Olly Alexander confirms he’s abandoned Years & Years moniker at Radio 1’s Big Weekend
Olly Alexander confirmed that he is now performing under his own name during his performance at Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Alexander broke out in music as the frontman of Years & Years alongside Mikey Goldsworthy & Emre Türkmen. They released two albums together, 2015’s ‘Communion’ and 2018’s ‘Palo Santo’, spawning hits such as ‘King’ and ‘Shine’. Alexander then continued as a solo artist under the Years & Years banner for 2022’s ‘Night Call’.
During his show at Luton’s Stockwood Park – his first performance since competing in Eurovision earlier this month – Alexander revealed it was officially also his first show under his own name.
“Listen, listen, I don’t know have to tell you how good it feels to be back in the UK, doing a show – do you know what this is my first ever show as Olly Alexander,” he said. “I used to be in Years & Years, I used to be Years & Years and now I’m just me.”
Alexander finished 18th in Eurovision with the song ‘Dizzy’, which he performed during his Big Weekend set. To introduce it, he said: “And now for the song that was only 17 places away from winning the Eurovision Song Contest, it’s ‘Dizzy’.”
He also performed a cover of Pet Shop Boys‘ ‘It’s A Sin’, which ‘Dizzy’ had been compared to in the run-up to Eurovision.
During a new interview with NME, Tennant revealed that he had been made aware of the comparisons – but dismissed there being any likeness between the two songs.
“When I read people saying it sounded similar, I immediately listened to it and I don’t think it does,” he said.
“But personally, I always think Pet Shop Boys sound like something else to what everyone else does. I think I hear what it’s meant to sound like.”
Meanwhile, Alexander recently expressed his gratitude for the support he received for his Eurovision performance and jokingly said that it was “iconic” that he received nil points from the public.
“Honestly I don’t know where to even begin with this whole experience, I’m going to be processing things for a long time!” he wrote on Instagram.
“For now I just want to say I am so proud of the performance and my team, everybody absolutely smashed it and gave it their all to bring the vision to life!! I met so many talented wonderful people on and off the stage and I’m really thankful we were able to support each other throughout.”
Alexander added: “Though we may have received NIL Points from the voting public – which I shall be claiming as iconic! – I’ve also seen a lot of love and I’m truly grateful, thank you.”
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Emma Wilkes
NME
