BY KATHY WILLIAMS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Alex O’Connor released his fourth album “WHO CARES?” on Mar. 11, and, contrary to the album’s cheeky title, people are interested in what the English singer-songwriter has concocted this time.
Known professionally as Rex Orange County, O’Connor dropped this 11-track album with a 35 minute runtime and described it as “motivational” to Apple Music. The opening track “KEEP IT UP” makes it apparent from the start that O’Connor is digging for his personal strength to continue trying at life, relationships, and careers. The lines “I know that it’s so frustrating / It’s enough, keep it up,” paired with the peppy upbeat instrumentals clarify the mindset of O’Connor and offer fans a personal glimpse at how the artist is trying to reeinspire himself.
The featured singles “KEEP IT UP,” “OPEN A WINDOW” which featured artist and rapper Tyler, the Creator and “AMAZING” released prior to the album’s drop had fans eager and excited for its release. He has especially been a hit in the United Kingdom and could possibly obtain his first U.K. number one hit.
The fifth song “ONE IN A MILLION” offers a switch-up to the album’s string-filled instrumentals by providing a piano instrumental in the introduction. After the opening, it switches to a funky bass-focused beat with O’Connor’s belts of wishing to be enough.
The songs “AMAZING,” “IF YOU WANT IT,” “THE SHADE” and “MAKING TIME” all share themes of singing out to loved ones, specifically romantic interests or partners. “IF YOU WANT IT” has a fun, upbeat tempo that makes listeners naturally want to tap their foot along.
Other tracks off “WHO CARES?” serve as outlets of self reflection and realization for O’Connor, and it can feel like anthems of affirmations at times. “7AM” has the recurring string-instrumentals to work with O’Connor’s thoughts of self doubt, but “SHOOT ME DOWN” reaffirms the artist’s ability to be resilient. In all, it is clear the O’Connor has gone through a period of self growth where he has a new found confidence expressed through these 11 songs.
The title and ending track “WHO CARES?” wraps the album up in a fitting optimistic tune that yet again highlights the vocals of O’Connor like the other songs on this piece. This song suggests that O’Connor is finally becoming content with his life when he focuses on the present. Many of the lyrics in this song and its prior tunes were inspired by a ten day trip to Amsterdam that O’Connor went on where he met up Dutch singer-songwriter Benny SIngs who paired with O’Connor on his breakout track “Loving Is Easy.” Sings is the co-producer of the album and O’Connor said to Apple Music, “…I love his [SIngs’] music. We’re cut from the same cloth.”
Since 2017 after being featured on the grammy nominated album “Flower Boy,” O’Connor has been on people’s radar of artists on the come up, and he continues to excite those watching.
