History of Rex Orange County in Timeline

Alexander James O'Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, is an English musician known for his eclectic musical style. Characterized as a blend of hip-hop, jazz, and bedroom pop, his music has garnered attention for its unique sound.

May 1998: Birth of Alexander James O'Connor

Alexander James O'Connor, later known as Rex Orange County, was born in May 1998.

May 1998: Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Born in May 1998 in Grayshott, Hampshire, Rex Orange County's passion for music began early. At the age of five, he joined his mother's school choir. He learned to play the drums and later taught himself piano.

May 2015: Debut Single Release

Rex Orange County released his debut single, "Corduroy Dreams," in May 2015, as the lead single from his upcoming debut album.

September 2015: "Bcos U Will Never B Free" Released

Rex Orange County self-released his debut album, "Bcos U Will Never Be Free", for free on Bandcamp and SoundCloud in September 2015. The album drew attention from musician and producer Two Inch Punch, who subsequently provided management support and collaborated on future singles.

2015: Rex Orange County Releases Debut Album

At 16, Rex Orange County began producing his own music and in 2015, he released his debut album, "Bcos U Will Never Be Free", for free on Bandcamp and Soundcloud.

2015: Relationship with Thea Morgan-Murrell Begins

Rex Orange County began dating Thea Morgan-Murrell, a fellow British singer-songwriter known professionally as Thea, in 2015. They met while attending the BRIT School. Their relationship was a source of inspiration for some of his songs, and they collaborated musically on tracks like "Sycamore Girl" and "Never Had the Balls".

November 2016: Collaboration with Two Inch Punch

In November 2016, Rex Orange County released the single "Uno", a collaborative effort with Two Inch Punch. The song received positive reception, with Clash praising its unique style and creative energy.

2016: Rex Orange County Releases Solo Singles

Throughout 2016, Rex Orange County released a number of solo singles, including "Sunflower" and "Best Friend", which would later become platinum-certified.

January 2017: "Best Friend" Release and "Apricot Princess"

Rex Orange County released the single "Best Friend" in January 2017, premiering it on Apple Music's Beats 1 station. Later that year, he released his second studio album, "Apricot Princess", drawing comparisons to other rising artists exploring new musical boundaries.

October 2017: Collaboration with Benny Sings

Rex Orange County released "Loving Is Easy", a collaboration with Dutch artist Benny Sings, in October 2017.

2017: Rex Orange County's Breakthrough Year

In 2017, Rex Orange County released his second studio album, "Apricot Princess". This followed his collaboration with Tyler, the Creator on the album "Flower Boy", which significantly boosted his popularity and led him to sign with RCA Records.

January 2018: Second Place in BBC Sound of 2018

Rex Orange County was runner-up in the BBC Sound of 2018 award, coming in second to Norwegian singer Sigrid.

April 2018: Television Debut

Rex Orange County made his television debut on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in April 2018, performing "Loving Is Easy".

May 2018: Cover of "You've Got a Friend in Me"

In May 2018, Rex Orange County released a cover of "You've Got a Friend in Me" with Randy Newman, the song's original creator. He also became a part of Spotify's Rise Program during this time.

October 2018: Refusal to Appear on French Television

Rex Orange County was scheduled to appear on the French television program "Quotidien" in October 2018 but declined due to a sketch he deemed racially insensitive.

February 2019: "New House" Single Release

Rex Orange County released the single "New House" in February 2019.

October 2019: "Pony" Album Release

"10/10", the lead single from his third album "Pony", was released in September 2019. "Pony", released in October 2019, was Rex Orange County's first major-label album release through RCA Records and was well-received critically.

2019: Rex Orange County Explores New Sounds with "Pony"

In 2019, Rex Orange County released his third studio album, "Pony", which delved into more personal themes and showcased his exploration of various musical genres. This album marked his debut on the Billboard 200, peaking at number three.

September 2020: "Live at Radio City Music Hall" Release

Rex Orange County released "Live at Radio City Music Hall", an EP featuring recordings from his performance in New York City, along with a documentary on YouTube in September 2020. The documentary provided insights into his tour experiences and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2020: Confirmation of Fourth Album

In October 2020, Rex Orange County confirmed that he was working on his fourth studio album, which would be titled "Who Cares?".

November 2020: Breakup with Thea Morgan-Murrell

Rex Orange County confirmed on Twitter in November 2020 that he and Thea Morgan-Murrell were no longer in a relationship.

January 2021: Anticipation for "Who Cares?"

Rex Orange County fueled anticipation for "Who Cares?" in January 2021 by liking a tweet suggesting its release later that year, though the release did not happen as speculated.

June 2021: Alleged Sexual Assault Incident

The alleged sexual assault incidents involving Rex Orange County reportedly occurred in June 2021, leading to charges brought against him later in October 2022.

January 2022: "Who Cares?" Teasers

Rex Orange County began officially teasing "Who Cares?" in January 2022 with unique promotional efforts, such as postcards that, when called, played snippets of songs from the album.

March 2022: "Who Cares?" Tops the Charts

"Who Cares?", Rex Orange County's fourth studio album, was released in March 2022, becoming his first album to top the UK Albums Chart.

July 2022: Tour Cancellations

Rex Orange County cancelled scheduled tour dates in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe in July 2022, citing "unforeseen personal circumstances".

August 2022: "Threat" Single Release

Rex Orange County released a stand-alone single titled "Threat" in August 2022.

October 2022: Sexual Assault Charges

Rex Orange County faced charges of sexual assault in October 2022. He appeared in Southwark Crown Court and was charged with six counts of sexual assault relating to the same woman, with the alleged incidents said to have taken place in June 2021. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

December 2022: Charges Dropped

The charges against Rex Orange County were dropped in December 2022 after an investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service. Inconsistencies between the initial account and evidence led to the case being dismissed.

2022: Rex Orange County Achieves Chart-Topping Success

Rex Orange County released his fourth studio album, "Who Cares?", in 2022. This album became his first to reach number one in the United Kingdom and secured the fifth position on the Billboard 200.

January 2023: Trial Provisionally Scheduled

A trial for the sexual assault charges against Rex Orange County was provisionally scheduled for January 2023; however, the case was dismissed in December 2022.

2023: Touring Resumes

Rex Orange County resumed touring in 2023, performing in various countries throughout Australia and Asia. He also made an appearance at the Camp Flog Gnaw music festival.