English singer-songwriter Calum Scott vividly remembers his first time in India, when he was a special guest at Ed Sheeran’s 2024 Mathematics tour concert in Mumbai.
“When I walked on stage to that crowd, it felt like I was the headliner. Everywhere I could see, people were roaring with joy and celebration. It felt amazing to be celebrated this way so far away from home,” he recalls.
The 37-year old singer is now back in India, for concerts in Delhi, and for Lollapalooza Mumbai over the next few days. “To be coming back here with my own shows feels amazing. It really is a dream come true,” he says, on a Zoom call from Delhi. .
Having broken into the music scene in 2015 as a Britain’s Got Talent contestant, Calum went on to release the albums Only Human in 2018 and Bridges in 2022. While his popular songs include ‘Roots’, ‘Where are you now’ and ‘Woke Up In Love’, the singer’s biggest hit and one that remains a favourite over the years is the pop ballad, ‘You Are The Reason’.
Calum has had a whirlwind last few months with the release of his third and latest studio album Avenoir in October 2025, and kicking off an expansive world tour spanning several countries. Avenoir, he says, feels like his most confident work yet.
“I feel more content in my life now. I’ve been able to quieten down the imposter syndrome in my mind that is telling me that one day I’m going to have to go back to my human resources job from the past,” he laughs. This, Calum says, meant feeling free of creative boundaries, and being able to explore different genres on his new album.
While he says he worked with an amazing artiste, Lauren Alaina on the country duet ‘One More Drink’, he also laughs and says it might be a “bit cringe” saying this, but that he enjoyed working on ‘Peripheral Vision’, which might be his sexiest song yet. “The album just felt like I finally deserved to be where I’m at, and that gave me a lot more sort of confidence, freedom and joy genuinely in making the music,” he says.
The album also features Calum in a duet with Whitney Houston on a balladic interpretation of her iconic song ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, nearly 13 years after her death. “I remember when we first got the confirmation that I would be working with Whitney’s voice I kept thinking about how I could make this the most respectful tribute to her. I used to listen to her music growing up, and for me, it was the joy of getting the opportunity to duet with her voice,” he says.
While Calum says he was worried about possibly destroying an amazing song, comments under the YouTube video of this single heap praise on the tribute, calling it respectful and nostalgic. “I knew that I was going to do what I do best; which is taking up the beat pop song and making it sad. So I wanted to do it in the most respectful way possible, and we went to great lengths to make sure that happened. Hearing compliments like this really reaffirms to me that I did the best job I could,” he adds.
Currently in India following the European leg of his Avenoir tour, Calum takes us through how he prepared for his global concert tour. “When I first sang the set the whole way through, I remember thinking to myself that I needed to work out at this. I am writing songs that are way out of my range, and doing these songs back to back on stage really takes a toll on your voice. I had to train my voice for the stage,” he recalls. He however says after the European leg of his tour, he feels very prepared for India and the rest of Asia.
“ I’m more of a performer than I’ve ever been before. And this is all thanks to Ed Sheeran plonking me in the middle of a packed stadium, on a circular stage where you cannot get away from anyone. This really helped me, you know?”
The singer has a whirlwind year ahead, but we ask him what he is most excited for musically this year. “I think everybody in the world is excited for the new Harry Styles album. With disco in the title, I think we’re all in for a treat,” he says. And at Lollapalooza Mumbai, Calum is as excited about catching Linkin Park in concert as is their legion of fans here. “They were one of my favourite bands growing up. I started straightening my hair and painting my nails black thanks to them. I am excited that I get to see them perform,” he adds.
Calum Scott performs in Delhi on Friday, January 23 and at Lollapalooza Mumbai on Saturday, January 24
Published – January 23, 2026 01:58 pm IST
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