Olly Alexander reveals how his partner inspired his new music ❤️
He also opened up about Eurovision
Olly Alexander has just released his first album under his own name. The album is called 'Polari' and features songs such as 'Cupid's Bow' and 'When We Kiss'. With the exciting new music dropping this week, Olly joined Fleur East and the Hits Radio Breakfast team to talk about his new music, and Eurovision.
Last year, Olly joined us in the studio revealing the unusual language behind his new album name, and this time he opened up about the meanings behind some of the songs on 'Polari'. The singer explained that many of the songs are about "love or like returning to love".
Olly went on to elaborate, adding: "(The song is about) If you're like destined to be with someone, and that's because I got back together with my partner. We were together like 10 years ago almost, then we broke up and we got back together a few years ago.
"So yeah, 'When We Kiss' is kind of that song about 'oh god, are you going to stay together? Should you break up? Like, what's going to happen?'"
The 'Dizzy' singer went on to admit that he is "in love", so the second time around is much better than the first.
Olly Alexander on representing the UK at Eurovision 2024
Last year, Olly represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest, and with rumours surrounding who could be representing us this year, Olly opened up about his experience of the competition.
"I was lucky," he told us. "I had a good therapist before I did Eurovision, but you’d better believe I’m still talking to my therapist about Eurovision now!"
"I’d grown up with the contest - I’d wanted to do it for a long time, then you’re working on it for a long time and it’s such an intense experience. You’re in such a bubble and there was so much drama happening, but you have to really focus on the competition because you’ve got a lot to do and then it suddenly all ends and everyone moves on."
Despite giving an amazing performance on the night with his song 'Dizzy', the singer ended the competition with just 46 points from the jury, placing him 18th place out of 25 countries.
Olly Alexander performing 'Dizzy' at Eurovision 2024:
However, that hasn't stopped the singer releasing more music. The 'King' singer went on to say: "It’s just good to put something in place which means there’s someone there to support you and move you through each step of the process because it’s so up and down."
Since Eurovision, Olly has released 'Cupid's Bow', 'Archangel' and 'When We Kiss', which all feature on his album 'Polari'.
Olly also joined our sister station Hits Radio Pride, where he was chatting to presenter Jordan Lee, and confessed that despite a hugely successful career as a singer and an actor, he still feels that: "I don’t really know what I’m doing ever."
He also confessed he was: "A bit too young’ when he watched Queer as Folk, being just 13 or 14 at the time. Olly explained to Jordan Lee he had no idea that It’s a Sin would ever become the phenomenon it did saying: "I knew at the time (of filming) it felt super meaningful and really, really, special but I didn’t expect it to connect with people the way it did."
Olly Alexander's new album 'Polari' is out now, and you can hear music from it on Hits Radio.
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Take a look through Olly Alexander's career:
2009: Bright Star
Before making it in the music industry, Olly was an actor, he appeared in several films including Bright Star. Olly played the role of Tom Keats, the lead character's brother.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Costume Design.
2009: Tormented
Also in 2009, Olly appeared in the film Tormented which starred Tuppence Middleton. He played the role of Jason Banks.
Olly also appeared in films Enter the Void, Dust, The Fades, Gulliver's Travels and The Dish & the Spoon.
2010: Olly Alexander joined Years & Years
Despite still acting, Years & Years formed. Olly Alexander was invited to join the band by Mikey Goldsworthy, who heard him singing in the shower.
2012: Theatre and music work
As well as his on screen acting, Olly also worked on a theatre production of Mercury Fur in 2012.
2012 was also the year that Years & Years released their debut song 'I Wish I Knew' as a five-piece group.
2013: Peter and Alice (theatre)
Olly went on to appear as Peter Pan in the West End play Peter and Alice, which starred Judi Dench. Years later, he would ask Judi to appear in the short film that accompanies Years & Years' album 'Palo Santo'.
Olly also appeared in two episodes of the TV show Skins and the feature film Le Week-End.
2014: God Help the Girl
In 2014, Olly appeared in the lead role of a musical feature film called God Help the Girl. In the film he sang and played the guitar. It follows three friends in Glasgow who form a band.
2015: Years & Years release 'Communion'
In 2015, Years & Years music career was really beginning to take hold. The band (now a trio) released their Number 1 debut album 'Communion' and also their huge hits, 'King' and 'Shine'.
2018: Years & Years released 'If You're Over Me'
Years & Years released 'If You're Over Me', which was another chart success for the band reaching Number 6 in the UK, followed by 'Play' with Jax Jones which reached Number 8.
The band also released 'Palo Santo', their second album. The album was accompanied by a short film which was narrated by Judi Dench.
2021: Olly Alexander stars in It's a Sin
Olly starred in the Channel 4 series It's a Sin about the lives of three young people affected by the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
The singer plays Ritchie, from the Isle of Wight. The 'golden boy' of a middle-class family, Ritchie is heading off to University to study law in London where he finds 'freedom'.
2021: Years & Years performed at The BRITs
Olly, along with the rest of Years & Years performed at The BRIT Awards. The band also released 'It's a Sin' (solo or with Elton John), 'Starstruck' (solo or with Kylie Minogue). Olly also released 'Sweet Talker' with Galantis as the Years & Years solo project.
2021: Years & Years becomes a solo project
In 2021, Years & Years explained that they would be continuing as an 'Olly solo project' which will involve Mikey Goldsworthy playing at the live shows and Emre Türkmen helping with writing/producing.
2021: Years & Years released: 'Starstruck'
Years & Years' first single as a solo project was called 'Starstruck' and released in April 2021. There were two versions of the song, one as a solo track and one with Kylie Minogue, which was released the following month.
2022: Olly Alexander releases his first solo album
The project's first solo album was called 'Night Call', released in January 2022 and debuting at the top of the charts in the UK. It was accompanied by a tour of the same name.
2023: Mighty Hoopla Festival headline slot
Olly headlined the Mighty Hoopla Festival 2023 alongside Destiny's Child legend Kelly Rowland, singing all the band's biggest hits - and even bringing out Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts for a mini reunion!
2023: Olly Alexander announced as the UK's Eurovision 2024 entry
During the Strictly Come Dancing final, Olly Alexander was announced as the UK's Eurovision 2024 entry.
Speaking about the news, Olly said: "I've loved watching Eurovision ever since I was a little kid and I'm beyond excited to be taking part next year. As a young boy I always looked forward to this incredible event of unbridled joy, the wonderfully chaotic mix of musical styles, theatrical performances, heartfelt emotion and humour."
2024: Olly Alexander makes a pit-stop at The Queen Vic
Olly Alexander will appear in an episode of EastEnders. The actor and singer makes a surprise visit in Walford, however his appearance is not the only surprise of the night.
On his guest-appearance, Olly Alexander said: "I'm thrilled to be making my first appearance on EastEnders and in the most iconic pub in the UK. I'm so happy I got to meet some true screen legends and spend time on set with the brilliant cast and crew. I wanted to surprise my mum as it's her favourite show but I guess the cat is out of the bag now, she's gonna love it!"
2024: Olly Alexander represents the UK at Eurovision 2024
Taking to the stage in Malmö on Saturday 11th May, Olly performed his single 'DIzzy' during the Grand Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Despite giving an epic performance, Olly finished in 18th place with just 46 points.
November 2024: Olly performs at Hits Radio Live Birmingham
Olly took to the stage of the bp pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham for Hits Radio Live in November 2024, where he performed his biggest hits and entertained crowds. He joined Sugababes, Joel Corry, Ella Henderson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Tom Walker, and Sigala for the Friday night line up.
February 2025: Olly drops new album 'Polari'
On 7th February 2025, Olly dropped his new album 'Polari', writing on social media at the time: 'Polari is out now! What a feeling ! I'm so proud of this record, it's been cooking for years (in many ways - my whole life!) and to put this out under my name is really special.
'I hope you enjoy the music and the world of Polari, I love it there so much, if I could transform my soul into audio vibrations - Polari is what I would sound like. Thank you for supporting me, you've made this omi-palone's heart so happy, I can't believe I made a fourth album! We did it cupids ! This is for you, love Olly x'.
Now read:
Olly Alexander reveals the unusual language behind his new album name 'Polari'
Olly Alexander reveals how 'Dizzy' was chosen as the Eurovision song
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