Strawberry Guy Says It “Only Gets Better”
Strawberry Guy—aka Welsh Billboard 100 artist Alex Stephens—unveils his melodic new single, “Only Gets Better,” via AWAL. Today’s release provides fans with their last preview of Alex’s sophomore album Give Me A Dream ahead of its release on October 23. The track follows his recent series of ethereal singles “Love Me Like You Used To” and “I’ll Never Feel That Young Again,”, which Clash labelled as “a shimmering slice of nostalgic pop,” as well as his evergreen hit single, “Mrs Magic.”
The unshakably rhythmic “Only Gets Better” shines with its piano melody and vocal refrain that lingers in your head for days. It is a beautiful ode to overcoming difficulties and having a glimpse into a future that Stephens thinks might just be brighter. Reflecting on the track, Alex says, “‘Only Gets Better’ is a song about anxiety, really. But in a way where I guess I’ve written it for myself and others when they experience it – it’s kind of like an ‘it’s gonna be ok’ kind of song. A warm hug almost. A reminder that it can only get better if you are at your worst. One lyric I was particularly happy with is the opening lyric, ‘I saw the future today, it only gets better’… just thought it was a good opening line, aha.’
Recorded at the legendary Sonic Ranch in Texas (the creative home of albums by Fiona Apple, Tyler the Creator and Big Thief) and mastered by Grammy Award-winner Matt Colton (Arctic Monkeys, Little Simz, Tame Impala, Wet Leg), Give Me A Dream signals a major creative leap forward for Stephens. Tender and quietly expansive, the record finds Strawberry Guy at his most accomplished, pairing his signature dreamlike indie pop with his most personal songwriting to date.
In support of the new music, Strawberry Guy will embark on his biggest headline tour to date, with U.S. dates starting in November. See below for tour routing.
Welsh-born, Liverpool-bred Strawberry Guy has rapidly established himself as one of the UK’s most compelling new voices, earning widespread acclaim for his richly textured, cinematic songwriting. He released his debut EP in 2019, followed by his debut album Sun Outside My Window in 2021. Both marked him as a bold new talent crafting deeply singular impressionistic music that touched upon everything from 19th-century classical music to golden era 20th-century pop songwriting. However, in the lead-up to his debut album, something completely unexpected happened. His track, “Mrs Magic,” went viral on TikTok and has amassed over a billion streams, helping him reach more than 11 million monthly Spotify listeners. While in some instances, virality can often equate to fleeting vacuousness in the social media age, Strawberry Guy is a refreshing antidote to that narrative and proof that meticulously crafted songs can simply sometimes resonate on a profoundly deep and far-reaching level. He expertly creates beautiful music that is tender, fragile, intimate and unshakably infectious.
Photographer credit: Bryce Glenn