Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the folk-acoustic tradition. Singer-songwriters often provide the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song, typically using a guitar or piano; both the compositions and the arrangements are written primarily as solo vehicles, with the material angled toward topical issues—sometimes political, sometimes introspective, sensitive, romantic, and confessional.

The concept of a singer-songwriter can actually be traced to ancient bardic culture, which has existed in various forms throughout the world.^{[citation needed]} Poems would be performed as chant or song, sometimes accompanied by a harp or other similar instrument. After the invention of printing, songs would be written and performed by ballad sellers. Usually these would be versions of existing tunes and lyrics, which were constantly evolving. This developed into the singer-songwriting traditions of folk culture.

Josh Doyle is a British-American songwriter and musician who was the lead singer and guitarist for British punk-pop band Dum Dums. He disappeared after the break-up of Dum Dums in 2001, the band having released one album. He resurfaced in Nashville, Tennessee in 2004 with a wife and daughter and a new "folktronica" sound on the independent The End Of Fear EP.

In 2009, Doyle released Values and Virtues EP independently funded by his fanbase. With the proceeds of those sales Doyle was able to tour the UK without a label or any sponsorship, testing a new way forward for artists who have fans but choose not to sign with a record label.

Between 1998 and 2001, Dum Dums were among a handful of successful guitar bands amongst a glut of all singing, all dancing boy-bands and female pop starlets. While touring the "toilet" circuit (small clubs across the country such as "The Charlotte" in Leicester and "The Camden Monarch" in London) in the UK, they were signed to Wildstar by Ian McAndrew (Arctic Monkeys, Travis) and exploded across the radiowaves. Their first single 'Everything' hit the Official UK Top 20 and led to four UK hit singles from the first hit album, "It Goes Without Saying".

Ed Drewett (born 1 April 1988 in Harlow, Essex) is a singer-songwriter signed to [[Universal Polydor Records]]. Drewett left school at 16 and went on to a perfoming arts college in Charlton, SE London for a year then proceeded to a vocal college, Vocal Tech, West London the following year which sparked his later songwriting career. Drewett first came to public attention in 2007 on the BBC television show Any Dream Will Do but he did not make the final 12 chosen for the live shows. He is best-known, however, for the single "I Need You Tonight" produced by The ThundaCatz and was a collaboration with Professor Green. The single reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart. Drewett's second single has been announced as the solo track "Champagne Lemonade".

Drewett signed a deal with EMI Records in February 2009. He began recording his debut album working with producers Wayne Hector, Cutfather and JJ, Fraser T. Smith and The ThundaCatz.^{[citation needed]} In early 2010, he was featured on Professor Green's first debut single, "I Need You Tonight", which charted at number three in the UK singles charts and number 15 in Ireland. The single remained in the UK Top 10 for four weeks. Drewett also co-wrote The Wanted's debut single, "All Time Low". The single went straight to number one in the UK top 40. Drewett released his first debut single, "Champagne Lemonade" on 31 October 2010, which he co-wrote with Tim Powell. However this flopped as it only reached 84 in the charts. Ed studied at the prestigious 'Tech Music School' on the 1 Year Diploma. Ed has co-written three singles for The Wanted with Wayne Hector and Steve Mac - "All Time Low", "Glad You Came" and "Lightning". Drewett later signed to [[Polydor_Records]] in February 2012 and is set to release later this year.