Breakthrough British singer Ed Sheeran

British singer Ed Sheeran is an unlikely sensation with +, a debut album that offers a mix of grit, hip hop and folky, guitar-driven songs.

Just 21, hewon two Brit Awards the U.K.'s biggest pop music honour for breakthrough artist and best male solo artist earlier this year.

Born in Halifax, West Sussex, Sheeran started out as an indie artist, issuing basement releases and producing a self-titled album while still in his teens. He then spent time in Los Angeles singing on the open mic scene.

That's where he met actor and singer Jamie Foxx, who helped mentor his career before he returned to London and signed to Elton John's management company, Rocket Music.

Sheeran is now touring Canada, opening for Snow Patrol in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

He talked to CBC's Alice Hopton about finding his voice, the meaning of his hit song The A Team and the importance of mentors to his career.