9 things you probably didn’t know about Years & Years
So many hits!
Since forming in 2010, pop favourites Years & Years have enjoyed huge chart success with hits including: 'King', 'Shine' and 'Desire'.
Starting out as a band of five, Years & Years settled on a band of three for most of their active years, with members Olly Alexander, Emre Turkmen and Mikey Goldsworthy, treating fans to huge hits and massive live performances since they formed.
In March 2021, it was announced that Olly Alexander would continue Years & Years as a solo project. Emre Turkmen would act as a writer-producer and Mikey would only join for live performances. Speaking on his music, Olly said he was 'hoping it makes people feel good when they hear it'.
On 28th September 2021, Olly announced his album, 'Night Call', the first from Years & Years as an Olly solo project, would be released on 7th January 2022, this was accompanied by a single called 'Crave'.
Then, in December 2023, Olly revealed he would be representing the UK in Eurovision 2024. Taking to the stage in Sweden in May 2024, Olly performed 'Dizzy', earning 46 points and placing 18th of the 25 finalists.
Here are nine things you probably didn't know about Years & Years:
1) Emre Turkmen and Mikey Goldsworthy founded Years & Years after meeting online and discovering they had similar interests.
2) Lead singer Olly Alexander was invited into the band after Mikey heard him singing ‘Killing Me Softly’ in the shower, following a house party.
3) The name Years & Years was a random choice. The group admitted the name of the band was selected at random when they needed a name before a gig. When Emre suggested Years & Years nobody disagreed - and it stuck!
5) Olly Alexander is the only member to have grown up in the UK! Mikey grew up in Australia, whilst Emre spent his childhood in the Netherlands and Turkey.
6) Olly is a professional actor 0 even before joining the band, he appeared in some huge shows! Olly starred in cult TV show Skins spin-off, Pure, and appeared on the West End stage alongside Dame Judi Dench. The band later got Dame Judi Dench to narrate the trailer for their album 'Palo Santo'.
7) Olly had his biggest acting role in early 2021 when he starred as Ritchie in Russell T Davies' drama It's A Sin. The show highlighted the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s. The band released a cover of the Pet Shop Boys' song 'It's A Sin' to coincide with the launch of the show.
8) Years & Years supported superstar Sam Smith on tour! Before making it as pop stars in their own right, the boys once supported Sam Smith back in 2014.
9) The music video for their huge hit 'King' was directed by Ryan Heffington who has also worked with other massive artists including Sia, FKA Twigs and Britney Spears. He has also appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race several times!
Take a look at Years & Years' career so far:
Olly Alexander on the red carpet
Olly Alexander played Jason Banks in 2009 film Tormented. He had previously starred in TV movie Summerhill in 2009 and smaller roles in other TV series.
Olly Alexander at the premiere of Great Expectations
Olly played Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations, released in 2012. The film was Olly's first big hit. A year later, he went on to star in popular TV series Skins for two series as Jakob.
Years & Years formed
Years & Years formed in 2010, they are Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy & Emre Turkmen. The band formed when Emre and Mikey met on a website made for finding band members. Olly only joined after they heard him singing in the shower and liked his voice!
Years & Years release debut album
The band's debut album 'Communion' was released in July 2015. The album debut at number 1 in the UK Official Chart and outsold the rest of the top five combined in it's first week.
The band release 'King'
'King' was the band's first number one single and it went platinum in the UK.
Coachella
The band performed at Coachella Festival in 2016.
Years & Years at Glastonbury
Years & Years performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2019. During their set, Olly gave a powerful speech about LGBTQ+ history.
Years & Years at The Brit Awards
Years & Years have been nominated for a number of Brit Awards including: British Single Of The Year and British Group.
It's A Sin
Olly Alexander plays Ritchie in the 2021 Channel 4 drama It's A Sin created by Russell T Davies.
Years & Years is now a solo Olly Alexander project
In March 2021 Years & Years announced they would continue as an Olly Alexander solo project. Emre will work as a writer-producer alongside the band whilst Mikey will only join Olly for live performances. The trio have been together since 2010.
You can hear hits from Years & Years on heat radio.
Now read:
Years & Years' rise to fame: The band behind 'King' and 'Shine'
Years & Years announce they will now continue as an Olly Alexander 'solo project'
Olly Alexander: How the Bright Star actor became our Eurovision 2024 entry