17 Best Singers Like Lewis Capaldi

For better or for worse, the “slur-sing the last phrase of every line” vocal style has overtaken Top 40 pop music. If you’re looking for singers like Lewis Capaldi, you honestly don’t need to look far, because everybody’s doing it.

Not everyone has Capaldi’s Scottish accent, to be fair, but even then, as you’re about to find out, some rather popular singers have a similar vibe happening.

So, let’s look at the best singers like Lewis Capaldi.

Ed Sheeran

This comparison is inevitable. Ed Sheeran might be English (and not Scottish), but he shares plenty in common with Lewis Capaldi, musically, stylistically, lyrically, and emotionally. They’re both still quite young with a long runway ahead of them (if they don’t screw it up) too.

Sheeran is reportedly one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 150 million records sold across the world. So, Capaldi only benefits from the comparison.

Capaldi also joined Sheeran for the final leg of the Divide tour as the opening act.

If you can’t get enough of the ginger-haired babyface, you might also enjoy “Shape of You,” “Thinking Out Loud,” “Photograph,” “Bad Habits,” and “Eye Closed,” among others.

Sam Smith

Who said the singer-songwriter boom was over? This guide proves otherwise.

Sam Smith is just as well known for his emotional storytelling lyrics and soulful singing style as Lewis Capaldi is.

Sure, one of his biggest hits, “Stay With Me” probably owes more to Tom Petty than Smith’s current peers, but names like Petty, Dylan, Taylor, Young, Denver, and Cash are sure to come up if you were to quiz the singers featured in this guide with who their influences were.

Either way, Capaldi even joined Smith onstage for his The Thrill of It All Tour, which cements the reputation.

James Arthur

British singer-songwriter James Arthur famously won season nine of The X Factor. His heartfelt, personal lyrics and emotive voice earn him a seat at the table in this guide, though these commonalities and qualities are more a commodity than a rarity in this particular classroom.

Many fans compare his music to Capaldi’s as well, which is saying a lot.

Arthur has slammed Sam Smith and has reportedly had beef with Lewis Capaldi as well. To that extent, Arthur is perhaps the “bad boy” of the acoustic-pop genre. It seems backward given the emotionally sensitive nature of the music, as well as its proximity to Capaldi’s. Throwing stones just seems redundant when we’re talking about artists this close.

If you want to hear more from James Arthur, check out “Impossible,” “Say You Won’t Let Go,” and “Naked.”

Tom Walker

Tom Walker, like Lewis Capaldi, is a Scottish singer-songwriter. You don’t need to listen to more than a few bars of Walker to know why his music has drawn comparisons to Lewis Capaldi, Sam Smith, and others. “Leave a Light On” has mad John Legend vibes too, at least according to my ears.

I don’t care for the “slur-sing” generation, and I find this stuff largely unlistenable, but people love it, so I’m the weirdo here.

If you want to hear more Tom Walker, check out “Just You and I,” “Better Half of Me,” and “Angels.”

Rag’n’Bone Man

British singer-songwriter Rory Graham, aka Rag’n’Bone Man brings a bluesy flavor to his music. His voice is his standout feature, with richness and depth, along with surprising range.

Rag’n’Bone Man and Lewis Capaldi both inject their music with blues and soul influences, and their approaches to songwriting seem to mesh as well. So, here’s another comparison that seems mostly inevitable.

I feel like “Human” shares some similarities with Imagine Dragons too, mind you.

If you like his vibes, you might also like “Skin,” “Giant,” and “Broken People.”

Dean Lewis

Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis, like Capaldi, likes to take advantage of acoustic elements in his pop-infused emotionally charged music. That, we think, earns him a seat at this table.

His singing style is also a lot like a lot of other people mentioned here. Remember what I said at the outset – it’s not hard to find singers who sound like Capaldi.

Lewis’s career has been relatively short, and we estimate that he’s got plenty of runway ahead of him should he choose to keep making music.

Some of his noteworthy hits include “Be Alright,” “Waves,” and “Half A Man.”

James Bay

English singer-songwriter James Bay is another artist who isn’t afraid to show his sensitive side in ballads that have been designed to appeal to your deepest emotions.

Bay likes to sing in a slightly higher register than some singers we’ve looked at so far, but hey, that’s okay, because he knows all about slurring the last syllable for every phrase.

Some of Bay’s highlights include “Hold Back the River,” “Scars,” and “Best Fake Smile.”

George Ezra

English singer, songwriter, and guitarist George Ezra melds pop and folk to appeal to your musical sensibilities. If you like that slur thing that these singers do, don’t worry, Ezra can play with the best of them.

If you like this sort of thing, you may be interested in his “Shotgun,” “Hold My Girl,” “Blame It on Me,” “Song 6,” and “Paradise” as well.

Niall Horan

Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, of course, is known best for his tenure in One Direction. He hasn’t done too bad for himself as a solo artist, though, and not surprisingly he brings pop and acoustic elements to his music to create a similarly irresistible hook-focused cocktail.

Fans who love Capaldi often comment on the similarities between Horan’s and Capaldi’s music. Hey, if the formula works, why reinvent the wheel? Horan’s heartfelt, relatable lyrics play a part in that equation too.

Some standout moments in his career so far include “Nice To Meet Ya,” “Heaven,” “Slow Hands,” and “Too Much To Ask.”