Olly Alexander began his solo project, Years&Years, in 2021 and released “Night Call” in 2022. Olly uses radical and sensual sounds to capture the passionate night scene of lust and emotion. Along with his music career, Olly has starred as the protagonist in the recent TV show “IT’S A SIN”, depicting a gay man who moves to London in the eighties. The music was inspired by the reminiscent hustle of the eighties, picturing a story of a romantic encounter. Both his show and music were very well received.
After Years&Years’s spectacular performance at, “TONAL TOKYO” this weekend, we had a chance to dig deeper into Olly’s ambition for desire.
ーーYour performance at “Tonal Tokyo” was a real sensation. Your captivating costume involved elements of feminine and masculine features.
Olly : Yes, exactly that’s what I like.
ーーWhat did you think of this show in Japan?
Olly : We were just so excited to come back to Japan. It’s been a few years and it’s one of my favourite places. I didn’t know what to expect because I never played at festivals before. The crowd was brilliant, welcoming and enthusiastic. Some people were singing along and it was wonderful. It was great to be part of the lineup and I am really happy to be here again.
ーーThe visuals in the live show, is that something you directed?
Olly : I worked with a creative director called Theo Adams (https://www.instagram.com/theo.adams/) who worked with FKA twigs and lots of great artists. I wanted to plan a show that felt cohesive; the visuals, the outfits, and the choreography. So it would feel like a real show. Theo and I talked about all the inspirations and it was based on a night out. From a telephone box to a club to a toilet and all these crazy things happening. This came from the discussions we had together and it was a collaboration. Theo is brilliant.
ーーPreviously you mentioned that you wanted to direct a horror film. In terms of storytelling, it’s a similar process.
Olly : Yes!
ーーAside from starring in the TV show, “IT’S A SIN”, you performed the cover version of “IT’S A SIN” by Pet Shop Boys (released in 1987). The song and show must have become a big part of your life. What does it mean to you?
Olly : It was like the stars aligning. I felt so lucky to be cast in “IT’S A SIN” because I felt so connected to the character and the story. Initially, the series wasn’t called “IT’S A SIN”, it was called “Boys”. They only changed it later. I’ve worked with the Pet Shop Boys and they are one of the best bands ever. “IT’S A SIN” is one of the greatest songs about the gay experience. It’s all about hiding who you are and being told you are sinful, then reclaiming that and being able to stand on a stage and turn it into a defiant war. It’s so empowering and that was the message behind the TV show as well. For me to be a part of that is aligned with what I am trying to do with my music. It’s really like magical stars aligning. I can’t believe what’s happening, I feel very lucky.
ーーComparing your life now to the TV show in the eighties, there is more awareness and acceptance towards gender fluidity. Acting as someone in the eighties do you think anything was interesting or unique to its time?
Olly : Of course, I am so grateful that science has moved forward and that there are treatments for people with HIV. You can live normal healthy lives even with HIV and attitudes in society have changed. I am so grateful for that and even then there is still discrimination and resistance everywhere. One of the things that I thought was so amazing about “IT’S A SIN” is just life without phones. You were connected with the people you were with. The show was about a group of friends and how powerful friendships were. Of course, we still have that today but it was interesting to think about what that would have been like without social media and phones. There have been loads of good that came from social media and phones but it can make things trickier too.
ーー“Night Call” has some intimate lyrics about relationships with an eighties soundtrack. It reflects what you mentioned before about powerful relationships.
Olly : Yes, I was inspired by singers like Sylvester and Prince. A lot of music in the eighties had raw vocals. You would hear so much character in the performances. I wanted to do my version of that, I wanted to unapologetically be myself. Which is why “Night Call” was about putting energy into the vocals. That was important to me.
ーーWe had this impression of the album as a journey, of meeting someone, going through a relationship and ending it. Was it inspired by someone or something you experienced?
Olly : It wasn’t a specific person. It was fragments of all these different relationships and experiences that I had. Making this album in lockdown, I was so alone. I was so single. Intimacy, connection and all those feelings I was missing went to the album.
ーーIt’s been a year since you released your album. After putting it out, what has the world looked like to you? Do you have a vision or a new idea for your music?
Olly : Yea, “Night Call” for me was very much about reaching out and taking inspiration from outside because I was very enclosed. I felt quite sad so I wanted the music to be very upbeat the opposite. Because of the pandemic and so many things, it felt very challenging to get things out and tour again. It’s been amazing. Now I would like to do things opposite. The music I have been making is a bit more genre-free, with bits of r&b, soul and pop music. “Night Call” is all about having a good time, being strong, getting what you want and being assertive. So I think the next one is different to that. I am excited to do that.
photography Marisa Suda（https://www.instagram.com/marisatakesokphotos/）
text Takahisa Matsunaga
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