Rising 22-year-old South-African singer-songwriter Will Linley shares a brand new single entitled “First Love” out now via Island Records. It heralds the arrival of his anxiously awaited full-length debut album, Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, on September 5th. Listen to “First Love” HERE.
On the track, softly strummed acoustic guitar underscores his dynamic delivery. At the same time, dreamy keys accent a solid backbeat. Throughout the verses, he recalls all of the “firsts” that just didn’t work out, yet still taught him an invaluable lesson or two. “Oh, keys are on the counter, wish I could’ve found her a couple of years later instead, I’m sorry that you had to be my first love.”
Will elaborates, “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. I’ve come to realise the first time you do anything, you don’t get it right. Sadly, that includes love.”
Don’t Cry Because It’s Over captures the whole arc of first love – from its hopeful beginnings to its quiet endings. Blending introspective storytelling with polished pop production, the album moves through themes of connection, heartbreak, nostalgia, and growth. Influenced by the emotional realism of classic romantic comedies, the project offers a globally minded take on modern relationships. Across 12 tracks, Linley combines heartfelt lyricism with vibrant melodies, creating a debut that’s both personal and universally relatable.
Will notably wrote and recorded the album during sessions in Los Angeles. He teamed up with trusted collaborators and executive producers David Balshaw and Bubele Booi (The Imports) to bring this body of work to life. For as much as they drew inspiration from favourites such as Coldplay, One Direction, and 5 Seconds of Summer, they also leaned on classic rom-coms, including Notting Hill, About Time, No Strings Attached, Friends with Benefits, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
By doing so, Will tells a story that’s big screen-ready, teeming with drama, joy, heartbreak, and all the feels.
At the top of the summer, he set the stage for the album with “Cinematic,” which has already amassed over 1 million streams, with the number continuing to grow. Melodic Magazine raved, “‘Cinematic’ is the perfect song to scream in the car,” and NOTION spotlighted the “shimmering synths, confessional lyrics, and melodies that linger like the final scene of your favourite coming-of-age film.”
Will made a splash in 2024 with his US headlining “Magic Tour.” In the midst of the tour, he. also took the stage at Lollapalooza. He’s most known for his Magic EP – a collection of “sad pop” songs, where he masterfully blends raw, emotional lyrics with cheery, dance-y beats. The EP features previously released singles, including “Maybe,” “Gracie,” “Tough (The Girls Song),” and most notably, “Last Call.”
