So Last Week

Image by: Mathias Reding

Alex Spencer doesn't slow down. Even when he's not on tour, he's writing — he answers our call mid-bite, having forgotten to eat after a full day buried in new music. That kind of restlessness has defined him since he first picked up a guitar on the streets of Manchester, busking at a remarkably young age before turning that habit into a career.

We caught up with Alex for an honest, unfiltered conversation about where he started, what the past year taught him, and what's coming next — from the new single that's become one of the most personal things he's released, to the night he first walked onto a stage built for thousands of strangers who didn't know his name yet.

"It's probably one of the most special songs I've written, because it resonates with such a big chunk of my life."

Writing from the heart

Alex doesn't write to a formula. Sometimes it's a feeling he wants to chase down; other times a guitar or piano melody comes first and the words follow. What's stayed constant since he was a kid scribbling lyrics is the source: it has to come from somewhere real.

Your new song has just been released. What's the story, and what inspired you to write it?

"It's probably one of the most special songs I've written, because it resonates with such a big chunk of my life — growing up, seeing friends come and go, meeting new people. A big lesson it taught me was to enjoy the moment and take everything in, because life goes so quick, and you end up regretting not enjoying it more. 'These Will Be the Days' kind of sums up me growing up, leaving college, and going into the real world — into what I love. There's challenges with that as well, but it's also a celebration. I think my music's very positive. There's always a hopeful message at the end, to inspire others, especially young people."

That balance — the ache of growing up alongside the hope that it's worth it — is the engine behind most of what Alex writes. It's there in "Masks" too, a song he points to whenever asked what means the most to him, built around the idea that you never really know what someone's carrying underneath. Both songs share a kind of quiet responsibility: write the hard thing honestly, but leave the listener somewhere better than where the song found them.

Stepping into rooms built for thousands

That philosophy got tested at a scale Alex hadn't experienced before, when he was offered a support slot on Louis Tomlinson's European tour — a phone call that arrived, fittingly, while he was still on his own.

What was your reaction when you got the message that you could open for him? And do you remember the first time you walked onto a stage knowing thousands of people who didn't know you were out there?

"It was probably one of the craziest moments. I was on my own tour in Manchester, and I woke up the next morning and my dad was like, 'We just got a message through.' All these cities around Europe, places I'd dreamed of playing — it was a crazy surprise. I've been following Louis for years and always wanted to play with him and support him; it's quite an honor. And then I remember walking on in Hamburg that first night — I'd never walked out onto a stage like that, and it was just like, whoa, taking it all in. What surprised me most was how amazing the fans were. I felt like I'd become part of the community. Everyone was so nice, we were welcomed so nicely, and now we get to go back to Europe and perform for them."

It's the kind of leap that could easily overwhelm someone — busking crowds to arenas in a single phone call — but Alex talks about it less like a shock and more like an arrival. The years of writing in private had been building toward exactly this kind of room. But that arrival came with a cost, too. Touring at that scale, while still writing and releasing new material, has forced Alex to learn something he didn't expect to need.

"You've got to take care of yourself physically and mentally, especially when you're on tour."

It's a lesson he says came from burning out trying to do everything and see everyone — a habit he's had to consciously unlearn. That same self-awareness shapes how he thinks about his own trajectory: not as something arriving suddenly, but as a string of fresh starts. Having left college to pursue music full-time, he describes his current chapter as exactly that — the beginning of something, even if its shape isn't fully visible yet.

With September's tour dates selling fast, Alex says the anticipation already changes the room backstage before a single note is played.

Many dates on your tour are selling incredibly fast. Does seeing that level of excitement from fans change the atmosphere backstage before a show?

"100%. When there's a show that's sold really well, we're backstage like, wow, the fans are going to be amazing tonight. It makes us excited to another level, and it makes us want to do our best — because for me, it's all about the fans. As much as they're here to see me, I want to be there for them. So I guess the more of them there are, the more it makes me a little nervous, because I know I want to put on a better show."

It's a pressure he seems to welcome rather than resent — the kind that comes from caring, not from doubt. Before signing off, he circles back unprompted to thank the Louis Tomlinson fanbase specifically, crediting them, only half-jokingly, with changing his life simply by letting him in.

"Live your life. No matter what, live your life."

It's been his motto since he was five — and these days, it sounds less like a line and more like a plan.

Taken by Jess Meade

About the artist

Alex Spencer is a 19‑year‑old indie artist from Manchester, England whose raw songwriting, electric live energy and singalong hooks have fast‑tracked him from street busker to one of the UK’s most talked‑about new voices. His breakout single “Nightmares” landed on the EA SPORTS FC25 soundtrack and helped push his music to a global audience, while BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, BBC Introducing and Radio X have all championed his work. Following the 2025 EP Where Do We Go From Here? he sold out a February 2026 UK headline run (including Manchester Academy 2) and spent spring supporting Louis Tomlinson on arenas across Europe, winning new fans night after night. Alex’s recent singles — “Masks,” “Farewell To Forever” and “These Will Be The Days” — blend nostalgic, coming‑of‑age lyricism with urgent, guitar‑forward arrangements that feel immediate live and intimate on record.

Musically, Alex draws on Manchester’s indie lineage and contemporary melodic storytellers, balancing the swagger of Arctic Monkeys and Sam Fender with the vulnerability of modern singer‑songwriters. His busking roots give his performances an immediacy and crowd‑first sensibility, while time on larger stages has sharpened his arrangement and showcraft. Expect honest, anthemic songs that sit comfortably between stadium-ready hooks and acoustic confessionals.

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Full transcript

Mary (Frontlight Magazine): Hello, how are you?

ALEX: Hi! I'm really, really good. I've been so busy recently, like, even though I've not been on tour. I've been, uh, writing and getting ready for new music and stuff like that, and yeah, it's so exciting.

Mary: Yeah, I can imagine that. So, um, I wrote down some questions. Some questions about music, some questions about personal stuff.

ALEX: Thank you It's all yours.

Mary: Yeah, it's great. When do you write music? Do you usually start with lyrics or melody or a specific feeling you want to capture in that song?

ALEX: Uh, well, to be honest, like sometimes it's a feeling and me thinking I want to write about something, and then I start writing notes. But other times I'll start with a guitar melody or a bit on piano recently, and then, uh, and then make the lyrics come to life, I guess. It's been a crazy journey. I've been writing songs since I was young, and I've gotten better over time. And I guess I write how I feel. And I guess, yeah, it comes from the heart. So yeah. Yeah.

Mary: By the way, I love that you have great weather in the UK. Like, I live in Germany, normally we have good weather.

ALEX: No, don't be surprised. Don't be fooled. Literally, it's cloudy and the sun's just come through. This is the only sun we've got all day. Looks nice though. I tell you, it's been raining all day.

Mary: It's been raining all day here too.

ALEX: Oh, wow. Yeah,

Mary: What has been the most unexpected lesson you have learned about yourself over the past year?

ALEX: Oh, wow. That's a deep question. I guess that, uh, you've got to take care of yourself. I, like, always love to be full-on and do everything and try and do everything, see everybody, but you burn out and, like, you've got to take care of yourself physically and mentally, especially when you're on tour. So that's a great question. Thank you.

Mary: I always try to have a good combination of music questions and personal questions.

ALEX: Yeah, no, of course. Just a quick one. So did you see me on the Louis tour?

Mary: Yeah, in Cologne.

ALEX: Oh, nice. Did you enjoy it?

Mary: I loved it. I loved every second of your set. Really.

ALEX: Oh, amazing. Amazing.

Mary: Your new song has just been released. What's the story and what inspired you to write that song?

ALEX: The story behind "these will be the days". It's like, It's a tune that is probably, like, to me, one of the most special songs I've written because it resonates such a big chunk of my life and growing up and seeing friends come and go and meeting new people and growing up and, yeah. Another thing that— a big lesson it taught me was to, like, enjoy the moment and, I guess, like, take everything in because, you know, life goes so quick and you get so many experiences and you end up regretting it. So you end up regretting not enjoying it more. So "these will be the days" kind of, sums up a bit of me growing up and leaving college and going out into the real world, into what I love. But there's— there's challenges with that as well. It's also a celebration. I think my music's very positive. Like, sometimes there's a message. There's always a hopeful message at the end. So inspire others as well and the young people. Yeah.

Mary: I love— I love the meaning.

ALEX: Do you love the tunes?

Mary: Yeah, I love the tune. And I love all the meanings behind your songs. I love them.

ALEX: Thank you, yeah. What's your favorite song of mine?

Mary: I would say— it's a bit difficult, but I would say "Masks" because I love the meaning behind that.

ALEX: Yeah. Yeah. It's a— it's a special song, isn't it?

Mary: You already mentioned Louis. What was your reaction when you got the message that you can open for him? And do you remember the first time you walked onto the stage knowing that thousands of new people are there who possibly don't know you? And what was that feeling like?

ALEX: Wow. Well, I tell you, like, it was probably one of the craziest moments. Like, I had no idea, first of all, uh— wait, sorry. I remember getting the call up for it. I was on my own tour in Manchester, and I woke up the next morning and my dad was like, "We just got a message through". All these cities around Europe and places I've dreamed of playing. And it was a crazy surprise. Like, I've been following Louis for many years now and I love what he does, and I always wanted to play with him and, like, support him. To be honest, it's quite an honor. And it was just crazy. And then I remember walking on in Hamburg that first night, and I'd never walked out onto a stage like this, and it was just like, whoa, taking it all in. And yeah, and what surprised me most was how amazing the fans were. They were like, "I feel like I've been part of the community now." And it's like, so special. Everyone was so nice. And yeah, like, they're proud of it. So we were very welcomed so nicely, and now we can go back to Europe and perform for them. And yeah, it's special.

Mary: The Louis community is a family. We welcome every support act with open arms.

ALEX: It's great. Who's your favorite support act been?

Mary: I really like you, but I also— I think you met Adam.

ALEX: Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Mary: I will see him on Saturday, if I'm not wrong. Yeah, on Saturday.

ALEX: Nice.

I really like you both, but in 2023 he had a support act, The Academic. I don't know if you know them.

ALEX: Oh, that's it. Yeah, I really loved them. I saw them. I was supposed to play with them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah,

Mary: I already saw them live too, and I love them. And Palewaves, obviously.

ALEX: Oh, great. Oh, yeah, Palewaves were really nice people, weren't they?

Great to hear your opinion as well.

Mary: What's the most important piece of advice you would give to someone who's just starting out to chase their dream, if it's music or hobbies, whatever?

ALEX: Yeah, you know, I'd say, like, I love to speak to the younger generation and it's like, everyone's got a dream. And it's as cliché as it sounds, like, go and chase that. Like, you've got that. Don't let anybody tell you wrong. Like, it looks like I always had a dream to— and I'm still chasing it, but perform live, inspire thousands, and share my music to the world. And I'm living my dream and because I kept at it. And if anybody told me different, I pushed it away and I kept at it. And you know what I mean? I believed in what I did and I loved what I did. Like, I imagine, is your dream to go into journalism maybe? Or is that your dream passion?

Mary: Yeah. That was one of my dreams, to start with writing and photographing for magazines and have these interactions with artists

ALEX: Exactly. But you kept at it and now you're doing it. And you are doing amazing. So to everybody out there who's got a dream or wants to be a singer or a dancer or even be a business person or work in, like, IT, whatever, you can do that and make that happen. And we're told a lot in the media different and on social media, but you've got that and put your mind to it. So if anybody ever has advice, drop me a message and I'd always love to support people.

Mary: Love that. I really love that.

Many dates on your tour are selling incredibly fast. Does seeing that level of excitement from fans change the atmosphere backstage before a show?

ALEX: That is a really good question. Well done. Like, yeah, 100%. Like, when there's a show that's sold really well, which this tour we announced the other day and we didn't have no idea it was going to sell like this. It's nearly sold out, by the way. When we're backstage, we're all like, wow, the fans are going to be amazing tonight. It's sold out. I've got no doubt on the tour we're doing in September. The fans are going to be loud. And I can't wait to meet everybody. And yeah, it changes the atmosphere. It makes us excited to another level and, like, want to do our best. Because for me, it's all about the fans. And I want to put a good show for them. Do you know what I mean? Like, as much as they're here to see me, I want to be there for them. So yeah, I guess it makes me a little bit— when there's more of them, it makes me a bit nervous because I know I want to put on a better show for them. So yeah, great question.

Mary: I think it will be amazing shows.

ALEX: Yeah. Are you coming to any?

Mary: I hope so. First, I have to ask at work that I get free the next day.

If you could go back and talk to yourself five years ago, what would you say?

ALEX: I'd tell them not to, like— yeah, just like I said before, keep at it. Like, your biggest dreams are still yet to come. And, like, never stop being yourself and having that passion and ask questions and look up to people. That's like my biggest advice. That's what I'd tell my younger self. I'd tell my younger self to, like, yeah, don't let your mind trick you. Keep at it. Like, you got this, and you're doing very well.

Mary: So, I think I have around three questions left. What song has the biggest meaning for you? It can be your own but also from another artist. It don't have to be your own.

ALEX: Oh, so my own meaning song, I guess, "Masks" is very special. The meaning behind mental health and you never know what someone might be going through is, like, you know what I mean? I've seen it so much in, like, friends and people around me. And it's sad, like, people might be going through something and they don't speak up about it. So I want to kind of have that awareness. So that song means a lot to me, "Masks." These will be the days are special as well. Those two new songs from the new batch of tracks is just very special to me. If somebody else, wow, I listen to a lot of music and I don't really know, you know? Musically, I still need to think. My favorite song— you know, I love songs when they hit you emotionally and, like, you can relate to them. You know, good— I can't really think. I love bands like Arctic Monkeys and Sam Fender. Aaron Rowe is a smaller artist. I'll have to think about that, but yeah, I guess.

Mary: Great. If your current chapter of life had a title, what would it be?

ALEX: Oh. Oh, you know, right now I'm in a fresh start at the beginning. I started recently, like, new chapter, I guess. I left college doing this full-time. So I'm at the start of my new chapter. That might be a bit boring at the beginning, but maybe, like— I don't know. I do feel like I'm in a very fresh chapter at the minute. It's the start of something big.

Mary: I love that. I love that. And what's your favorite quote you live by?

ALEX: Oh, since I was— since I was five years old, "Live your life. No matter what, live your life." You know what I mean? Yeah. Go and give it to the fullest. Yeah, just, "Live your life and do what you want to do." That's always been my motto. I love that. I want anybody to believe that anything's possible. Yeah. And also just on behalf of all the Louis fans, I just also wanted just to say a thank you. They kind of changed my life. That's— it's true. Like, my living with Louis and that tour has changed my life. So I'm very grateful for everybody who is still welcoming me. And yeah, I'm really looking for you to come write it.

(His brother coming)

[...] We have a magazine.

Mary: One last one. What was your favorite moment at the Louis tour?

ALEX: The fans. Every night seeing them sing along and meeting them after the shows. And also just, like, yeah, seeing new places. I love traveling. That was special. So yeah, the fans were everything for me. And also, yeah, and also just, like, Louis' team were great with me. Because it was the first time I'd ever done something like this, so they all got me high. I mean, Louis was a great role model to me. And yeah, so that was a great experience.

Mary: Love it. Okay, perfect that’s all I have. Thank you

ALEX: Thank you. Thank you so much. Amazing. Thank you so much. Have the best day. See you. Have the best day. Bye-bye.

Mary: Bye you too.