Rex Orange County - WHO CARES?
by Sydney Gray
Rex Orange County, born Alexander James O’Connor, released his fourth album WHO CARES? on March 11, 2022. Like his previous work, this album has mellifluous pop instrumentation and intimate vocals that make each song an easy listening experience. The album is just over thirty minutes long, consisting of eleven tracks, and was a quick and enjoyable listen one afternoon.
I was already familiar with Rex Orange County from his third studio album Pony released in 2019 and the snappy singles “Loving Is Easy” and “Best Friend.” His music seems to have influences from hip hop, jazz, soul and pop. Many of his lyrics are relatable, topics ranging from self-doubt to relationship troubles, and feel like the words of a friend rather than a stranger.
Most tracks on WHO CARES? feature symphonic elements, especially with the euphonious string intro in the opening song “KEEP IT UP.” The second song, “OPEN A WINDOW,” features a verse by Tyler, the Creator, who Rex Orange County previously collaborated with on Tyler, the Creator’s 2017 album Flower Boy. An indie singer and a rapper might not seem like an obvious pairing, but on this funky track, both artists’ sounds blended well together.
“OPEN A WINDOW” and “KEEP IT UP” were also two of the singles released from the album. The other was “AMAZING,” a song with romantic lyricism and orchestral strings that I listened to on a loop when it released on Valentine’s Day. The sweet themes prevalent in this song continue in the following track, “ONE IN A MILLION,” about falling for someone irreplaceable and trying to be worthy of them. It’s a romantic sentiment backed by soft instrumentation.
Another standout track on WHO CARES? is “7AM,” which has playful piano sounds and a catchy refrain. The song features vulnerable lyrics such as “I really wanna prove myself today / But what if I’m hopeless and dependent?” and “What if I’m not cut out for this? / And I keep one to call it quits” that resonated with me as I listened. The closing and title track “WHO CARES?” discusses self-consciousness and fear with simple lyricism and even simpler instrumentation.
In an interview with NME, Rex Orange County said, “I want the music to sound and feel free, because I feel free in a sense. I wasn’t in the best place from COVID to now, but I’m more independent in my life and in a better place. I’m not worrying about what I’m saying and how it’s being construed by people.” This quote fits well within the album title. He might not be worrying about what other people think (or who cares, actually), but I think his album is lovely.