[2025] Popular British Artists: Recommended Singer-Songwriters

GhostElla Henderson

Ella Henderson – Ghost (Official Video)

Ella Henderson is a female singer-songwriter who began gaining popularity in her home country after appearing on Season 9 of the hit talent show X Factor.

Her drive to win was far more intense than that of many other contestants, but she ultimately finished in a close sixth place.

Even so, her performances were highly impressive, and the gritty atmosphere conveyed by her lower register is incredibly captivating.

If you enjoy artists like Adele or Dua Lipa, be sure to check her out.

Pump It UpElvis Costello

Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Pump It Up

When discussing the theme of great artists produced by the UK, Elvis Costello’s name is indispensable.

Debuting in the late 1970s amid the punk boom, Costello drew attention within the genre known as pub rock by delivering a punkish yet pop-inflected, piano-capable strain of rock and roll.

His standout melodic sensibility had already blossomed at that point, and the mellow Alison—one of his signature songs—was included on his debut album.

His distinctive style of black-rimmed glasses and a Jazzmaster guitar was later lovingly homaged by Kazutoshi Sakurai of Mr.

Children in both the tone and the music video of Seesaw Game: Brave Love Song.

From the 1980s onward, Costello shifted toward more mature music, venturing into strongly rootsy sounds such as country.

In 1999, his cover of Charles Aznavour’s She, which served as the theme song for the acclaimed film Notting Hill, became a major hit.

If that song looms large in your mind, you might well think of him as an adult singer who delivers sweet melodies with a gentle touch.

Throughout his long career, Costello has refused to be confined to any single musical approach, actively collaborating with artists from the jazz and classical worlds.

Whatever the venture, though, I feel his musical universe remains thoroughly imbued with a quintessential Britishness.