It was 2017. Everyone was wearing checkered Vans, fiddling with film cameras, and trying to capture that specific "lo-fi" aesthetic that felt both nostalgic and brand new. Right in the middle of that cultural shift, a kid from Hampshire named Alex O'Connor—better known as Rex Orange County—dropped a track that basically became the anthem for a generation of bedroom pop fans. Loving Is Easy Rex Orange County wasn't just a song; it was a vibe shift.
Honestly, it’s kind of wild how simple it is. There are no complex metaphors about Greek mythology or high-concept avant-garde production. It’s just a guy, a bright synth hook, and a realization that being in love shouldn't actually be that hard. People were used to heartbreak anthems. Then this came along and told us that maybe, just maybe, it’s okay for things to be good.
The Secret Sauce of the Loving Is Easy Rex Orange County Sound
What actually makes this song work? You’ve got to look at the collaboration with Benny Sings. Benny is a Dutch artist who basically lives and breathes that "sunny afternoon" pop sound. When he and Rex linked up, they created something that felt remarkably lived-in.
The drums have this dry, thumping quality. It’s not polished like a Top 40 radio hit from that era. It feels like it was recorded in a carpeted living room with the sun streaming through the blinds. That’s the core of the Loving Is Easy Rex Orange County appeal. It’s accessible. You feel like you could have made it with your friends, even though the musicality is actually quite sophisticated.
The chord progression is jazzy but stays grounded. It leans heavily on those major seventh chords that define the "indie" sound of the late 2010s. It’s bright. It’s airy. It’s the sonic equivalent of a clean white T-shirt.
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That Iconic Claymation Video
You can't talk about this song without mentioning the music video. Directed by Nick Rutter, the stop-motion animation featured Rex and Benny as clay figures. It was charmingly clunky. In an age of high-definition CGI and hyper-stylized music videos, seeing two little clay guys bobbing their heads to a catchy beat felt incredibly refreshing.
It leaned into the "DIY" ethos. It told the audience that the art didn't need to be perfect to be meaningful. This visual identity helped the song explode on platforms like YouTube and eventually TikTok, where the aesthetic mattered just as much as the audio.
Why the Message Resonated So Hard
Most love songs are about the chase or the crash. We love the drama. We love the "I can't live without you" or the "You ruined my life" narratives. Loving Is Easy Rex Orange County took a hard left turn into the mundane, beautiful reality of a healthy relationship.
"Loving is easy / You had me fucked up / It shouldn't be so hard to allow."
Those lyrics hit home because they addressed a collective exhaustion. A lot of people were tired of the "toxic" trope before that word even became a buzzword. Rex was singing about the relief of finding someone who doesn't make you play games. It’s about the moment the anxiety stops.
A Departure from Apricot Princess
When Rex released Apricot Princess earlier in 2017, it was sprawling and theatrical. It had strings, tempo changes, and raw emotional outbursts. "Loving Is Easy" felt like the exhale after that album. It showed a more disciplined, pop-focused side of his songwriting. It proved he could write a hook that stays in your head for three days straight without losing his indie credibility.
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He wasn't trying to be the next big pop star in a manufactured way. He was just being Alex. That authenticity—or at least the very convincing performance of it—is why he built such a die-hard fanbase so quickly.
The Technical Brilliance Nobody Mentions
If you strip away the "indie" aesthetic, the song is a masterclass in tension and release. The way the synth line echoes the vocal melody creates a sense of unity. It’s "ear candy" in the most literal sense.
There’s a subtle shift in the bridge where the rhythm section settles into a groove that feels almost like a 70s soul record. It’s a nod to Rex’s influences, ranging from Stevie Wonder to ABBA. He’s a student of pop history, and it shows. He knows exactly when to pull back and when to let the melody soar.
The Legacy of the Bedroom Pop Era
Looking back from 2026, Loving Is Easy Rex Orange County stands as a pillar of a very specific moment in music history. It was the peak of the "Spotify Core" era.
Artists like Clairo, Cuco, and Boy Pablo were all rising at the same time. They shared a similar DNA:
- Relatively low production budgets.
- High emotional transparency.
- Heavy use of social media to connect directly with fans.
- A rejection of the "rock star" persona in favor of the "best friend" persona.
Rex was arguably the most successful at translating this into a long-term career. While others stayed in the lo-fi niche, Rex used the momentum from this single to sell out arenas and collaborate with icons like Tyler, The Creator.
Misconceptions About the Song
Some critics at the time called it "jingle music." They thought it was too simple, maybe even a bit sugary. But that’s a misunderstanding of what pop music is supposed to do. The goal isn't always to reinvent the wheel; sometimes it’s just to make the wheel spin as smoothly as possible.
Another misconception is that it was an overnight success. While it felt like it popped out of nowhere, Rex had been grinding since Bcos U Will Never B Free. This track was just the moment the world finally caught up to what he was doing in his bedroom.
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How to Capture That Rex Orange County Vibe Today
If you’re a musician or a creator trying to tap into that same energy, you can’t just copy the chords. It’s about the mindset.
- Prioritize the feeling over the gear. Rex started with basic equipment. The soul of the song is in the performance, not the microphone.
- Be okay with being earnest. The world is cynical. Writing a song that is unashamedly happy is actually a pretty bold move.
- Collaborate outside your bubble. Bringing in Benny Sings changed the trajectory of Rex's sound. It added a layer of "cool" that balanced out the sweetness.
- Visuals should match the audio. If your music sounds handmade, your videos should probably look handmade too.
Actionable Steps for the Modern Listener
To truly appreciate the impact of this track, you have to look at it as a gateway drug to a broader world of music.
- Explore the Benny Sings catalog. If you love the production on this track, listen to Benny's album City Pop. It’s a direct ancestor to this sound.
- Listen to the "Pony" album. It’s the follow-up project where Rex explores the pressures of fame that came after "Loving Is Easy" blew up. It provides much-needed context.
- Watch the live versions. Rex is a classically trained musician. Seeing him play this on a piano versus the studio version reveals the complexity of the arrangement.
Ultimately, Loving Is Easy Rex Orange County is a reminder that simplicity is a strength. In a world that feels increasingly complicated, there’s a reason we keep coming back to a three-minute song about how nice it is to finally be happy. It’s not just catchy; it’s a relief. It’s the sound of someone finally getting it right, and that’s a feeling that never really goes out of style.
To dive deeper into this sound, start by curating a playlist that mixes 1970s soft rock with 2010s bedroom pop. Notice the similarities in how they use space and melody. This bridge between eras is where the magic happens.