REX IS KING

The buzz over unsigned U.K. artist Rex Orange County has become deafening since last week’s sold-out shows at L.A.’s El Rey Theatre, where an array of British execs (including Columbia’s Julian Palmer, Polydor’s Ben Mortimer, Warner Bros.’ Phil Christie and Atlantic’s Bryony Turner) were spotted alongside heavies from pretty much every U.S. label.

Rex (born Alex O’Connor), who’ll turn 20 in May, was tapped as one of the BBC’s Sound of 2018 artists. He's managed by Charlie Christie and Jonathan Dickins at September Management and was inked to UMPG for publishing by U.K. A&Rs Pete Simmons and Caroline Elleray; he sold out his El Rey gigs in less than an hour, following two shows in NYC that sold out with similar dispatch. Track “Loving Is Easy” clocked some 700k+ streams last week. His shows are filled with young, largely female fans screaming along to every lyric.

Will Team Rex pick a label home soon or continue to build on their indie success for a bit longer? Stay tuned.