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Alex Orange Drink, solo moniker of Alex Zarou Levine, is a Brooklyn-based musician recognized for his work as lead singer and songwriter of the punk band, The So So Glos. Levine has been at the heart of New York City’s D.I.Y. music scene for nearly two decades, co-founding the influential venues Market Hotel and Shea Stadium. A New York native of both Palestinian and Jewish descent, Levine has navigated life with Homocystinuria, an incurable genetic disorder that requires a strict diet and daily medication — an orange-flavored prescription drink from which his alias derives.

Levine’s connection to music began as a lifeline during a turbulent childhood. Amid his parents’ bitter divorce in Bay Ridge, Levine started freestyling songs at just four years old, recording them on his "My First Sony" cassette player. With no formal training and an innate hunger for expression, music became a way of making sense of his world. Long before he could read or write, he was pouring his heart into song, drawing inspiration from his parents' record collection and his tumultuous upbringing. During his childhood, his brother Ryan Levine and step-brother Zach Staggers often backed him while he crafted makeshift tunes that reflected both personal struggles and the larger social issues they saw around them. By the time he was 16, Levine was already onstage at CBGB’s — only to be kicked out for using a fake ID.

In 2006, Levine founded The So So Glos alongside his brothers, a band that would grow into a mainstay of the Brooklyn punk scene. Their sound was loud, sharp, and infectious — a blend of punk rock, power pop, and hip hop, the music spoke to the chaos and grit of their city. The band quickly became synonymous with the D.I.Y. ethos, playing in any space they could find, whether it was a warehouse, a rooftop, or a house party. Recognizing the need for creative hubs, they co-founded the iconic venues Market Hotel and Shea Stadium, both of which became cultural landmarks in the borough’s thriving music community.

With The So So Glos, Levine released three full-length albums and two EPs: The So So Glos and Tourism/Terrorism, recorded by part-time band member Adam Reich; Low Back Chain Shift, produced by Nicolas Vernhes; Blowout, recorded by Kyle Johnson and released on Votiv Records; and Kamikaze, produced by John Reis. Blowout garnered critical acclaim, even earning a place on Rolling Stone’s list of best albums of the year. The band made waves with a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman, performing “Son of an American” while still unsigned.

In 2018, Levine launched his solo career as Alex Orange Drink. His two releases, Babel On (2018) and Everything is Broken, Maybe That’s Ok (2021), were both issued on Shea Stadium and Freeman Street Records. The solo work explores deeply personal themes, often reflecting on personal struggles, mental health, and societal issues through a more introspective lens than previously. Levine is credited as inspiration for and co-writer of Bright Eyes’ 2024 album Five Dice All Threes.

His music has been featured in both film and television, with The So So Glos’ tracks highlighted in shows like Girls, Skins, and The Fosters, and the full-length film Asthma, starring Iggy Pop. His unique voice and perspective earned him praise from various corners of the entertainment world, including a nod from Jimmy Kimmel, who quoted Levine’s lyrics in the foreword of the book Once Upon a Time in Queens, a tribute to the underdog New York Mets — Levine’s beloved team.

In June 2023, following a sold-out show with The So So Glos at Bowery Ballroom, Levine was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a rare and serious form of cancer affecting his salivary gland. Despite undergoing grueling chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Levine channeled his experience into music, writing and recording over 50 tracks. His upcoming album, Victory Lap (#23), the first release of this collection of songs, is set for release on May 9th, 2025, under Conor Oberst’s imprint, Million Stars. The album is a testament to Levine’s resilience, turning his darkest hours into something both deeply personal and universally relatable, full of defiance — its optimism especially relevant today.

Over the years, Levine has shared the stage with an eclectic array of artists, including Matt & Kim, Raekwon, ...Trail of Dead, Titus Andronicus, Debbie Harry, The Buzzcocks, Santigold, Conor Oberst, and Mobb Deep. Pitchfork has described his work as “murderously catchy, endorphin-boosting, shout-along guitar music with vigor and zeal.” Whether leading The So So Glos or performing as Alex Orange Drink, Levine has consistently shown that music is more than an art form for him — it’s survival. Through his relentless creativity, even in the face of personal battles, Levine remains a vital and defiant voice in punk rock and beyond.