4AD

When Spencer. dropped out of college, he gave himself a year to get his career off the ground. “My parents were understandably upset when I left school,” he says, “but I promised them I’d go back if things didn’t work out.” Less than twelve months later, he’d racked up millions of streams on Spotify, garnered glowing reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, and signed a record deal with 4AD.

Hailed by Fader for his “sweet and soulful” songwriting and “warm-toned” voice and by Pigeons & Planes as an “old soul with a timeless sound”, Spencer. makes the kind of music that defies easy categorization. Take a listen to the twenty-year-old’s intoxicating new single, 'Automatic', and you’ll hear the full depth and breadth of his range: there’s R&B in his velvety vocals, hip-hop in his off-kilter beats, funk in his effervescent basslines, and moody indie rock in his reverb-soaked guitar. His influences are eclectic to match, with everyone from Miles Davis to Thundercat getting a nod, and he writes, records, and produces nearly every element of his music himself. The result is a bold, emotionally riveting sound, one that’s steeped equally in alternative and pop, organic and digital, past and present.