Why is Rex called Orange County?

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

Rex Orange County is based on a nickname given to him by a teacher, “The OC,” after his surname O’Connor.

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.”

In January 2018, O’Connor was runner-up to Norwegian singer Sigrid in the BBC Sound of 2018 award.

O’Connor has released one mixtape, Bcos U Will Never Be Free (2015), and three studio albums as Rex Orange County: Apricot Princess (2017), Pony (2019), and Who Cares? (2022).

O’Connor grew up listening to Queen, ABBA, Stevie Wonder, and American alternative artists such as Weezer and Green Day. He credits these and other artists as major influences on his music.