King Charles (born Charles Costa) is an English singer and songwriter. He plays the guitar, piano and cello. He is also a classically trained singer. He began writing songs at the age of 17. In 2009, he became the first British person to win the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville, Tennessee, for his song "Love Lust". The competition was judged by Tom Waits, Jeff Beck, Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis, and following this King Charles was signed by Universal Republic/Island. In 2012, he teamed up with the record producer Matthew Wilder and released his first album Loveblood. He released his second album, Gamble for a Rose, in 2016. In 2020, Costa again worked with Matthew Wilder on Out of my Mind. In April 2020, Clash magazine said "They say the freaks shall inherit the earth, and it will be King Charles who was ordained by god to rule over them".