22-year-old South African alt-pop artist Will Linley has announced the release of his hotly anticipated debut album Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, arriving on 5th September 5th, alongside the heartfelt new single First Love. A gentle yet emotionally resonant track, First Love finds Linley in a moment of candid self-reflection. Built around soft acoustic strums and delicate keys, the single sees the Cape Town native unpacking the lessons learned from early heartbreak. “Oh, keys are on the counter, wish I could’ve found her a couple of years later instead,” he sings, with a wistful honesty. “I’m sorry that you had to be my first love.”
Will Linley
Speaking about the track, Linley shares: “I wrote First Love at the end of my first breakup. The song captures the questions in your head after a relationship. I had to come to terms with the fact that my first girlfriend had to put up with me learning how to love.”
The single paves the way for Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, a 12-track album that charts the full emotional arc of first love — from its heady beginnings to the quiet ache of its conclusion. Crafted during writing sessions in Los Angeles with trusted collaborators David Balshaw and Bubele Booi (aka The Imports), the record fuses personal, diary-style lyricism with vibrant pop production. Influenced by artists like Coldplay, 5 Seconds of Summer and the golden-era romcoms that Linley adores (Notting Hill, About Time), the LP promises to blend glossy soundscapes with a cinematic emotional weight.
The album follows his 2023 magic EP, which solidified Linley’s “sad pop” niche — infusing melancholic themes with feel-good, beat-driven energy. Standout track Last Call has amassed over 34 million Spotify streams, contributing to his impressive 100 million+ global streams to date.
Already a fan favourite, Cinematic — released earlier this summer — set the tone for the album’s widescreen vision, earning praise from tastemakers who called it “the perfect song to scream in the car,” and praised its “shimmering synths” and “melodies that linger like the final scene of your favourite coming-of-age film.”
Having built a reputation for his emotionally charged live performances — from his 2024 US Magic Tour to festival slots at Lollapalooza, Barn On The Farm, and Rocking The Daisies — Linley is set to deliver his most complete and compelling artistic statement yet.
With Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, Will Linley isn’t just releasing an album — he’s offering a coming-of-age soundtrack for a global generation navigating love, loss and everything in between.
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