I’m Not Sorry I Love Alexander 23

By Sarah Evangelista

Graphic by Emily Lantzy

          It’s safe to say that Alexander 23 was one of the most successful breakout stars of the year. Starting off, the experimental pop artist went on North American tours with other pop sensations such as Alec Benjamin and mxmtoon. He released his first single “Dirty AF1s” earlier in the year, which was followed by several singles that were released throughout the remainder of 2019. This all led up to his debut EP; I’m Sorry I Love You.

The nine songs off of the album are made up of previously released singles such as “See You Later” and “Mars,” as well as three brand new tunes like “Girl” and “The Internet.” It seems to be focused on love and heartbreak, which relates to the title of the project. 

          If you were one of the many music listeners who showed up to either of the tours he opened for, you’d likely recognize some brand new songs off of the project, as he mostly performed unreleased songs during his set. Other than his incredible energy onstage and his charismatic personality, Alexander 23 is master of beat and melody-making. He usually records and creates his music on his own, and comes up with the most creative ideas at the same time.

          The magical 22 minutes of the EP starts off with his very first single, “Dirty AF1s,” which was a great way to introduce the album, being that it was the song that started it all. It’s then followed by “See You Later,” the last song that was released before the album drop. I’m not sure if putting those two tunes after each other in the beginning as the first and last single was intentional, but if it was, it’s a really clever idea that shows off how much he’s evolved musically in a short period of time. Track 3 and 4 are “The Internet,” the meaning of which speaks for itself; using the internet as a coping method, and “Mars,” more of a heartbreak anthem, with the main lyric being “I tried to give you the world, but you wanted Mars too.” After these, a new one track entitled “Girl” plays, a repetitive but very catchy anthem, and then a reflective tune called “When I Die” that has its own twist to an acoustic, by ending it off with an auto-tuned speech. Track 7 and 8 are very different from each other; “20 Something” is yet another thoughtful tune, and “High School” is the most stripped down song on the project, one song talking about finding out that the world continues after you leave, and the latter speaking of old high school lovers. Lastly, to end the masterpiece off, “Sad” talks about someone who always feels that way, but let me tell you, I’m Sorry I Love You won’t have you feeling that way after you listen to it. 

          Whether you feel like crying over a heartbreak, blushing over the feeling of love, reflecting on life, or if you want to dance to some catchy beats that will end up being stuck in your head, Alexander 23’s newest release is your next favorite album, fit for any of your current emotions.