Alexander Glantz, aka Alexander 23, is making a sun shower out of the rainstorm that is the modern, digital age. Transforming angst, confusion and heartbreak into soft, electric pop tunes for Gen Zers to devour, the rising star is here to mark his moment. Here’s everything you need to know about Lauv’s newest tour opener.
Born in Chicago, Glantz started writing and recording music at age 12. Inspired by his father’s love of music, Glantz knew he wanted to pursue the field as more than just a hobby. It wasn’t until his teenage years that he really started to zero in on his talent, playing in bands and touring the country. But he eventually made the decision to specialise in his own solo projects.
In March 2019, Glantz made his solo debut with his hit ‘Dirty AF1s.’ The melancholic-soaked track perfectly welcomed the star into the world of sad-pop, joining the likes of Conan Grey and Lauv in sound. ‘Dirty AF1s’ premiered as Apple Music’s Bop of the Week and was nicely snuggled in Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist. It wasn’t long until Glantz dropped his EP I’m Sorry I Love You, the 9-track project supplying the demand the star had created with his first hit.
Now, in 2020, Glantz continues to climb the ladder. He’s dropped three singles (the raw ‘I Hate You So Much,’ the adorable ‘IDK You Yet’ and the could-be-from-a-movie ‘Loving You Gets Hard’) and gained some love from his remix of Selena Gomez’ ‘Rare.’ In February, he sold out his first two headline shows and is set to join Lauv on tour in August. Add that to his 2019 Lollapalooza debut and his tours with Alec Benjamin and Omar Apollo, and you’ve got one huge rising star.
As the sad-pop genre continues to grow, it’s not silly for artists to try and wedge their way into the puzzle. But for Glantz, his pensiveness and thoughtful songwriting comes naturally. Not only does the star write and record his own stuff but he also creates all the artwork, merch and animations for his lyric videos. To date, he’s gained over 56 million streams and more than 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify. And all of this is only just the beginning. Because Alexander 23 isn’t just trying to become another pawn on the sad-pop chess board, he’s aiming to be the king.
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