At just eighteen, Alex Spencer has already earned a slew of accolades. With his music on FIFA, live performances for his boyhood team Manchester City, and support slots for the likes of Jake Bugg and Miles Kane, his rise is nothing short of extraordinary. But his success is no overnight fluke. Starting as a twelve year old busker on the streets of Manchester, Alex’s journey has been shaped by years of hard work. Hotly tipped by BBC 6 Music and Radio X, he’s now secured a record deal and is getting ready for headline UK tour this April. We caught up with Alex to discuss his rise, his connection to Manchester, and plans for the future.
Q. You’ve got a huge UK tour coming up, how are you feeling about that?
A. "I’m so excited - touring the UK is always amazing, especially going to play cities that you’ve never stepped foot in and seeing the crowd singing back and having a good time. When I put on a show, I want everyone in that room to feel the energy and have an unforgettable experience. There’s nothing better than seeing people smile and hearing them sing the lyrics back. Of course, I’ll be a bit nervous, but I know it’s going to be mega. The Gorilla show in Manchester, my hometown, is nearly sold out, and that’s going to be insane. The only challenge with touring is staying healthy, you’ve got to take care of yourself because it’s really easy to get run down especially if you don’t eat or sleep well. But as long as I keep on top of it, the tour is going to be a great time for me and the band".
Q. You recently put out a video asking for local support acts - have you enjoyed that process of discovering new artists to perform alongside?
A. "It’s gone really well. I’ve built a lot of my fanbase from supporting bands I look up to, so I wanted to do something similar. Instead of getting the promoter to pick all the supports, I decided to get engaged with people and give some up-and-coming bands a chance. I want to give back in a way and help grow the new music scene. It’s mad, too, seeing so many upcoming acts who want to support me - it’s like, wow, people look up to me, which is nice".
Q. Are there any cities on tour that you’re most excited to play?
A. "Newcastle is going to be mega – ticket sales are going really well for that one. Obviously, I can’t wait for the big Manchester headline, I’ve got loads of exciting plans for that. Bristol’s going to be special for me as well because I’ve never played there before, I haven’t even stepped foot in the city, so I’m really looking forward to it! It’s a cool city, apparently. Leeds was a huge surprise for me last time; it ended up being the best show of the whole tour in October. Glasgow’s going to be great too, I’ve heard King Tut's is an iconic venue. Every stop is going to be mega".
Q. Manchester has played a big role in your journey - what does the city mean to you, both personally and musically?
A. "Oh, Manchester. Wow, it's the place, isn't it? I really feel like it's going to be the new London. Everything's down in London at the minute and it's all boring; London, London, London, I’m tired of that. Manchester's going to be the new place. It's got the music, the culture, the sports, the food. I'm really honoured to be a part of it and hopefully one day my name goes down in the history books of Manchester music. It's all happening here up in the north".
Q. You’re a big Manchester City fan as well - would you say the club has played a big role in your journey?
A. "They've been mad supportive, they've helped me so much. They invited me down just yesterday to play a couple of tunes and then they played my new track Wake Me Up at halftime at the Etihad which was unreal. Hopefully one of my tunes will become an anthem at City that they play every game, like Louis Dunford’s ‘North London Forever’ for Arsenal. I’ll always remember the 2022 season, as well. We had to beat Aston Villa on the final day, and we went 2-0 down but then pulled off that comeback to win it. The day before, I got a call from City saying if they won, they wanted me at the Football Museum to play a few songs for the players before their bus tour. When we were losing, I thought, ‘It’s not going to happen,’ but then they turned it around and I was buzzing. That whole moment was insane, and, looking back, it was a huge boost for my career. I’ll always be grateful for that experience".
Q. You’ve supported Jake Bugg, Miles Kane, and The Ks. Do you approach those support shows differently to your headline gigs?
A. "That’s an interesting one, no one's asked me that before. I’d say I get more nervous for headline shows because it's your own show – you’ve put it all together, and there’s a lot more pressure. Support gigs are just great because you can feel more laid-back, just enjoy the moment, and play to a fresh crowd. There's something really special about playing to new fans, and I think that makes support shows extra fun".
Q. Who’s your dream act to support?
A. "I’ve always looked up to Sam Fender – he's definitely someone I admire a lot. It’d be amazing to share a stage with him, that would be mega. To be honest, I've supported most of my favourite artists, which is mad. Declan McKenna or Royel Otis would be cool, maybe someone more on the indie-pop side. Wunderhorse would be sick as well".
Q. It’s nearly two years since you released your first single, how do you feel you’ve developed as a musician and as a person since then?
A. "Bloody hell, two years? That's crazy, you’ve just reality checked me. It's been a long journey. If I think back just to 2023, it’s mad how much I’ve accomplished. I’ve ticked off so many dreams, but I still feel like I’m just getting started - there’s still so much more to do and a long way to go to where I want to be. But I’m really proud of the progress I’ve made and of the team around me, I’ve been learning a lot along the way. I've been in music since 2018 or 2019, busking on the streets, writing songs here and there, then signing my record deal in 2023. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind. Now I feel like my name is actually out there in the industry. It's exciting, and I’m just going to keep pushing forward and growing.
Q. You’ve just turned 18, which is obviously still very young in the industry. What are the biggest challenges and advantages that come with that?
A. I remember everyone telling me that people weren’t going to take me seriously being so young, and it kind of made sense but I think I’ve done a good job at proving them wrong. It’s about showing what you’re capable of, no matter your age. It’s definitely got its advantages though. People are more willing to take a chance on you, which has worked in my favor – like when I started busking. I was such a little kid, playing on the streets, and that really helped me get noticed. I guess people kind of root for the younger artists, you know? On the flip side, time management is a real challenge in the music world. There's always so much going on and it can get overwhelming. I’m lucky to have my parents, my management, and my team to support me, but it’s definitely something I’m still learning to handle. There's definitely a lot of ups and downs, but it’s all part of the journey".
Q. Another advantage must be being naturally in tune with social media. Do you enjoy that side of things, or does it sometimes feel like a chore?
A. "Yeah, I didn’t think of that. Being young, I know what’s going on with the socials which is important because social media is, like, 50% of the whole music thing now. This year I told myself I'm going to take my social media up a level because that's where everybody finds you. I take a lot of pride in my social media, make it look the best and make sure everyone knows what I'm doing. I enjoy it".
Q. 2024 was a huge year for you, what do you hope to have achieved by the end of 2025?
A. "I want to keep building on what I achieved in 2024, but on a much bigger scale. I want my name to be everywhere, where people in the scene are saying, ‘Oh yeah, Alex Spencer, he’s on his way up.’ I’m focused on growing my brand, releasing more tracks, and getting national radio play – I’ve been on BBC Introducing but stations like Radio 1 or 6 Music would be class. The traction is there, and I just want to keep pushing it forward. I’m really looking forward to my tour – selling that out is a big goal. I’m also writing a lot at the moment for future projects, so there’s plenty of exciting stuff ahead. It’s all about going onwards and upwards, playing bigger gigs, getting on more festival stages, and supporting more artists".
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