“Mission Creep is a rootsy, bluesy, folky, rocky set of songs about love and life, in which his soulful high tenor voice flows with ease through a textured web of instrumentation.” Neil McCormick (Daily Telegraph)
The album’s origin story begins when Lewis, after leaving school, took to the road with his guitar and went busking through continental Europe. This experience has stayed with Damian ever since and is reflected in his debut album.
Lewis linked up with one of today’s most exciting jazz musicians, Giacomo Smith, who in turn introduced Lewis to a collection of brilliant musicians, many of whom had played with Smith in the hugely loved and admired Kansas Smitty’s House Band. Lewis formed his band and early shows at London’s Omeara and Koko gave him a first sense of what leading a band in front of a live audience could feel like. “It helps that the players are all insanely accomplished,” Lewis said.
A festival appearance at Wilderness last year led to more live shows. Packed gigs at London’s The Tabernacle, Hoxton Hall and Cheltenham Jazz Festival resulted in glowing reviews from the crowds and the critics who described Lewis as “a compelling performer apparently in his element” (Telegraph) as he “wowed the crowd” (Times). A label battle for his signature ensued.
Following his performance at Black Deer Festival and Union Chapel (London), Damian has toured the UK with his band.