Lewis Capaldi has revealed himself as the mastermind behind a mysterious vinyl campaign that left music fans and record store employees guessing. Ahead of Record Store Day, select shops in the UK and US received shipments of unmarked records featuring a new, pitch-shifted song with no artist attribution.
“hope you don’t hate this song as much as I hate watching my self lip syncing to it,” Capaldi quipped in a TikTok caption confirming his involvement.
The plain white sleeves and unlabeled vinyl sparked widespread speculation online, with many listeners identifying Capaldi’s distinctive vocal style and romantic lyrics. Other popular guesses included James Arthur, The 1975, Bon Iver, and Niall Horan.
Capaldi ended the mystery by posting a video lip-syncing to the studio version of the track, which includes the lyrics: “So when the rights are going wrong/And I’m barely holding on/Baby hear me when I say/Oh won’t you stay love...”
The free vinyl giveaway created unexpected buzz, with one copy appearing on eBay for £2,500. Record store employees had described it as a preview of upcoming music from “a major artist.”
This stunt follows Capaldi’s recent return to music with his ‘Survive’ EP in November, his first release since the 2023 album ‘Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent.’ His comeback has included a surprise Glastonbury performance, a charity event appearance with Matty Healy, and a cameo in Taylor Swift’s ‘Opalite’ video.
Capaldi has several major performances scheduled for summer 2026, including BST Hyde Park, Roundhay Festival, and headline shows in Liverpool and Newcastle.