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A post shared by Lewis Mclaughlin (@lewismclaughlinmusic)

The multi-instrumentalist whose music blends indie, folk, pop, and rock influences released his debut album, ‘Feel the Ground You Walk Upon’, in March 2022. Exploring relatable themes of first love, leaving home, and mental health struggle, McLaughlin’s heartfelt narratives and authentic delivery resonated deeply with listeners, sparking the growth of a devoted fan base.

The standout track from the album, ‘Summer’, became a fan favourite and defining release for McLaughlin. Capturing a sense of nostalgia and connection, the poignant indie-folk track won him the prestigious Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition in 2022.

The song’s gradual build – from its reverb-heavy, hard-panned vocals to a lush blend of acoustic guitar, piano, strings, and percussion – strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and emotional depth. This combination cemented ‘Summer’ as one of McLaughlin’s signature pieces and launched him onto stages at renowned festivals like Glastonbury, Latitude, and Belladrum.

Drawing inspiration from artists like Bon Iver and Villagers, McLaughlin’s artistry is both introspective and innovative. His work has been featured on platforms including BBC Radio Scotland and the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, further broadening his reach.  

August 2024 saw the release of his second album, ‘A Hope In Fear’, which delves deeper into themes of self-discovery and resilience. While staying true to his narrative-driven songwriting style, the album showcases McLaughlin’s evolving sound and his continued resonance with audiences, solidifying his place in the contemporary indie music scene.

His upcoming Ireland tour in May, will be preceded by three concert dates in Scotland, as announced on his Instagram following a series of successful live shows. 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lewis Mclaughlin (@lewismclaughlinmusic)

McLaughlin’s rise, along with other notable, emerging indie musicians like Good Neighbours and Jacob Alon, parallels a larger shift within the music industry.

Indie music, which refers to independent, experimental, and boundary-pushing music, isn’t defined by a specific sound or style. Over the past two decades, it has undergone a dramatic transformation, fuelled by the rise of streaming services, social media, and the resurgence of vinyl. Independent artists like RAYE and Central Cee have achieved global stardom without relying on traditional record labels, demonstrating the growing popularity of independent music.

SIX @BRITs & ALBUM OF THE YEAR please just thank you https://t.co/c23XcFUtUl pic.twitter.com/4MAYkWiFgj

— RAYE (@raye) March 3, 2024

Over the course of 2025, indie music is predicted to dominate the mainstream. The demand for authenticity and raw storytelling is stronger than ever, and independent artists are redefining the industry on their own terms.

Although signed to a record label, Lewis McLaughlin embodies the spirit of this new era, demonstrating that with talent, authenticity, and ingenuity, artists can thrive beyond the traditional barriers of the music industry. As an emerging artist, he exemplifies how the transformation of the industry – driven by the rise of direct-to-fan engagement with streaming platforms and social media – has created unparalleled opportunities for artists to connect with audiences, build loyal fanbases, and chart their own path to success.

McLaughlin quickly took to his socials after accepting his award, summing it up as “Madness”, before expanding to say “Honestly so stunned, all the other acts were incredible. Big thanks to all the judges and everyone involved in the competition.”. While we’re on the subject of other artists, the longlist for the competition was announced before (you can see that here) and over the course of the night, was slowly whittled down to the top 3. Rapper Crae Wolf and Leeds band English Teacher took third and second place respectively, each securing a slot at Glastonbury 2022 and £2,500 from PRS.

And our 2022 Emerging Talent Competition winner is the amazing @LewisSings! He wins a £5,000 Talent Development prize from the @PRSFoundation and a slot on one of the main stages at this year’s Festival! pic.twitter.com/PwDv5pYts1

— Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) April 30, 2022

This makes the first time since 2019 that the winner of the competition will actually get a chance to perform at the world-famous festival. R.A.E took home the prize in 2020, but the festival was cancelled due to obvious complications. So after a few years, poor R.A.E finally got the good news when the festival’s organisers confirmed “The winner of the 2020 competition – which had its entry window before that year’s Festival was cancelled – was the incredible south-east Londoner R.A.E, who wowed the judges with her radiant, pin-sharp hip-hop and R&B. R.A.E will play on one of the main stages at this year’s Festival as part of her prize.”.

2022’s Glastonbury Festival has been attracting attention for a good while. It’s already impossible to get tickets, but the fact they didn’t even try to put on a festival in 2021 means that many punters have just been left waiting. Headliners Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Paul McCartney perfectly sum up the cultural and historical significance that Glastonbury has the ability to muster up. Billie Eilish is obviously one of the biggest names in pop these days, she needs no introduction, Kendrick Lamar has been riding a wave of 3 genre-defining albums over the last few years and is in theory releasing another this week… he needs no introduction, and Paul McCartney was in The Beatles… you get the picture. It’s going to be a big one.