Ben Haenow

Ben Haenow first rose to public attention after claiming victory in the 2014 edition of the British television competition The X Factor. Raised in Croydon, South London, he experienced his parents’ separation at age four, after which his mother held down three separate jobs to support the household. During his early teenage years he struggled with depression and alcoholism until music offered a new focus. At fifteen he launched the rock group the Lost Audio alongside his brother Alex, who played guitar, and the pair spent time performing across the United Kingdom until Alex’s hearing condition forced him to step away from the stage. Still employed as a van driver, Haenow began singing to strangers on the street and ultimately decided to try out for The X Factor.

Simon Cowell voiced immediate enthusiasm for the contestant from his opening appearance, remarking that he was surprised Haenow had not already secured a recording contract. The singer’s youthful appearance, approachable manner, and strong, adaptable voice quickly positioned him as a frontrunner, and he ultimately captured the title with 57 percent of the final public vote. Following the established pattern of the show, his first single—a version of OneRepublic’s “Something I Need”—came out in the final days of December and reached the top of the U.K. chart for Christmas week, edging out Mark Ronson’s eagerly awaited “Uptown Funk.” On his thirtieth birthday Haenow signed with Cowell’s Syco imprint and started recording his self-titled debut album, which appeared in November 2015.