alex orange drink - victory lap (#23) - million stars

Alex Orange Drink is the solo project of Alex Zarou Levine, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of Brooklyn punk band, The So So Glos. As co-founder of venues Market Hotel and Shea Stadium, Levine has been a key figure in New York City’s D.I.Y. scene for nearly two decades. A New York native of both Palestinian and Jewish descent, Levine has lived with Homocystinuria, a genetic disorder that requires a strict diet and an orange flavored daily medication, the namesake of his alias.

His upcoming solo album,Victory Lap (#23), set for release on May 9th 2025, was recorded during his treatment for a rare and serious cancer (Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma). The 10-song LP captures the intensity of his experience, blending grim subject matter with an undercurrent of optimism. It’s the first release in a series, having recorded 50 songs during treatment.

Taking the listener through claustrophobic hospital corridors, Levine’s lyrics give voice to a self-exorcism, his agility as a storyteller imbuing the album with grit and personality. In his third and most ruminative record, he turns despair into uplifting anthems, merging energetic shout-alongs with a deeper, hidden subtext.

No stranger to life-or-death situations, Levine infuses the album with a tactical spirit, skillfully transforming struggle into celebration. Rooted in the rebellious energy of punk and hip hop, Vantablack Victory Lap is a triumphant, cathartic response to survival, living up to its name.