Manchester musician went from busking on Market Street to performing for Man City

Meet Alex, a 16-year-old busker who went from playing on the streets of Manchester to performing at the AO Arena and for the Man City team. 

Alex Spencer, a singer-songwriter from Droylsden, decided to start busking on the streets of Manchester after travelling around India and Thailand with his parents when he was 12.

While he was away, having just started playing the guitar, he would get up on stage with other musicians during open mic nights.

Travelling and meeting musicians from around the world inspired him to get into busking on his return to Manchester.

It was there he was spotted by record label Modern Sky who signed him in a record deal — the same label The Lathums, Jamie Webster and Brooke Combe, and The Coral, all started out on.

Now, the talented and chilled out musician has just finished sitting his GCSEs and has released his new single One Way Ticket, which came out on Wednesday, June 21st.

The teenager plans to go on to study music at college in September and hopes to become even more successful as a musician in the future as he embarks on a solo career.

“I was travelling with my mum and dad around the world and I was in Thailand. I went to a few open mics and I met a lot of musicians there who’d busked around the world. I met so many creative people travelling round the world and I learnt so  much.

“And I just thought, ‘when I get back to Manchester I might give it a go’ and I did in the summer and it went down really well.”

On studying for his GCSEs around his music career, Alex said: “It’s tough but I fit it all in. I’m just really tired.

On his plans for the future, the young singer-songwriter continued: “After school I’m gonna enjoy summer and then just keep playing and I’m going to go to college to study music production. A Night To Waste has been doing really well over social media and it’s gotten a lot of love.

“It’s about me, my life, being a teenager and growing up in Droylsden. I’ve got quite a few things lined up for summer and autumn so keep a look out.”

When asked about the process he goes through to make music, Alex went on to say: “Say I’m out and about and I’ve got a melody, I record it on voice note. I’ll get home and then just try and write a few verses.

“And then it fully comes together. Like, I’ll get on my little set up at home and I’ll record guitar, the bass and the lyrics they just come along.”

His inspirations are the likes of Sam Fender, Jake Bug, The Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire, and even Dave. 

The rising star played at the AO Arena last year for Young Voices which he says was ‘amazing’. On other memorable times he’s had so early on in his music career, the City fan recalled: “When I played for the City squad — that was amazing.” 

He’s not afraid of performing in front of crowds, having already had some experience, saying: “I feel like large crowds are easier than small crowds.” He enjoys the buzz and excitement huge audiences can generate. “I just wanna keep going with my music, maybe get to headline a few major festivals,” he added.

One Way Ticket is out now. You can listen to Alex’s music on Spotify and check out his website for where he’ll be performing over the summer at linktr.ee/alexspencer.