June 2023 winner - Alex Spencer

Alex Spencer, the "otherworldly teen song writing phenomenon", is a 16-year old singer-songwriter who is writing lyrics that chime with the younger generation he represents.

Having picked up a discarded guitar at home and decided that it afforded opportunity too good to pass up, Alex’s musicianship blossomed by playing great soul and rock and roll standards. As an early teen starting out, he says that it was Ben E King’s Stand By Me that got the ball rolling before the classic 10CC’s Dreadlock Holiday followed into his early repertoire. Ahead of writing his own music, the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Sam Fender became his go-to influences both in his bedroom and out performing on Manchester's streets.

Studio time with experienced artist, songwriter and producer, Adam French, has not only captured the enthusiasm of such tender years but also pushed Alex’s song writing from justifiably confident in his own head to obviously ready to compete. Signing with Modern Sky (The Lathums, Crawlers, Brooke Combe) and picking up vital support from other areas of the UK’s indie star-making community, the next steps include deploying his ready-and-waiting live band onto the touring circuit and onwards to major festivals.

Following the release of his last single, he has made his major festival debut at Liverpool’s Sound City, broadcast to the world via BBC News’ Tik Tok and acquired influencer status through his own day-in-the-life social media updates