London-based dance trio Years & Years officially began online. Brit Emre Turkmen and Australian Michael Goldsworthy were both searching for bandmates when they met in a forum and quickly bonded over their shared love of Radiohead. Actor Olly Alexander (you’ll know him from Skins and most recently, Le Week-End) would join soon thereafter, but only once Mikey had vetted his vocal abilities after overhearing him singing in the shower at a friend's apartment. And the band's oft-confused name? Emre had this explanation: "We just spitballed ideas and [Years & Years] was the only one that no one hated. I think I just said it and everyone went, 'Oh alright.'"
From their origin story, to their name, to even their fashion sense, Years & Years is decisively unstudied. It’s a welcome relief in an age of acts carefully curated by teams of advisors and publicists, devoid of any unique personality, or worse, performing perfection. The boys of Years & Years, on the other hand, aren't concerned with being obvious, and relish conflicting interpretations of their work. When asked about their dark video for their single “Real,” a stunning visual that begins with a chance encounter between Olly and Skyfall's Ben Whishaw in a seedy nightclub bathroom, Olly said, “I was just very happy that people are being like, ‘What the fuck is this video about?’”
Although their music might be classified as electronic, Years & Years isn't hiding behind their laptops. To get a better feel for their sound, imagine a soul-influence Disclosure if Sam Smith were the permanent lead singer. Now officially signed to Polydor Records, the band is poised to usher in a new wave of synth-dance-pop. Check out what the band had to say about their failed ode to Jennifer Connelly, the making of their epic new music video, and their favorite YouTube comments.
Clarke Rudick: How did you guys meet?
Michael: I’m from Australia so I didn’t know anyone.
Olly: Mickey doesn’t know anything.
Emre: Mickey’s an alien.
M: I woke up in a glacier and got thawed! [Laughs]
E: We met online because he was looking for a guitarist.
M: I was looking for a guitarist because that’s what you need in a band…
E: Now I don’t play guitar anymore.
M: I didn’t want to be a traditional band. I just wanted to do a completely different thing. And I made a little video and put it up on the website, and you [to Emre] liked that. And our love for Radiohead is what bonded us.
E: He was drunk four times in a row when I went [to meet him] and I was like, "Do I really want to hang out with this guy?"
O: For the rest of your life!
E: And then Michael met Olly through a friend.
Legend has it Michael heard you singing in the shower. Is that true?
O: It is true! But I had already told Mickey that I wanted to be in the band. I can’t remember what I was singing… probably the Fugees or something. That is actually my shower song: “Killing Me Softly.”
M: Olly did come in quite early. We didn’t have much material before Olly came on. I was more of an idea really. [Laughs]
What are each of your guy’s responsibilities within the band?
M:
From their origin story, to their name, to even their fashion sense, Years & Years is decisively unstudied. It’s a welcome relief in an age of acts carefully curated by teams of advisors and publicists, devoid of any unique personality, or worse, performing perfection. The boys of Years & Years, on the other hand, aren't concerned with being obvious, and relish conflicting interpretations of their work. When asked about their dark video for their single “Real,” a stunning visual that begins with a chance encounter between Olly and Skyfall's Ben Whishaw in a seedy nightclub bathroom, Olly said, “I was just very happy that people are being like, ‘What the fuck is this video about?’”
Although their music might be classified as electronic, Years & Years isn't hiding behind their laptops. To get a better feel for their sound, imagine a soul-influence Disclosure if Sam Smith were the permanent lead singer. Now officially signed to Polydor Records, the band is poised to usher in a new wave of synth-dance-pop. Check out what the band had to say about their failed ode to Jennifer Connelly, the making of their epic new music video, and their favorite YouTube comments.
Clarke Rudick: How did you guys meet?
Michael: I’m from Australia so I didn’t know anyone.
Olly: Mickey doesn’t know anything.
Emre: Mickey’s an alien.
M: I woke up in a glacier and got thawed! [Laughs]
E: We met online because he was looking for a guitarist.
M: I was looking for a guitarist because that’s what you need in a band…
E: Now I don’t play guitar anymore.
M: I didn’t want to be a traditional band. I just wanted to do a completely different thing. And I made a little video and put it up on the website, and you [to Emre] liked that. And our love for Radiohead is what bonded us.
E: He was drunk four times in a row when I went [to meet him] and I was like, "Do I really want to hang out with this guy?"
O: For the rest of your life!
E: And then Michael met Olly through a friend.
Legend has it Michael heard you singing in the shower. Is that true?
O: It is true! But I had already told Mickey that I wanted to be in the band. I can’t remember what I was singing… probably the Fugees or something. That is actually my shower song: “Killing Me Softly.”
M: Olly did come in quite early. We didn’t have much material before Olly came on. I was more of an idea really. [Laughs]
What are each of your guy’s responsibilities within the band?
M: