British singer-songwriter Lewis Watson is wildly prolific for being just 21. He offered up five EPs of earnest yet elegant folk-pop before releasing his debut album, The Morning, this past July on Warner Bros. But despite his impressive pace of songwriting, he’s fond of covers from time to time. Below, Flavorwire is pleased to premiere his take on Local Natives’ “Wide Eyes” via studio footage.
While Local Natives’ original, off 2009’s Gorilla Manor, is a bit heavier on the instrumentation, Watson’s cover creates a delicate balance between lush harmonies, bright bells, and dramatic percussion. It’s got a fuller sound than much of his original work, but his slight rasp shines through regardless.
“I’m a big Local Natives fan, and I think the harmonies and instrumentation in this song in particular are amazing,” Watson tells Flavorwire. “I really wanted to have a go at making our own version, and I hope that it turned out OK!”
Watson takes his complicated sensitivity, acoustic strumming, and apparent modesty on the road this fall with a just-announced tour. Dates below.
10/22: Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour 10/23: San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel 10/25: Evanston, IL @ SPACE 10/26: Toronto, ON @ Virgin Mobile Mod Club 10/28: Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live (upstairs) 10/29: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 10/30: Boston, MA @ Cafe 939 (The Red Room) 11/1: Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
(Main image by Andrew Whitton)