Rex Orange County
A British songwriter who channeled adolescent angst and melodic warmth into a defining sound for a generation.
Born 1998 (age 28)·English musician·Birthday: May 4·Generation Z
Biography
Alexander O'Connor, operating under the charmingly humble alias Rex Orange County, began crafting songs in his teenage bedroom in Hampshire. His early self-released work, a lo-fi fusion of hip-hop beats, soulful piano, and candid lyricism, quickly resonated online, bypassing traditional industry gates. A fortuitous collaboration with Tyler, The Creator on the album 'Flower Boy' catapulted him to wider attention, introducing his vulnerable, diary-entry style to a global audience. His subsequent albums refined this approach, pairing orchestral arrangements with disarmingly honest reflections on love, anxiety, and self-doubt. O'Connor's impact lies in his ability to make intimate, emotionally raw confessionals feel like anthems for millions.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Rex was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Rex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2019 album 'Pony' debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart.
- Provided vocals and co-writing on Tyler, The Creator's critically acclaimed album 'Flower Boy'.
- Performed at major festivals worldwide, including Coachella and Glastonbury.
- His song 'Loving Is Easy' featuring Benny Sings achieved platinum certification in multiple countries.
Did You Know?
His stage name was randomly generated by a Myspace username creator when he was a teenager.
He learned to play multiple instruments, including piano, guitar, and drums, largely by ear.
He attended the prestigious BRIT School for performing arts in London.
His song 'Sunflower' was featured in the popular video game 'FIFA 19'.
“I just want to make people feel something, even if it's just for three minutes.”
