Strawberry Guy, aka Welsh Billboard 100 artist Alex Stephens, announces his highly anticipated second full-length studio album, Give Me A Dream – out on October 23rd via AWAL.
Marking his first album in five years, the announcement today follows the recent release of “I’ll Never Feel That Young Again” a shimmering slice of nostalgic pop as well as his evergreen hit single, “Mrs Magic”.
Alongside the announcement of Give Me A Dream today is the release of “Love Me Like You Used To.” Listen here. The new single serves as a breathtaking, string-soaked and emotional plea for the return of a love that once felt effortless.
Accompanied by the release is a beautiful cinematic video starring Sadie Sandler (Roommates, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah); capturing the complexities of a father-daughter relationship; the video culminates in a moving reconciliation that echoes the song’s longing for a love restored.
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.
“Going from my bedroom to probably one of the best studios in the world was like, ‘whoa!’,” Alex says. 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.
Album highlights include the infectious “Only Gets Better”, featuring a piano melody and vocal refrain that lingers in your head for days, the album’s title track, a powerful depiction of hope and clinging onto beauty during times of turbulence as well as album closer “Better Man”, an exquisite rumination on manhood.
Throughout, Give Me A Dream holds you in a vice-like grip between vulnerability and fragility as well as hope and optimism – exploring the tight-rope balance that is making it through life intact. “Music is a way of giving myself hope and clarity.” says Alex. “And I think that if I can give that to other people, then that’s a beautiful thing.”
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