Rex Orange County Parents: Meet Nina and Phil O’Connor

Alexander James O’Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter from England.

Alexander James O’Connor was born on 4 May 1998, to Nina and Phil O’Connor, a professional sports photographer.

He grew up in the village of Grayshott near Haslemere, Surrey. O’Connor’s interest in music began at a young age.

O’Connor began producing his music using Apple’s Logic software when he was 16 years old.

He also started attending the BRIT School at this age, where he studied drumming and was one of four percussionists in his year; the relative rarity of his primary instrument provided him with wide exposure to various projects of others in his school, which he credits with exposing him to new and fresh music.

O’Connor rose to prominence in 2017 after appearing on Tyler, the Creator’s Grammy-nominated album Flower Boy, which included the single “Boredom.”

According to NPR Music journalist Zo Jones, O’Connor’s music is “a bright blend of hip-hop, jazz, and bedroom pop.”