Years & Years has officially been disbanded as Olly Alexander steps away from being the synth-pop project’s sole remaining member. During a recent performance under his own name at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, the singer and songwriter told the audience: “I used to be in Years & Years, I used to be Years & Years, and now I’m just me.”
In 2021, Alexander took over Years & Years as a solo act ahead of the project’s third album, Night Call. The shift marked the departure of founding members Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen. Goldsworthy continued to tour with Alexander through 2023, while Türkmen shifted his focus to his grunge project Exit Kid.
Alexander recently participated in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest under his own name. The singer entered with the single “Dizzy,” his first official non-Years & Years release, but was met with criticism for his decision to continue participating in the event amid boycotts related to Israel’s eligibility in the contest.
“Obviously, I wish there wasn’t a war or this insane humanitarian crisis,” Alexander shared in response to the backlash. “I wish for peace, and I have found this experience, at times, extremely… I’ve just felt really sad and distressed. But I still believe it’s a good thing when people come together for entertainment. That’s why I wanted to do Eurovision.”
“Dizzy” was ultimately rewarded zero points from the general public during the contest’s voting period.
Years & Years released three studio albums throughout the duration of the project. Their debut, Communion, arrived in 2015, featuring the standouts “King,” “Shine,” “Eyes Shut,” and “Desire.” Its follow-up, 2018’s Palo Santo, was received more modestly than their breakthrough, but found success in “If You’re Over Me” and the Jax Jones collaboration “Play.”
In their final joint-statement as Years & Years in 2021, Alexander, Goldsworthy, and Türkmen wrote: “We want to thank you for the love and support you’ve given us over the years (& years).”