Vince Leigh’s Single Review: Ex Wants Me Dead by Orlando Kallen
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
Orlando Kallen, a mere eighteen and already riding the crest of a wave that just might be more than another blip on the social media radar. With a million TikTok disciples and a Spotify following that’s edging towards the quarter-million mark, this kid’s got something. But don’t let those numbers fool you into thinking he’s just another prefab pop concoction.
Kallen’s got roots that stretch from Australia to the corners of the Mediterranean, and it shows in his music—a hybrid of global sounds and attitudes that somehow dodge the usual clichés. Take his latest track, Ex Wants Me Dead, from his EP Leave Me Bleeding. Here’s a piece that refuses to be boxed into any single genre. Kallen’s mixing up a cocktail of indie pop, EDM, and R&B, but it’s not the same old brew. His influences run the gamut from Billie Eilish to Elvis Presley, but Kallen’s not just another copycat artist. He’s taking these sounds and twisting them into something that’s both familiar and startlingly new.
Ex Wants Me Dead is atmospheric, thanks to its sparseness. It’s minimalistic contemporary pop, but it’s not just playing it safe in the here and now—there’s a sense that Kallen’s got one eye on what’s next. The track speaks to today’s pop market, alright, with its straightforward language and a kind of self-deprecating swagger that’s more convincing than most. What sets Kallen apart is how he drags you into the emotional maelstrom of a breakup.
It’s not just about the feeling of loss, the bitterness, the yearning, or the introspection. He’s making music that’s a shared experience, not just a solo ride. Kallen believes that songwriting’s magic lies in weaving personal stories into a larger narrative, one that each listener can claim as their own. Kallen’s capturing not just the sound, but the raw nerve of these emotions, making a connection with his audience that’s genuine and profound. This isn’t just some kid making tunes; it’s an artist who’s already showing the depth and promise of someone set to leave a lasting mark on the music scene. Orlando Kallen, remember the name.
