[2025] Popular British Artists: Recommended Singer-Songwriters

HeroesDavid Bowie

David Bowie – Heroes

David Bowie can be described as someone who easily transcended the confines of being just a musician, standing out for his cultural influence as well.

When he passed away on January 10, 2016, the outpouring of grief from not only the music industry but many other fields is still fresh in our memories.

Bowie, who had begun making music in his teens, made his solo debut in 1967, but he actually struggled commercially for some time.

His second album, Space Oddity—modeled after the masterpiece film 2001: A Space Odyssey—raised his profile, and in 1972 he released a conceptual album centered on his persona “Ziggy Stardust,” propelling him to global stardom as a leading figure of glam rock.

From then on, he continually evolved his style in dialogue with the times—his American period, his Berlin period, the bold dance-pop of the early ’80s, and a return to straightforward rock.

He remained committed to his artistry until the very end, even releasing his final album, Blackstar, two days before his death.

Bowie also appeared in several notable films as an actor, and the more you learn about his career, the deeper your knowledge of culture beyond music becomes.

Boo’d UpElla Mai

Ella Mai – Boo’d Up

Within the contemporary UK alternative R&B scene, standing alongside stars like Jorja Smith in popularity is Ella Mai, born in 1994 and hailing from London.

Named after the legendary jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Mai moved from London to New York at age 12, then returned to the UK after finishing high school.

She appeared on the popular UK talent show The X Factor as part of a group, but they were eliminated and subsequently disbanded.

Afterwards, an independently produced EP she released on SoundCloud in 2015 drew attention, leading to a deal with an American record label.

“Boo’d Up,” included on her third EP Ready, became a hit, and after its music video was released in 2018, it soared to a peak of No.

5 on the U.

S.

Billboard chart, earning widespread acclaim at home and abroad.

Mellow and imbued with a ’90s vibe while firmly reflecting the realities of the late 2010s, the superb track became her signature.

Her eagerly awaited debut album Ella Mai also proved to be an outstanding work that lived up to expectations.

You can understand why her sound resonates even more in the U.

S.

than in her native UK.

LaylaEric Clapton

Eric Clapton – Layla

Eric Clapton—known as “Slowhand,” one of Britain’s greatest guitarists and a highly acclaimed singer-songwriter—is a towering figure in music.

The intro riff to Layla is so famous that most people have heard it even if they don’t know Clapton by name.

While it’s hard to grasp the entirety of his long and legendary career that began in the 1960s, his solo career started in the 1970s.

After playing in several bands that have since become the stuff of legend throughout the ’60s, Clapton moved to the United States and released his first solo album, Eric Clapton, in 1970.

That same year, as Derek and the Dominos, he released the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which includes the aforementioned Layla.

Though he is a living encyclopedia of rock history, Clapton’s life has been far from smooth; he has faced many troubles, tragedies, and personal challenges.

Yet he has continued to create remarkable music, which is precisely why he remains such a revered figure.

Start with a best-of compilation featuring his famous tracks, and then be sure to explore Clapton’s 1960s career, when he was active in many influential bands.

Let You Love MeRita Ora

Rita Ora – Let You Love Me [Official Video]

Born in Yugoslavia and raised in London, Rita Ora is one of the quintessential female artists who debuted in the 2010s.

As of 2021, she has released only two albums—the debut Ora, which topped the UK charts, and 2018’s Phoenix—but with her expansive vocals and knack for pop melodies, she has produced numerous hits across danceable R&B and pop.

In February 2021, she released the EP Bang, which includes a collaboration with Kazakhstan-born DJ Imanbek.

Reflecting the pandemic era while showcasing new facets of her now-in-her-thirties artistry, the record highlights her evolving appeal.

Beyond her talents as a singer-songwriter, Rita is also in high demand as a fashion leader—collaborating with global fashion brands, working as a model, and hosting television programs—thriving across a wide range of fields.

Be Honest feat. Burna BoyJorja Smith

Jorja Smith – Be Honest (feat. Burna Boy)

From the mid to late 2010s, a wave of talented young singer-songwriters born in the 1990s made their debuts, and Jorja Smith, born in 1997, is very much one of those standout figures.

Her debut single “Blue Lights,” released in 2016 when she was just 19, generated buzz not only in her native UK but also among keen-eared R&B fans in Japan.

That same year, she placed fourth in the popular “BBC Music Sound of 2017,” which spotlights the most promising new artists.

Her languid, beautiful voice carries a timeless allure that transcends eras, and combined with her refined beauty, her presence stood out even before her album debut.

Released in 2018, the album Lost & Found is a beautiful work rooted in contemporary R&B while reflecting influences from jazz and hip-hop, delivering a cool, smoky sound born of the streets.

There’s no doubt she’ll continue to be an artist expected to lead the UK music scene as a young singer-songwriter.

Highly recommended even for those who typically listen to rock or pop!

A Place Called HomePJ Harvey

PJ Harvey – A Place Called Home

Unfortunately, here in Japan, people who know PJ Harvey’s name or music are mostly those well-versed in Western music or dedicated fans of alternative rock since the ’90s.

When her first Japan tour in 22 years finally happened in January 2017, her name trended on social media and in music media, so some people may have come across it in passing.

PJ Harvey debuted in 1991 with an indie single, and her first album, Dry—considered groundbreaking for a female artist at the time for its candid lyrics and provocative style—drew attention when Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain cited it among his favorite albums.

Since then, even as she has shifted her musical approach—whether it’s the raw, parched rock of her early years, her flirtations with trip-hop, straightforward pop, or a piano-led album—everything coheres unmistakably as PJ Harvey’s music, which is remarkable.

She is, in the truest sense, an alternative artist.

I recommend starting with Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000), which weaves in accessible melodies and was also a commercial success.

WOMANJohn Lennon

WOMAN. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) – John Lennon (official music video HD)

Even more than 40 years after his shocking, untimely death, he remains a legendary figure of overwhelming influence: John Lennon.

As a member of the Beatles, he achieved feats that changed the course of popular music, and as a solo artist he continued to create remarkable work.

Many music fans can’t help but imagine what it would be like if Lennon were still alive today.

Since the Beatles’ breakup, Lennon is often discussed for his social and political activism beyond music, and there may be quite a few people who have actually only listened to songs like Imagine or Happy Xmas (War Is Over).

Armed with brilliant, intelligent lyrics and an exquisite melodic sensibility, Lennon broadened the possibilities of rock and pop through countless musical adventures, while also reminding us of the beauty of a simple “song.” I hope younger listeners, unbound by public image, will approach his work without preconceptions.

To experience the music of John Lennon—one of the world’s greatest singer-songwriters and one of the finest rock stars Britain has produced—in that way is a truly fortunate musical experience!