Pierce Alexander

As a quiet observer and listener, Pierce Alexander enters spaces with curiosity and leaves with an array of stories—many of them finding their way into his music. I Don’t Know How to Behave Online, the second studio LP from the singer-songwriter, feels like wandering through a half-lit park at dusk–wistful, tender, and equally forlorn. His latest work unravels themes of people projecting false realities, fleeting connection, and the quiet beauty of feeling lost in familiar places. True to its title, many of the songs also draw inspiration from the ever-shifting landscapes of the online world. The album is expected to drop later this year. 

Pierce Alexander spent his formative years wandering the cobblestone streets and soaking in the coastal charm of Charleston, South Carolina. Following the end of a fleeting long-distance relationship, he traveled up to Nashville, where he recorded his debut project, The Grand Scheme EP. The album’s acclaim led to performances across the greater Carolina area, including one at Bill Murray’s Charleston restaurant, Harold’s Cabin. 

For his debut full-length album, The Minutehand (2022), Pierce Alexander knew he wanted the songs to be more cohesive from the beginning. Finding himself unable to perform live due to the Covid crisis, he chose to start writing each song with just vocals and an acoustic guitar. “The Minutehand is reflective of the ebb and flow of certainty that I experienced during the making of the record. Unlike past releases, this album is focused more on the uncertainty of adult life, relationships, and major life decisions. The title comes from a line in one of the songs about how, in the end, it’s better to walk into uncharted territory than to just sit and wait for everything to feel right again,” said Alexander. Over the course of two years, he wrote somewhere upwards of about 50 songs. Narrowing it down to 10 tracks proved to be difficult, but the album’s final ten songs flow together harmoniously.

After relocating to Nashville in 2023, Alexander has released a steady stream of high quality singles leading up to his album release. The first single, Stain (2023) was originally a leading contender for the final set of songs to appear on The Minutehand. Though it easily could have made the cut, he felt that the arrangement of the song needed to be honed a bit more and decided to temporarily leave it in the demos folder. After showing the demo to his friend Corey Campbell a couple years later in 2022, the two decided to re-think the arrangement. Campbell also provided instrumental assistance on the track and the result is a profound soundscape of organic and electronic sounds that don’t neatly fit into the mold of any one genre.

His latest single, Dispel, delves into the journey of wandering through a seemingly endless city—outwardly appearing fine while quietly grieving the loss of an older version of someone. Together with musical collaborator Corey Campbell, he began workshopping the songs for the album, resulting in seven ornate tracks with a more modern, yet still intimate vibe.

“Gorgeous string accompaniments first join the mix, followed by understated percussion and gentle swells of synths, carrying the track into a reflective reverie.”

Under the Radar Magazine

“The string-laden majesty during the ‘won’t you make it up to me?’ chorus endears, meshing chamber-pop sensibilities with a folk-laden intimacy.”

Obscure Sound

“Evokes soft mood lighting, good company and the all important centerpiece of a chorus equating a heart that has no option but to swoon.”

MP3Hugger

“With his breezy voice riding a bed of folk-pop-inspired production throughout, this new one will wash over you and leave you feeling calmed and rejuvenated.”

Mystic Sons

“He wraps us up in melodic silk, which hardens throughout the duration of the song until we’re comfortably confined in an intangible cocoon-like environment, on the brink of metamorphosis.”

Woodchuck

"Alexander weaves gentle vocals against a backdrop of carefully crafted sounds, resulting in an atmosphere that is both muted and moving.”

Extra Chill