It was while studying Politics, English, and Drama at the University Kent in Canterbury, where Goulding first found the confidence to perform onstage after winning a university talent competition.
Goulding moved to London and locked herself in her room with a guitar. Songs like “The Writer,” “Starry Eyed,” “Salt Skin,” “This Love,” and “Your Biggest Mistake,” came pouring out. After a friend sent a link to a MySpace page for Fin Dow-Smith, a remixer, composer, and musician who works under the moniker Starsmith, Goulding sent him a demo she’d done, which resulted in a fruitful working relationship that continues to this day.
Goulding signed with Polydor Records and released her first single “Under the Sheets,” which she later performed, along with “Guns and Horses,” on Later…With Jools Holland, a star-making appearance that won her the attention of both critics and fans. In early 2010, it was announced the Goulding had topped the “BBC Sound of 2010” poll, which surveys critics and broadcasters for their top choices for rising stars in the coming year. She also won the Critics’ Choice Award at the 2010 BRIT Awards. In February, “Starry Eyed” was released as a single (climbing to No. 4 on the U.K. Singles chart), followed by the March release of Lights, which shot straight to the top of the U.K. Albums chart.
Nominated for two 2011 BRIT Awards (for “British Female Solo Artist” and “British Breakthrough Act”), Goulding is gearing up for the Stateside release of Lights
