By Tyler Whiting
Photo Credit: Jess Meade
Alex Spencer – the 18-year-old indie artist from Manchester you’ve got to know – is making serious waves in the music industry. From busking on the streets to his music being featured on the FIFA soundtrack, Alex Spencer has come a long way. We sat down for a chat the day before his new EP release, Where Do We Go From Here?
Alex is celebrating in style, currently sunning it up in Spain, while I’m on the other line facing traditional British weather… I know which I prefer!
So, Alex, how did you get into music?
It began with my dad getting a guitar for his 40th birthday… I’ve told this story so many times – but it’s such a great story.
He played the same songs over and over and over again, so I picked up a guitar, and I started playing. Then, on a family holiday in Thailand, there were loads of local open mics happening. I played 3 songs: Stand by Me, Three Little Birds and a Beatles song. I met musicians from all around the world – from session players to people who had worked with bands like Pink Floyd.
When I got back home that year, I was inspired to start busking, so I started building a name for myself and a social following – on the streets – I was about 12! Since then, I just kept on grafting, and so many opportunities started flowing through. That’s kind of where the music journey began.
Ah, that’s interesting… so who do you think stands out most in your musical journey?
There was a jazz guitarist who was Japanese, and the way he played guitar was crazy! I’d never seen anything like it before, so that was really inspiring. Then there was a group of friends we had: Karl, Stewart and Natalie. Every year I go back to Thailand, we always get together and play songs. They’re from the UK and the USA, but they’ve really inspired me.
When I was young, they were the ones who said ‘Go on, Alex!’ and have supported me all the way. They kinda mentored me, in a way.
I was with them in January, so it was great to see them live again. Crazy to think back to little Alex who was 12, and now I’m 18, going places with my music, which is really cool.
Sometimes I look at my journey as a route, and that’s something that keeps me going – I imagine in the next couple of years what my journey will be.
So what was it like knowing your track got on the FIFA soundtrack… did you plan that on your route?
Back when I started making music when I was 12, I remember listening to Sam Fender’s album, Catfish and The Bottlemen, Declan McKenna, who all had their songs on FIFA and I thought, ‘I want to do that’, that would be so sick! I had been playing FIFA at my friend’s house non-stop and I wanted to make that possible. I just didn’t know how to. When my first EP released, FIFA loved it and the curators liked it, but nothing came from it and I was gutted because I could have had that opportunity.
Then for my next EP, There’s Gotta Be More, everyone we played the demo of Nightmares to said it was a FIFA song, and I thought the same, you know, an Indie bop… an Indie banger! It got pitched out and they loved it, and I found out about a year ago. I got a call on the bus and they were like ‘Alex you’ve done it, you’re in the game!’.
Ever since, it’s been amazing for me, building new followers, listeners and it’s opened my music all around the world. It’s been great ground for me as a lot of artists and musicians I look up to started with FIFA, so I can’t complain – it’s a huge accomplishment! Then I got invited to the FIFA awards launch night in London. It’s been so great and I’ve been really lucky because it’s helped me.
So, what about the New EP?! Are you excited; nervous? How are you feeling?
The new EP is out in 12 hours (Alex pulls out his phone which has an official countdown timer for the launch)
It’s called Where Do We Go From Here and it’s a five track EP. There’s 3 singles on there that have already been released and then two new tracks. Where Do We Go From Here? is the one of the new ones, and then there’s Pessimistic Nobody which is also new and different to what I’ve done in the past… it’s a bit more laid back, there’s more emphasis on the songwriting and the emotion. They’re all bangers and it’s a new EP, so it’s kind of a new beginning for me.
Are there any different themes you decided to explore with this EP?
Yeah, Where Do We Go From Here? stands out from everything that I’m doing, which is great to be fair. Each EP is always developing and I’m trying to do things differently. Adam French (Alex’s producer) and I are always pushing each other in the studio to try something different because I’m still a new artist, you know, I can afford to try different things. For this EP, we’ve played around with the dance elements and the guitar a bit more, inspired by The Wombats, Two Door Cinema Club, and MGMT – they were also a big inspiration for this. Even rappers like Mac Miller have really inspired the EP because I love rap music and I think it’s good to crossover the genres.
The EP as a whole is quite personal to someone of my generation I think. It’s all about getting out there, how you can do your own thing no matter what, and not listening to what the media out there is telling you. Anything is possible! That’s what I talk about in Bucket List, the craziest things can be achievable. The lead track Where Do We Go From Here? sums things up nicely. It’s a really nice question, and a great track title for the EP. That kind of explores life and death; the uncertainty of the future for this generation.
For me, it’s growing up. It’s a new era; I’m 18 now and finding my place in this world from being naïve, to the raw unfiltered bits now. The EP is to be listened to from start to finish, and I hope people take 10-15 minutes to sit and give it a whole listen.
What’s it like knowing the EP is going to be out soon?
I’ve been working on these songs for a year now, and they’re finally out in the world! The tracks released so far have been having great traction and I’ve had some exciting opportunities – some I can’t announce yet, but lots of great opportunities that are going to be out next week, so keep your eyes peeled!
I saw you’re going on tour with Corella. That’s such an exciting opportunity! Tell me a bit about that!
Yeah, it’s crazy. I was at Neighbourhood Weekender a couple of weeks ago, and backstage at Neighbourhood you are with all the artists. I didn’t mention anything directly to them, but they said they would come and watch my set at 12:30, and I spoke to my band, you know, ‘I wanna do this thing – I’ve gotta shoot my shot!’ So towards the end of my set I did it, I got the crowd behind me saying ‘Corella we want to support ya’. The crowd went mad for it, and I posted it on socials. They saw it and sent me a message saying ‘Fair play mate’ with a heart. I wasn’t sure if that meant a yes or no, but last week my manager called with great news… they want me full tour!
The experience of watching someone live is great, you get to see their energy and how they are as a performer. How do you think your performances have evolved?
The live sets have developed over the last two years. I mean I’ve been properly doing music now for the past 3 years, but I’ve been playing music live on the streets for around 6-7 years.
When I released my first single in 2023, that’s where I branded a little bit. There were a few old tracks we took down from before my voice had dropped. If anyone’s reading this out there, maybe you can try find them somewhere!
Do you think the busking helped with your live stuff now? I would’ve thought a busking crowd might be harder than a live crowd in a venue!
To be fair, yeah. I built my stage craft and confidence on the streets. It’s where I was able to play to the toughest crowds, and different crowds, every day. You’d have the older crowd who you would play older tracks to, like the Beatles and more 60s stuff, and for the Indie lads you’d play The Stone Roses and Oasis. You would learn to manage your crowd and that’s what’s helped when I’ve taken it to the stage – I’m not nervous on stage anymore.
I went on tour in April and did 7 dates in the UK, including selling out London and Manchester which was insane! Everyone’s been saying that we have taken it to the next level.
What’s it been like balancing your personal life with your career?
So I’m still at college. I finish in about two weeks. It can be tough because it’s getting busier and busier, but it’s just learning to balance it. This week, I’ve been in Spain but I’m still doing things for the release like the socials and whatnot. I’m lucky enough to have a team to help me with all these things! There are times where it does feel like it could crumble apart but it’s good staying busy, timing things right and having an organised calendar. Because things are getting busier, I don’t go out with my friends as much as I used to, but they tell me it’s fine and that they’re rooting for me all the way, so when I do see them it’s always a big celebration.
What has been your proudest moment in your journey so far?
I think the first big thing was playing for the FC Players when we won the league in 2022, that was a dream – playing to your idols which is mental. Then a couple of months later I played at the AO Arena, but this is all the beginnings though.
My proudest moments were probably on this last tour that we’ve done – playing my first proper headline tour, and you’re playing to fans every night to full rooms who are chanting your songs back to you. It’s just crazy and I can’t comprehend it! I’ve always said that I think support shows are better but that’s because I hadn’t experienced headline shows yet!
You meet the fans after the gigs, and I’ve had fan art given to me, pictures, and people tell me how much my music has helped them get through stuff. Hearing about how it’s built a better relationship with people’s friends and family, is just so sick!
Another proud moment would be when we sold out Gorilla in Manchester. That night was so crazy I just won’t come down from it. The fans were backing me all the way, singing every song and chanting it. It was the perfect gig.
If you were to give advice to young aspiring musicians, what would you say?
My biggest piece of advice is to just keep doing things, you know what I mean? Just keep at it. Don’t give up – anything is possible… and you will get there one day! In a way, use my journey and what I’ve done. I’m not a huge artist but I’ve made progress – look at that and know that you can do it. That’s what I talk about in all my songs.
Use the power of social media too! You never know who is going to be watching your video. Even if you’ve got 5 likes, a thousand likes or ten thousand views – you never know who might be watching. There might be a big manager who’s just swiping through, you never know!
That’s how I got where I am, through social media and someone seeing it at the right time. I was busking one time, and the head of Warner records was just watching me casually busk, you never know who is going to be watching you. Perform at you best every time, perform like it might be your last.
‘Overall, I mean it’s all happening, my dreams are coming true! These are big moments for me so it’s great staying grounded and telling myself it’s not going to change me, having all these things, because I’m still just a lad from Manchester!’ Alex smiles.
Alex’s inspiring new EP, Where Do We Go From Here?, is out now everywhere.
Stream here:
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