Omigod, Shimrod.
I don't claim to have any knowledge of these 'pseudo-ethnic' club singers because I keep well out of their way.
But what you are describing equates exactly with Smoothops and their MkII Radio Ballads.
Yes, good that they tried. They turned out far better than anything else they've laid their mits on.
But still a bit crap.
It is awful to be an unemployed fisherman (or anything) and there are excellent songwriters such as Barry Dransfield, John Tams and Jim Eldon who have written wonderful songs on these lines.
Yes, back to roots and sing about what we know about.
And encourage others who can to do the same.
It's called the living tradition.