Only the Poets released their debut single titled "Ceasefire" on 20 February 2017, followed by further singles such as "Emotional", "Dead Young", and "Stolen Bikes". They had their first live gigs as a band in 2018. They also supported
Coasts. In 2021, Only the Poets released their debut EP
Speak Out, through which they promoted mental health awareness. Only the Poets supported singer-songwriter
Louis Tomlinson on the UK and Europe leg of his self-titled world tour in 2022, a position they had secured in 2020, before embarking on their own headline tour that summer and autumn. They made a point of making tickets affordable for lower income individuals. They also released their second EP
Our Time. Only the Poets continued their Feels Like Home headline tour the next year, opening for
Lewis Capaldi and
Bastille, and performing at festivals such as Lollapalooza Paris and Reading Festival. Also in 2023, Only the Poets signed with
Virgin EMI Records. Their first single with EMI was "Even Hell", which Longhurst described as "our love letter to music". Only the Poets promoted the next single "Jump!" with a surprise gig. ==Artistry==