#159 - Top 6 Songwriters of Today
Adele - Every album Adele has released has been met with the highest critical acclaim for a reason - she knows how to write a song! Her first chart topping hit, from her debut album ‘19’, ‘Chasing Pavements’ is an absolute classic - mapping out her decision to finally move on from her unfaithful lover.
Ben Howard - Noting John Martyn, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel, as key inspirations, it’s no wonder Howard honed a songwriter skill on a level with the greats. His debut album ‘Every Kingdom’ is rich with gems, but our favourite track is probably ‘Old Pine’.
Laura Marling - A key figure in the press-coined “nu-folk” movement, Marling has been instrumental in the resurgence of British folk music over recent years. Her songwriting, which explores concepts of womanhood, trauma, and relationships in their many forms, feels simultaneously classic and contemporary. Her 2020 album, ‘Songs For Our Daughter’, is our personal favourite - we always come back to the track ‘Held Down’.
Bruno Mars - A songwriter in the truest sense of the word, Bruno Mars has written songs for Adele, The Vamps, Mark Ronson, and Cee Lo Green (to name but a few). But it’s his own performances that we really love. ‘When I Was Your Man’, taken from his ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’ album, never fails to hit the spot.
Julia Michaels - Having written songs for Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears, Michaels is another example of a behind the scenes star. But that’s not to say she can’t sing in her own right. ‘All Your Exes’ a track from her recent album, ‘Not In Chronological Order’, gets prime slot in our eyes.
Fink - With an incredibly multi-faceted career to his name, Fink has produced electronic music and toured internationally as a DJ, alongside his songwriting career. It’s a tough decision, but if we had to pick a favourite track, it would be ‘This Is The Thing’, from his incredible album, ‘Distance and Time’.
