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.

Edward Christopher "Ed" Sheeran (born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter who is currently signed to Asylum / Atlantic Records. Sheeran broke through commercially in June 2011, when his debut single "The A Team" debuted at number 3 on the UK chart.

Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire to Irish and English parents, before moving to Framlingham, Suffolk; he is a cousin of TV journalist and presenter Gordon Burns. He learned guitar at a very young age, and began writing songs during his time at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham. His early childhood memories, referred to in a interview on the Zane Lowe show, included listening to Van Morrison on his countless trips to London with his parents and going to an intimate gig with Damien Rice in Ireland when he was 11. He also opened for Nizlopi in Norwich in April 2008 after being one of their guitar technicians. Sheeran began recording in 2005, which led to the release of his first EP, The Orange Room EP. Sheeran also released 2 albums, a self-titled one in 2006 and Want Some? in 2007. He moved to London in 2008 to play gigs, starting off in very small venues, playing every day, to as little as five people. In 2008, he auditioned for the ITV series Britannia High.

Herman Frans Martha Brusselmans (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦɛrmɑn ˈbrʏsəlmɑns]; born 9 October 1957 in Hamme, Belgium) is a Flemish novelist, poet, playwright and columnist. He lives in Ghent.

Herman Brusselmans studied Dutch and English at the University of Ghent. In his early twenties he was a successful football player. He played for Vigor Hamme and SK Lokeren. He now has his own football team called "De Woody's", after his late dog Woody. Brusselmans married in 1981 but divorced several years later. He married his second wife Tania in 2005.

Brusselmans gained widespread popularity in the early 1980s as part of the new generation of young Flemish novelists that included Tom Lanoye and Kristien Hemmerechts.

Although Herman Brusselmans recently stated in the Flemish magazine HUMO that he would stop writing about existing people and situations, his work is highly autobiographical up to this point. Alcohol, sex and boredom are recurring themes throughout his work.

Not only his work contributed to his stardom, but also his media appearances. He used to have his own television show, and still appears regularly on talkshows. He also has a weekly column in HUMO. Bold, straightforward statements and comments have become his trademark throughout the years and always attract attention. This trademark cost him several lawsuits. The most memorable of which was when Ann Demeulemeester, a Belgian fashion designer, filed a complaint with the court about a remark that was made about her in "Uitgeverij Guggenheimer". This led to a recall of the book in Belgium.