Midland Vibes

Cruz Beckham Wear & Tear

Tracks: Dumb Down, Wear & Tear, Better Times, Loneliest Boy, WANNABE, Seeing Red

Label: Republic Records

In the 10 months since Cruz Beckham debuted on the music scene, he has defied the critics. While many derided him for clinging on to the coat tails of his famous parents, he has proven that he has the talent to make it as an artist in his own right. With his initial singles reaping praise and his debut headline tour not only selling out but also receiving both critical applause and easily establishing his own fan base, he finally lands at the release of his debut EP - Wear & Tear.

Having cited The Beatles, The Stone Roses and David Bowie as key influences, it is clear that Beckham is happy to wear these sounds within his own context, but at one stage does this EP try to simply emulate those artists? He rather marries his key influences with his own Britpop leanings to craft an EP that feels very much his own.

With 6 songs and a run time of 19 minutes, fans of his mother's group might be disappointed to learn that WANNABE is not a cover of their breakout hit but a cleverly titled song under the same name that really establishes his own identity and ambitions within its walls.

While WANNABE works and is far from weak, it is in the confines of this EP the weakest offering. When compared with the blissfully summery Better Times, anthemic drive of Wear & Tear or melancholic charm of Loneliest Boy, it does not stand out. However, it is the dizzying Seeing Red, which closes the EP, that really stands out and, with a radio edit, could see Cruz Beckham finally conquer the singles chart.

The pressure will have been on for Cruz Beckham to deliver on his debut EP, but instead of chasing the TikTok soundbite hit factory, he has stayed true to the artist he introduced the world to in 2025. This is an EP that proves he is a rounded artist with an eclectic sound that is memorable and has longer-term arena-filling potential.