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.”

Shawn Mendes

Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes initially found success on Vine, the yesterday equivalent of TikTok. Mendes, like Capaldi, leans heavily on acoustic-pop fusion. Also, like Capaldi, his songs might just touch your heart to an uncomfortable extent.

Whether on the small screen, big screen, or the stages of the world, Mendes has done quite all right for himself, and at 24, he’s earned dozens of music awards already.

Want to see what Mendes is all about? See “Treat You Better,” “Mercy,” and “In My Blood.”

Passenger

English singer-songwriter Michael David Rosenberg, aka Passenger, also does that soulful, emotional thing you know and love Capaldi for.

Passenger has been around a little longer than some of the youngsters mentioned here. He’s had a surprisingly prolific musical release and touring schedule from 2007 onwards.

Passenger is best known for “Let Her Go,” but if you’re into this sort of thing, then you should look up “Survivors,” “Sword from the Stone,” “Heart’s On Fire,” and “Simple Song” as well.

John Legend

Singer-songwriter John Legend is best known for his largely piano-driven hits like “All of Me,” “Minefields,” and “Tonight,” among others.

Legend focuses heavily on songs that resonate emotionally with listeners, a quality you will find is a commonality with Capaldi. His songs of love and relationships have probably inspired more make-out sessions than you can realistically count.

It’s not hard to hear the DNA of Legend’s music in many of his peers mentioned here (especially Sam Smith)… or maybe it’s the other way around.

Dermot Kennedy

Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy rose to prominence with his 2019 and 2020 hits “Outnumbered,” “Power Over Me,” and “Giants.” To that extent, it’s almost like he’s just getting started, and if all goes well, he’ll have a long musical career ahead of him.

The names Lewis Capaldi and Dermot Kennedy often do get mentioned in the same breath, and you should only need to listen to a few seconds of Kennedy’s tracks to figure out why.

Looking for singers that sound like Lewis Capaldi? You’ve found another.

Louis Tomlinson

English singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson, like Niall Horan, is formerly of One Direction fame. Stylistically, Tomlinson’s music is not miles away from the other artists referenced here.

But why is it that I found Tomlinson so much more listenable than the others…? Oh yeah, he doesn’t slur the last syllable of every line, at least not in “Bigger Than Me” (although there are some questionable moments in the second verse).

Tomlinson says his early influences include Ed Sheeran, The Fray, and Robbie Williams. You can easily hear it in his music.

Some other Tomlinson highlights include “Back to You,” “Silver Tongues,” and “Miss You.”

One Direction

With the mention of former One Direction members Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, the reference to One Direction was near inescapable, don’t you think?

And sure, One Direction was more about the feel-good, upbeat, “everyone and everything is awesome” pop of “What Makes You Beautiful,” but their vocal style was even goofier than others already mentioned.

But hey, they were a boy band, and if you want to make it in music, you’ve got to appeal to those 14-year-old girls. Seriously, they make the industry go around.

If you’re ready for a trip down memory lane, you might also want to reminisce with “Olivia,” “Kiss You,” and “Story of My Life.”

BENEE

New Zealand singer-songwriter BENEE won multiple New Zealand Music Awards in 2019 and 2020. Her singles, “Glitter” and “Soaked” helped her find her way in the industry, but it was the 2019 single “Supalonely” that would bring her international success.

And before you say no female singer can sound like Lewis Capaldi, oh how wrong you are… BENEE can slur-sing with the best of them (to an unhealthy extent).

Gavin James

Irish singer-songwriter Gavin James perhaps shares more in common with Ed Sheeran than Lewis Capaldi, but they’re all basically cut from the same cloth. James even got his start opening for Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith on their tours in 2015.

James has a smooth, clear voice with a capable falsetto. That still doesn’t mean he enunciates all his lyrics. But he’s certainly got the heartfelt, acoustic-pop thing down to a science.

Top Singers Like Lewis Capaldi, Final Thoughts

And now you should have more than enough Lewis Capaldi-style material to dig into. Who is your favorite? Is there someone else who should have been featured here?

We hope you enjoyed this guide. See you again soon!