Olly Alexander opens up on Years & Years split and move into solo project: "I didn't want to let it go"

Olly Alexander has opened up about Years & Years' split as a three-piece and re-configuring the band into a solo project, ahead of his first official solo project.

Night Call, which has been preceded by singles like Starstruck, Crave and Sweet Talker with Galantis, is due for release January 21, via longtime label Polydor.

It was announced last year that Years & Years members Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Turkmen would be exiting the band, which would therefore function as an Olly solo project.

Now speaking to The Guardian ahead of Night Call's release, Olly touched upon the split and the fact that he didn't re-launch as a solo act under his own name.  

MORE: Years & Years' Official Charts history in full

“I just didn’t want to let Years & Years go," he said. "I put so much into it. It was a tricky decision in some ways, because I think, possibly, it might have been a bit simpler for everyone if I had just been like, ‘Oh, I’m a solo artist now.’ But I just didn’t want to.”

“Bands are like marriages," Olly continued. "Any separation is difficult, and I think it went as well as it could, with us.”

In their initial life-span as a band together, Years & Years released two albums together; debut Communion (which hit Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart) as 2018's more pop-leaning Palo Santo. In 2015, the band's single King became their first UK Number 1, and they went on to gain a further three UK Top 10 hits. 

Last year, Olly's re-launched Years & Years single Starstruck peaked at Number 31 on the Official Singles Chart, thanks in part to a remix featuring none other than Kylie Minogue. Last week, Olly's latest single Sweet Talker became his ninth UK Top 40 hit, as it reached a new peak of Number 36.