, Watson manages to work emotion into the simplest of lyrics. ‘Bones’ another champion of a song about ‘meeting someone new’ is placed strategically third on the EP, with a beautiful finger picked melody and soft, story like lyrics it speaks volumes when performed in intimate venues. Finally the last track ‘Nothing’ encompasses the feel of the entire EP, with the strong sound of reverb guitar it is both delicate and powerful in equal measure, Lewis manages to hit the spot every single time. This track brings to a close a jaw-dropping and impressive first EP.
After showing his flair for song writing, you can imagine the invitations for collaborations have come in thick and fast. Lewis Watson hasn’t long since finished touring with the stunning Gabrielle Aplin and is soon to be supporting Birdy at London Shepherds Bush Empire, a gig I so wish I had a ticket for. Lewis’s very own headline tour in October is already a success after selling out in record time. In June this year I saw him perform a set at Dot To Dot festival, he simply radiates a youthful confidence. Both his songs and performance had the audience in raptures. If you are yet to discover this young lad, the time is definitely now; I assure you it will not be long before he is selling out arenas.
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