Whether you discovered him on TikTok from his cheeky videos or through his swoon-worthy performances on America’s Got Talent, everyone can agree that Alex Sampson is a star-in-the-making thanks to his dreamy pop love songs and and bubbly personality.
The 20-year-old is giving fans what they’ve been asking for by releasing his sophomore album Hopeless Romantic on all music streaming platforms today (September 27). And while he’s only released two projects over the course of his career, Alex tells Celeb Secrets it’s his favorite one yet for a number of reasons, with one being that it was “the first time that I’ve sat down to write a project top to bottom.”
Featuring seven original songs — including a prelude — Hopeless Romantic illuminates the nuances of the singer/songwriter’s artistry. With elements like cinematic strings, dreamy piano, head-nodding bass lines, slick electric guitar riffs and tons of upbeat snaps, Alex’s latest offering gives the golden age of music a modern glow up that no one knew it ever needed… until now, of course.
“I listened to all the greats from that golden age of music like Elvis, The Beatles and The Beach Boys to craft this EP and make it as authentic as it possibly could be, and I think ‘Hopeless Romantic’ is a title that really captures all of it,” Alex says of what inspired the new project. “They’re all love songs, and that was the very first thing I thought of when I was thinking of a title.”
Fans were able to get a taste of what to expect from Hopeless Romantic when Sampson captured the hearts of millions on America’s Got Talent this summer by auditioning with “Pretty Baby,” which was taped in March. After receiving four really enthusiastic “yes” votes from judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandell, and Sofia Vergara, the 20-year-old took the advice he was given during the audition process and created Hopeless Romantic, later performing “If You Were My Girl” and “Wallflower” during the live shows throughout the summer.
“When I auditioned for [‘America’s Got Talent’], I did ‘Pretty Baby,’ which was the only song in my catalogue that had the retro feel. Simon [Cowell] and the rest of the judges loved it, and [Simon] said that if I stayed in that lane, I’d be very successful,” he reveals. “When Simon Cowell tells you to do something, you do it, so I went back home and wrote more I crafted this EP in that sound and in that lane, and I think it came out perfectly.”
Alex’s journey on AGT ended at the semi-finals, however the Internet sensation has come into his own as a person and as an artist thanks to competing on live television.
Speaking of his time on the show, Alex tells Celeb Secrets, “[My time on AGT] was exactly what I wanted. I want to be as big of an artist as I can, and I’m willing to do anything that I can to make that happen. Doing ‘America’s Got Talent’ was such a great boost and exposure for me and my music, and I’m grateful for it. I love that the clips are online and they’re not being removed. It’s amazing. I’m very, I’m very happy. I love that more people know who I am and are listening to my music now because that’s just what I want. I want everybody to listen to my music.”
As for what’s next, the Canadian crooner reveals that he is hosting an EP release show in Los Angeles this Sunday (September 29) while taking time to plan for more music and live shows for 2025.
“My goal for next year is for you to get sick of my face. That’s what I want. I want you to get sick of my face, I want you to get sick of my voice, and I want you to get sick of me. That’s my goal for next year, and I will do anything to make it happen,” he laughs.
Take a listen to Hopeless Romantic below and let us know your favs by leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
