TORONTO, ON- One of the more interesting success stories in neo-soul/indie-pop to come out of Europe in the last couple of years, Alexander O’Connor- better known as “Rex Orange County”- has been hitting the ground running in 2020. Fresh off the release of his third LP, Pony, from back in October of 2019, Rex’s live show was a perfect encapsulation of how far the 21-year-old goof has come since bcos u will never b free dropped a couple of years back.
With Pony being his most well-rounded and polished album to date when comparing studio production, it was no surprise to see also that Rex’s live set was just as smooth. Although I only managed to catch the first three songs, it was plain to see that Rex had virtually everyone in that theatre in his palm from the beginning. Strolling out after the crowd had been chanting his name for well-over ten minutes straight, Rex took center stage as he waved and gave his charming, toothy smile to screams and cries of delight.
Rex is really quite an interesting specimen. With the pipes of a well-rounded pop star and the looks of just any average person, it’s no wonder why he appeals to such large masses. His aesthetic and appearance is nothing glamorous or showy; half the time Rex looks like any other college kid who just rolled out of bed with his jeans and t-shirt. The slacker vibe he gives off certainly does not stretch into his music though. Each track from his discography bubbles with the emotion(s) Rex is attempting to convey to his audience. “It Gets Better” is a comfort for anyone going through a transition phase that may be difficult. In Pony, we hear Rex speaking about trying times, when he rattles off accomplishments, the triumph is twice as sweet. It’s a feel-good listen of good times overcoming the bad.
Although at times, Pony feels slightly melodramatic, Rex’s latest venture is a solid accomplishment overall. It is even more impressive to think that the 21-year-old singer-songwriter has only just brushed the surface of his career. We seem to be in somewhat of a renaissance with music today. More and younger artists are getting their time to shine and further their creativity. Whether it be the next SoundCloud sensation, Billie Eilish clone or self-produced phenom like Rex, today’s music scene seems to be churning more and more interesting artists.
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