Exclusive! Calum Scott says he wants to sing in Punjabi: Armaan Malik did try and teach me, but that’s so long ago now

Fresh off travels through Egypt and South Africa, British singer-songwriter Calum Scott is back in India — and in his own words, slightly underprepared for the weather. “Much chillier than I remember it to be, actually,” he quips, settling into Delhi ahead of a packed week that includes an intimate show at The Piano Man and a festival set at Lollapalooza India. But cold weather aside, Scott is exactly where he wants to be — reconnecting with India, revisiting its food, and preparing to bare his heart on stage yet again. 'The Brits, we love Indian food'Scott’s visit to India this time is even more personal. “This time I’ve been able to bring my mum with me, so she gets to see the wonders of India,” he tells us, adding that he is determined to squeeze in sightseeing and street food in his schedule. “We couldn’t make a trip to the Taj Mahal happen due to time constraints, but we did visit Akshardham in Delhi,” he shares. Food, however, remains central to his India itinerary. “Lots of eating to be done. I remember last time I was here; I got into a pani puri challenge and tried to eat as many pani puri as possible, which was a beautiful thing and an awful thing at the same time. So, I’m excited to get back into the cuisine," he says, adding, "Wherever I go in the world, I feel like you owe it to the country to immerse yourself in culture, food, music, tradition. Back home, the Brits, we love Indian food, but it’s never going to be the same as authentic, home-cooked Indian food. I think it connects you to the country.”'I would love to sing in Punjabi' Scott has collaborated with Indian singer Armaan Malik for their single Always, and he is keen to explore more Indian sounds. “I would love to work with an artist and sing in Punjabi. I need to do way more research and sit with Duolingo or some sort of app that’s going to help me along the way. Armaan did try and teach me, but that’s so long ago now — it’s all gone. If I can find some way of incorporating Indian instruments or an Indian method of singing, my music would just be chef’s kiss,” he shares. 'I am going to make people cry'It’s been ten years since the Dancing on my Own hitmaker first stepped into the spotlight on Britain’s Got Talent, but the nerves haven’t disappeared. “I’ve been nervous ever since that stage on the show, all the way through to last year performing with Ed Sheeran in India, to these shows. I’m always nervous because I just want to do the best job I can. The audience have taken their hard-earned money and spent it on a Calum Scott ticket. I’ve got to make sure that is worth every penny. Gratitude just absolutely flows through me. I remember this being a dream, and now it’s reality,” he confesses. Ask him what his audience can expect from his show and he says, “I am still going to make people cry. That’s always going to be my objective. I mean, if I’m not making you cry, I’m not doing my job.” 'I found the love of my life'Known for his emotionally raw ballads You Are the Reason, Where Are You Now, My World and At Your Worst, Scott is candid about how personal his songwriting is. “The first album was about one particular person, and they definitely messaged me being like, ‘Is that one about me as well?’ It’s kind of like the Adele effect. I started writing about real stuff — my identity, my mental health battles, heartbreak — and using it as a bit of therapy. It can be as personal to me as I want it to be, almost written straight from my diary. And yet when you put it out there, it becomes millions of people’s stories across the world.” This time, though, the tone has shifted. “This album follows the same formula, but I felt like I’ve found contentment in my life. So, this album is, dare I say, more positive than the last two. Not as much heartbreak, not as much darkness.” The reason? “I’ve kind of found a place in my life where I’m really happy with who I am. I found the love of my life, which is appearing as a four-legged, fairy English bulldog called Elvis. I’ve talked on this album about wanting to be a dad and wanting to start that journey of being a parent.”