He was not going to succeed. He was a gritty, red-headed boy with a guitar who busked on the streets of London, played little gigs for pitiful wages, and slept on friends’ couches. He had no commercial ties or record label, just an unwavering dream and the belief that his music could change his life. And it did.

He was raised in a small village and started making music before he was a teenager. He was born in Halifax, England, in 1991. He started creating his own EPs and performing at open mic nights after being influenced by Damien Rice. At the age of sixteen, he left school to pursue a career in music in London. But success was not something that came easily. Since he had nowhere else to sleep, he frequently slept outside or on strangers’ floors while doing nearly 300 shows in a single year.

Then, in 2010, everything was different.

He shared a real, heartfelt song on the internet, and it caught the eye of Jamie Foxx, an unexpected admirer. The legendary figure in Hollywood took him to Los Angeles, provided lodging, and let him record in his studio. A self-released EP called No. 5 Collaborations Project quickly became well-known. Without a record deal, one of the songs peaked at number two on iTunes. The industry was forced to take notice.

His soul-stirring voice and passionate lyrics captured the world’s attention when his debut album, Plus, was published in 2011. He rose to fame with songs like “The A Team” and “Lego House.” However, it was just the start.

By 2014, he was releasing hit after hit, selling out stadiums, and collaborating with artists like Eminem, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd. He shot to international fame with his album x (Multiply), which featured the wedding song of a generation, “Thinking Out Loud.”