With over a billion streams to his name and a reputation as one of pop’s most exciting young voices, Alexander Stewart knows how to turn heartbreak into hooks. Now, he’s joined forces with fellow rising star Lauren Spencer Smith on “Friends Don’t” — a soaring, emotional duet that captures the pain of trying to hold on to something that was never built to last.
Produced with the same confessional, polished edge that’s made him a Spotify Pop Rising Artist to Watch, Friends Don’t is one of the most personal tracks Stewart says he’s ever written. “It’s about navigating a complicated relationship and harbouring those unspoken feelings and pain… something I think so many of us have experienced,” he explains. With Lauren’s rich vocals intertwining with his own, the track grows into something even more powerful, a true collaboration between two artists who’ve built a friendship touring together and living in LA.
The single arrives as the latest preview of Stewart’s sophomore album What If?, due October 24 via Virgin Music Group. The 12-track record promises to be his most introspective work yet, with every song co-written by Alexander himself. It follows his debut bleeding heart, which featured the viral hit “i wish you cheated” (45M+ TikTok views) and earned him his first JUNO and MTV VMA nominations. Early singles like “Blame On You” (tipped by Rolling Stone as a Song You Need To Know), “Here Again” (3.5M+ streams), and the September release “Scared of Myself” have already set the tone for an album that digs deep into vulnerability, resilience, and healing.
Fans won’t have to wait long to hear it live. Alexander is heading out on the UK and European leg of his Here Again Tour this November, with stops in Manchester, London, Berlin, Paris, and more before wrapping in Milan on December 3. Tickets are on sale now, with many shows already close to selling out.
Alexander Stewart 2025 Tour Dates
- November 13 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
- November 16 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy 2
- November 17 – London, UK – KOKO
- November 19 – Bristol, UK – Thekla
- November 21 – Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik
- November 24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg MAX
- November 25 – Berlin, Germany – Hole 44
- November 27 – Paris, France – Alhambra
- November 28 – Munich, Germany – Theaterfabrik
- November 30 – Vienna, Austria – WUK
- December 01 – Zurich, Switzerland – Dynamo
- December 03 – Milan, Italy – Circolo Magnolia
It’s been a whirlwind two years for the Toronto-born singer-songwriter. His debut album led to a Tonight Show debut, a viral moment on TikTok, and his first #1 on the US Dance Charts (“Wrong Way” with Two Friends). A global Bleeding Heart Tour saw him perform nearly 40 dates across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and he’s previously shared stages with Charlie Puth, Benson Boone, and Lauren Spencer Smith herself. Along the way, Stewart’s fanbase has grown to over 400M YouTube views, 166M TikTok likes, and, maybe most importantly, a reputation for writing songs that make people feel understood.
And that’s what Friends Don’t does best. It’s a track about unspoken feelings and unravelling connections, but it doesn’t just wallow in heartbreak, it finds strength in honesty. With Lauren Spencer Smith by his side, Stewart has delivered one of his most striking songs to date, and with What If? on the horizon, it’s clear he’s stepping into his next chapter stronger than ever.
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