Rex Orange County provides nostalgia for fans with new album

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Rex Orange County’s new album, ‘Who Cares?’ follows in the footsteps of his previous albums, with a bedroom pop feel.

Eliza Swanson, Staff Writer

Rex Orange County’s new album, Who Cares?, explores the concept of love and relationships, as well as the stress of music production.

Who Cares? is Rex’s fourth studio album, and it follows a similar approach to his previous albums, Pony (2019) and Apricot Princess (2017), with a bedroom pop genre. 

Songs such as “Amazing” and “One in a Million” revolve around how a relationship can emotionally save a person’s life, while “If You Want It” addresses the topic of balance and pursuing one’s personal goals while in a relationship. 

On the other hand, “Open a Window,” “Keep It Up,” and “7 AM” reveal the stress that follows music production and fan demand. Through his lyrics, Rex Orange County reveals the self-doubt and pressures he faced, due to the album’s production process. 

Although the album lacks rhythm and melody variation, it provides a form of nostalgia for fans and the inclusion of opera-style melodies contributes to the album’s comforting aura. 

The album also features Benny Sing, a reoccurring co-producer and songwriter for Rex Orange County. In addition, Tyler, the Creator, who featured Rex on his album Flower Boy (2017) makes an appearance in “Open a Window.” 

In an interview with Billboard Magazine, Rex discussed his creative approach towards the album.

“To me, the whole thing sounds and feels a bit looser, not as tightened to perfection,” he said. “I guess it’s somewhat more authentic — I would often run with the first thought and execute the idea there and then and not question what it was or what it meant.”