Alexander 23 and Kenny Beats Pull on Our Heartstrings With "ill"
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Alexander 23 wrestles with heartbreak in "ill," his new single featuring none other than acclaimed artist and producer Kenny Beats.
"ill" is Alexander 23's first collaboration with renowned hip-hop producer Kenny Beats, but his raw, vulnerable lyricism and mastery over melody are still at the heart of the bruisingly genuine song. Of the track, Kenny Beats shares, "This is the first song I made with Alexander the first hour we met. He's got such an effortless way with words and people. He's that friend you swear you've met before. I couldn't be more proud of 'ill' and the whole team involved."
The single, which also features Maroon 5's James Valentine on guitar, is accompanied by an amazing lyric video that perfectly captures the song's complexity. The timelapse captures the artist's restlessness and distress, reflecting the emotional impact of the lyrics referencing confusing texts from his ex. Lyrics like, "It was still raining, and you were still gone," and flashbacks to showering together paint a picture of heartbreak from the perspective of the rapidly rising artist. "I get physically ill when I think about you getting physical with someone else," he then sings on the melancholy chorus.
Only three months have passed since Alexander 23 released his debut studio album, Aftershock. Produced alongside Dan Nigro, the 11-track project is immersed in the aftermath of a failed relationship. The acoustic single "Hate Me If It Helps" was co-written with Olivia Rodrigo, who also provided background vocals, while Alexander 23's vast emotional depth was on full display in the ballad "The Hardest Part."
"Being heartbroken, thinking you're over it when you're obviously not, meeting new people, questioning yourself and all your relationships," explains Alexander 23 on the album's roots upon its release in July. "If the breakup was the emotional earthquake, the creation of this album was the emotional aftershock."
Watch the "ill" music video below:
