Music discovery · Influence explorer

Artists like Ed Sheeran — and the music that made them

Pop/Folk · 2010-present

Acoustic pop virtuoso who conquered charts with heartfelt storytelling

Ed Sheeran is a British singer-songwriter who transformed from busking street performer to global superstar through his masterful blend of acoustic guitar, hip-hop influenced vocals, and deeply personal lyrics. His mathematical album trilogy and loop pedal performances revolutionized modern pop music, making him one of the best-selling artists of the 2010s.

Essential tracks

►Shape of You

►Perfect

►Thinking Out Loud

Did you know

He was homeless and slept rough outside Buckingham Palace while busking

His song 'Thinking Out Loud' was inspired by his grandparents' 50-year marriage

He owns a pub in his hometown and serves customers behind the bar

“Loop pedal artistry meets confessional songwriting in acoustic pop perfection.”

generations
of influence

Influence tree

Trace Ed Sheeran's roots back through history

Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.

Ed Sheeran

2010-present

Damien Rice

2000-2014

cited

Van Morrison

1967-present

cited

Eminem

1996-present

cited

The Beatles

1960-1970

sonic

Bob Dylan

1961-present

movement

Simon & Garfunkel

1957-1970

sonic

↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.

What makes the sound

Sonic elements

Loop pedal layering

Acoustic guitar fingerpicking

Conversational vocal delivery

Hip-hop influenced rhythmic phrasing

Start with these tracks

Thinking Out Loud

Shape of You

The A Team

Perfect

If you like Ed Sheeran, try these

Sam Smith

Vulnerable vocals and emotional ballads with mainstream pop sensibility.

2010s · Pop/Soul

Lewis Capaldi

Self-deprecating humor paired with heart-wrenching acoustic pop anthems.

2010s · Pop

George Ezra

British storytelling with catchy melodies and warm acoustic arrangements.

2010s · Folk Pop

James Blunt

Acoustic guitar-driven confessional songs with crossover radio appeal.

2000s · Pop/Folk

Passenger

Intimate folk storytelling with simple yet emotionally powerful arrangements.

2010s · Folk

John Mayer

Guitar virtuosity combined with introspective pop songwriting and loop techniques.

2000s · Pop/Rock

About this page

Music like Ed Sheeran — Ed Sheeran is a British singer-songwriter who transformed from busking street performer to global superstar through his masterful blend of acoustic guitar, hip-hop influenced vocals, and deeply personal lyrics. His mathematical album trilogy and loop pedal performances revolutionized modern pop music, making him one of the best-selling artists of the 2010s.

Artists like Ed Sheeran today include Sam Smith, Lewis Capaldi, George Ezra, James Blunt. If you enjoy Ed Sheeran, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Ed Sheeran and songs like Ed Sheeran are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.