Alexander 23- “Nothing’s the Same”

Alexander Glantz, aka Alexander 23, doesn’t want you to “Cry Over Boys” unless it’s over one of his songs. Glantz writes sometimes poetically, sometimes repetitively (see “Girl”), about his love life and experiences. At only 27 years old, he’s grown from his origin band, The Heydaze, with whom he released two songs, into a hyper-successful solo artist. 

Even if you haven’t heard one of his own songs, however, you’ve probably heard one he’s worked on. Glantz produced Olivia Rodrigo’s ever-popular hit “Good 4 U,” as well as Noah Kahan and mxmtoon’s “Pride.” Working more with mxmtoon, he produced her songs “used to you” and “1, 2.” Glantz has songwriting credits on Max Leone’s “The Beach,” as well as Role Model’s “that’s just how it goes.” He’s written and produced many other songs as well, so even if his own music isn’t necessarily your style, he may have influenced one you would enjoy. 

Glantz’s first truly popular song was blown up by TikTok- “IDK You Yet.” Though he may not know his soulmate yet, he knows his calling: music. That’s something he’s known since he was eight, when he saw his father playing guitar. He signed up for lessons, but those weren’t working for him, so he ended up teaching himself. 

In many of Glantz’s songs, he talks about love and his exes. In his most recent release, “Hate Me If It Helps,” he lets his ex know that it’s okay if she villainizes him if it helps her get through. Cowritten by Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro, he tells the ex that it’s fine that she’s blaming him for everything wrong in their relationship to help her “ignore her personal failures.” He also speaks of an ex in his very first release, “Dirty AF1s.” That song is about “missing… the little details and quirks” of a relationship, such as, as referenced in the song, a partner singing along to your shower singing. The specific small details he brings up in this song shows how much he works on his writing and lyrical prose. He says he spends “an insane amount of time” on his lyrics, as he feels like that’s what matters most about his music. 

Though he does continually bring back the topic of love, he also talks about mental health in multiple of his songs. For example, “Brainstorm,” released in 2020, speaks of having a partner who’s dealing with depression and not really knowing what to do about it. Glantz questions throughout the song, “how bad’s the weather in your head?” Comparing the fog of depression to an actual storm can make it more relatable to a wider audience, as more people may be able to see what a storm that depression can be. He also speaks of mental health on “The Internet,” talking about what a negative effect the online world can have on people. For example, his lyric “but I’m still the only voice I can’t hear in my head” shows how people who’re prominent online and in shows or movies can push away your little voice in your head. 

Glantz has featured on songs with Chelsea Cutler (“Lucky”), GRACEY (“Like That”), and Quinn XCII (“We Don’t Talk Enough”), while also having Jeremy Zucker feature on his own song, “Nothing’s The Same.” “We Don’t Talk Enough,” with Quinn XCII, talks about friendships and growing apart while still trying to keep in contact with those old friends that you have. The two of them’s chorus “all we share in common is that we don’t talk enough” brings up that universally, it’s hard to keep in touch with the friends that you haven’t seen and you’ve grown apart from. Maybe, though, if you try to talk more often even though life can be hard, that could bring you back together. 

Alexander 23 has released two nine-song EP’s, I’m Sorry I Love You in 2019 and Oh No, Not Again in 2021. He’s also released a few singles unassociated with an EP or album. He had one song, “Another Summer Night Without You,” on the soundtrack of 13 Reasons Why season 3. It’s expected that Glantz will release his first official album this year after taking an almost year-long hiatus from releasing his own music. 

From being one of four members of a small-time music group to becoming the successful solo artist, songwriter, and producer that he is today, it’s sure that for Glantz, “Nothing’s The Same.”