British singer songwriter Calum Scott, who many may remember from his appearance on the 2015 season of Britain’s Got Talent, has dropped a new single this week, which BBC Radio 2 have made their Record of the Week.

Rise is an uplifting affair that sees Scott’s soaring vocals paired with a powerfully sparse background that is built around some pounding drums that drive the track towards a big crescendo. It’s a song that speaks of hope and optimism, with Scott singing: “For every valley there’s a mountain / Every answer there’s a new question / Is it worth all of this / Pushing myself to the edge / ‘Cause we’re all looking for a reason / Find a shelter from that storm within / Just keep your eyes ahead / And dust yourself off again”.

Writing on his official Facebook page, Scott explored the origins of the track. “So happy this song is out! I wrote ‘Rise’ during lockdown at a time when I was really down on myself,” he explains. “Writing this helped me pick myself up and motivated me to be confident in what I’m doing and where I’m heading. All I can hope for this song is that wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, it brings you strength, it puts its arm around you and encourages you to not let anything hold you back and to chase your dreams.”

In a separate post, Scott spoke about the reception the track has had from fans. “Watching Rise connect with so many of you across the world so fast has been an absolute pleasure,” he said. “Talking to you guys on the IG live yesterday and hearing your stories of how this song relates to a time in your life is an honour. I have only ever hoped with my music to connect to you guys and to create something we can all relate to. 

“Thank you so much for the warm welcome to this song, I just want to sing it to your faces now!!”

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.