Rising 22-year-old South-African singer-songwriter Will Linley proudly presents his full-length debut album, Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, out now via Island Records.
This bold, bright, and brilliant body of work boasts the single “American Dream,” a song that evokes an endless summer romance. The gentle electric guitar riff holds down his heartfelt crooning about a “beach girl.” It really takes flight on the sun-kissed refrain, “Oh, she kissed me back and now I can’t leave, don’t wake me up from this American Dream.” Between the groove, vocals, and energy, it’s a breezy, lovestruck bop you won’t be able to shake anytime soon.
About the song, he says, “It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. I was obviously born and raised in South Africa, but much to my surprise, I ended up falling in love with somebody from America. It hit me out of the blue. It’s definitely an embodiment of everything I want my music to be.”
He first set the stage for the album with “Cinematic,” “First Love,” and “Up At Night,” which RIFF Magazine raved, “This coming-of-age record carries the ingredients of a hit. It’s fun, upbeat and exudes ’90s rom-com movies energy.” Now, he pulls everyone into the world of Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, and it’s as immersive as your favorite romance flick.
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 favorites 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.
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.”
