Rex Orange County

Alexander O'Connor (born 4 May 1998), better known by his stage name Rex Orange County, is an English recording artist. He grew up in the village of Grayshott near Haslemere, Surrey.[1][2] O'Connor has released three albums: Bcos U Will Never B Free (2015), Apricot Princess (2017), and Pony (2019).

Rex Orange County
Background information
Birth nameAlexander O’Connor
Born (1998-05-04) 4 May 1998
OriginGrayshott, Hampshire, England
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • drums
  • bass guitar
  • saxophone
Years active2015–present
LabelsSony
Associated actsTyler, the Creator, Benny Sings, Randy Newman, Cosmo Pyke
Websiterexorangecounty.com

Name

The name Rex Orange County is based on a teacher-given nickname, "The OC", after his surname O'Connor.[3]

Early life and work

O'Connor was involved with music from a young age. At age five, O'Connor was a part of the choir at the school where his mother worked.[4] He became a drummer and later taught himself piano. At age sixteen, he picked up the guitar and started to produce his own music on Logic software.[5] Growing up, he listened to Queen, ABBA, Stevie Wonder, and American alternative artists like Weezer and Green Day.[5]

Starting his music journey, at Frensham Heights School. Beginning at age 16, he attended the BRIT School where he studied drumming and was one of four percussionists in his year; the relative rareness of his primary instrument provided him with wide exposure to various projects of others in his school which he credits to exposing him to new and fresh music.[4] During this time, O'Connor also began producing his own projects.[3][2]

Career

In 2015, Rex Orange County self-released Bcos U Will Never B Free on SoundCloud.[2] This put him on musician Two Inch Punch's radar, who provided him with a management team. The two also collaborated on a few songs—"UNO", "Best Friend", and "Untitled". This also caught Tyler, the Creator's attention. He sent him an email, appreciating the album, and he also flew him out to L.A. to work on Flower Boy.[5]

Rex Orange County shared online the DIY "UNO" recording in 2016 when he was 18. Clash magazine wrote, "The buoyant keyboard riff underpins a hypnotic half-spoken vocal, one that veers from topic to topic in a hazy burst of creative mania."[6]

In 2017, he released his second album Apricot Princess.[7] Three months after the release of his second album, Rex Orange County was featured on Tyler, the Creator's album Flower Boy; he co-wrote and contributed vocals to the songs "Boredom" and "Foreword".[7] His work has been compared to "other artsy, post-genre teen artists".[8]

As of 9 May 2018, the most popular track by Rex Orange County on Spotify is "Loving Is Easy" created in collaboration with the Dutch artist Benny Sings.[7] On 16 April 2018, Rex Orange County performed the song in his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[9]

On 31 May 2018, Rex Orange County released a cover of "You've Got a Friend in Me", performing along with Randy Newman, the creator of the song.[10] He was also featured in Spotify's Rise Program.[5]

On 14 February 2019, he released a new single called "New House." Later that year, on 12 September he released "10/10"; the lead single from his third album Pony.[11] Pony was his first major label album release through RCA on 25 October 2019.[12]

NPR Music journalist Zoë Jones described Rex Orange County's music as "a bright blend of hip-hop, jazz, and bedroom pop." [12]

Awards

In January 2018, O'Connor came in second in the BBC Sound of 2018 award after Norwegian singer Sigrid.[13]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[14]		 AUS
[15]		 CAN
[16]		 NZ
[17]		 US
[18]		 US
Heat.
[19]		 US
Ind.
[20]
Bcos U Will Never B Free ———————
Apricot Princess
  • Released: 26 April 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
 —————28
Pony
  • Released: 25 October 2019
  • Label: Sony Music (RCA)
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
 54363——
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Singles

As lead artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[14]		 UK
Indie
[21]		 BEL
(WA)
Tip
[22]		 NZ
Hot
[23]		 US
Alt.
[24]		 US
Rock
[25]		 US
Rock
Airplay
[26]		 US
AAA
[27]
"Japan" 2015 ———————— bcos u will never b free
"Uno"[28] 2016 ———————— Non-album singles
"Best Friend"[29] 2017 ————————
"Sunflower"[32] ————————
"Untitled"[33] ———————— Apricot Princess
"Never Enough" ————————
"Edition"[34] ———————— Non-album singles
"Loving Is Easy"[35]
(featuring Benny Sings)		 ——40—27—3524
"You've Got a Friend in Me"[37]
(with Randy Newman)		 2018 ————————
"New House"[38] 2019 —47—19—40——
"10/10"[39] 68——22962725 Pony
"Pluto Projector"[40] ———17—7——
"Face to Face"[41] 86——15—8——
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title Year Peak chart positions Albums
US
R&B/HH
Bub.
[42]		 NZ
Heat.
[43]
"Boredom"
(Tyler, the Creator featuring Rex Orange County and Anna of the North)		 2017 910 Flower Boy
"Forever Always"[44]
(Peter CottonTale featuring Rex Orange County, Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar, Madison Ryann Ward & YEBBA)		 2018 —— Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[23]
"Always" 2019 18 Pony
"Never Had the Balls" 21

Music videos
  • "Sunflower" (2017) (produced by Illegal Civ Cinema)[45]
  • "Loving Is Easy" (2017) (directed by Chris Ullens)[46]
  • "10/10" (2019) (directed by Warren Fu)[47]

References
  1. Dunn, Frankie (May 11, 2017). "10 things you need to know about rex orange county". Vice.
  2. "Rex Orange County: The Emotionally Visual Mastermind of the Next Generation". noisey.vice.com. Ryan Bassil. 11 September 2017.
  3. "One to watch: Rex Orange County". The Guardian. 18 Nov 2017.
  4. "Rex Orange County's Road From School Choir to 'Flower Boy'". PigeonsandPlanes. Archived from the original on 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  5. "Rex Orange County is An Old Soul Moving at Lightspeed | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  6. "Rex Orange County Shares 'UNO'". Clash. 17 Dec 2016.
  7. "COLUMN: Rex Orange County is an artist that cannot be labeled". Indiana Daily Student. 23 Mar 2018.
  8. "Rex Orange County Is Teenage Joy Personified". Thefader.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  9. "Rex Orange County performs "Loving Is Easy" on 'The Tonight Show'". Substream Magazine. 17 April 2018.
  10. "Rex Orange County and Randy Newman – "You've Got a Friend in Me"". Spin. 31 May 2018.
  11. "Rex Orange County's new album, Pony, to arrive next month via Sony Music". Music Business Worldwide. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  12. "Rex Orange County On What 'Pony' Means And How Fame Really Feels". Npr.org. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  13. "The Longlist, Meet the 16 longlisted acts for BBC Music Sound of 2018". BBC.
  14. "Rex Orange County | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  15. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  16. "Jesus Is King On This Week's Albums Chart". FYIMusicNews. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  17. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  18. Caulfield, Keith (3 November 2019). "Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Arrives as His Record-Tying Ninth Consecutive No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  19. "Rex Orange County – Chart history (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  20. "Rex Orange County – Chart history (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  21. Peak positions for UK Independent Singles Chart:
  22. "Discografie Rex Orange County". Ultratop (in French). Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  23. "NZ Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. February 25, 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
    • "10/10": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
    • "Pluto Projector": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
    • "Face to Face", "Always" and "Never Had the Balls": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  24. "Rex Orange County – Chart history (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  25. "Rex Orange County – Chart history (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  26. "Rex Orange County – Chart history (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  27. "Rex Orange County – Chart history (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  28. "Uno - Single by Rex Orange County on Apple Music". iTunes. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  29. "Best Friend - Single by Rex Orange County on Apple Music". iTunes. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  30. "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Rex Orange County"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  31. "Gold & Platinum – Rex Orange County". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  32. "Sunflower - Single by Rex Orange County on Apple Music". iTunes. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  33. "Untitled - Single by Rex Orange County on Apple Music". iTunes. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  34. "Edition - Single by Rex Orange County on Apple Music". iTunes. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  35. "Loving Is Easy (feat. Benny Sings) - Single by Rex Orange County on Apple Music". iTunes. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  36. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  37. "You've Got a Friend in Me by Rex Orange County and Randy Newman". Spotify. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  38. "New House - Single by Rex Orange County on Apple Music". iTunes. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  39. Reilly, Neil (13 September 2019). "Listen to '10/10′, the new single from Rex Orange County". NME. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  40. Clarke, Patrick (17 October 2019). "Take a listen to Rex Orange County's glistening new single 'Pluto Projector'". NME. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  41. Rudas, Matthew (23 October 2019). "Rex Orange County's "Face To Face" May Be His Most Exciting and Personal Single Yet". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  42. "Rex Orange County – Chart history (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  43. "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  44. "Forever Always (feat. Rex Orange County, Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar, Madison Ryann Ward & YEBBA) - Single by Peter CottonTale on Apple Music". iTunes. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  45. Sunflower music video, Shot by Illegal Civ Cinema, YouTube
  46. It's Nice That | Chris Ullens directs charming stop-motion music video for Rex Orange County, Itsnicethat.com
  47. "Rex Orange County returns with new single "10/10"". Thefader.com. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
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