2017 saw a release of his single “You Are the Reason” and a tour of the United States. And finally, in 2018, we have a full studio album.
Calum Scott: Only Human
- 19 Apr 2018
May of 2015, Yorkshire-born Calum Scott has been all over the place. 2016 saw him release a cover Robyn's "Dancing On My Own," which became a sleeper hit and was certified platinum in the UK with over 600,000 copies sold.
Only Human
Calum Scott has been on the radar for a few years. His single “Dancing On My Own” quickly charted in over 34 countries on Spotify, peaking at no. 1 on the Viral chart in six, including the U.S. Now certified Platinum in four countries, it was the best-selling U.K. single of 2016 by a British solo artist and was nominated for a Brit Award for Best Single. The song has over 550 million streams worldwide, while views of the video are approaching 225 million.
So when Scott’s much-anticipated studio album debuted on March 9th, 2018, it was an instant success. Already, it reached position #2 on the Scottish Official Charts and has been met with positive critical reception. Notably, critics have praised the soulful and personal nature of the lyrics.
“I wrote this album with the intention of connecting with people all around the world using my own personal experiences, hoping that if I can inspire one person to be happy being themselves, bring some comfort or just make someone smile with my music, then all of my experiences have been worthwhile,” Scott said.
Indeed, the album feels like a personal memoir, a glimpse into a diary, and a relatable collection aimed at inspiring listeners to reflect upon themselves. In an interview with Billboard, Scott notes that after looking to his idols (Adele, Sam Smith, and Ed Sheeran), he knew what he had to do. “All of those guys write from the heart, they write from their past,” Scott says. “So I started to look to myself, and that’s when those sort of songs started to develop. I started to feel songwriting was pulling different pieces of my heart out — the more I started writing, the more there was honesty.”
His soulful and haunting voice is unforgettable and a perfect complement to his lyrics. Everything about the album feels natural and purposeful, like it was meant to be produced.
When you download Only Human, you get not only all 11 original tracks but also Scott’s poignant cover of Bob Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet.” If you just can’t get enough of Calum Scott, buy tickets for one of his live shows. He kicked off his tour at the Dublin Academy on April 12th and is on tour in Europe through May.