Olly Alexander on Years & Years becoming a solo project: “Pop became a dirty word”

nme.com:

Olly Alexander has opened up about Years & Years becoming a solo project, saying that “pop was like a dirty word” towards the end of the group’s run as a three-piece.The singer-songwriter/actor sat down with NME for this week’s Big Read cover interview in which he talked about Years & Years‘ 80s-inspired third album ‘Night Call’ (out today, January 21).Following on from 2018’s ‘Palo Santo’, the new record marks the first full-length from Alexander since he parted ways with his former Y&Y bandmates Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen.“We could never really agree on what we liked in the music and what direction we wanted to go in, so that made the songwriting process difficult,” the singer told NME of the experience of working as a trio.“It was never lyrics; [Goldsworthy and Türkmen] would never touch lyrics.

It was just, like, general direction: how ‘poppy’ something was gonna be. Pop was, like, a dirty world, which is a little crazy.”Alexander did, however, go on to concede that “arguments over music can really help you make something good, and I think it did with us”.

He added: “Like, I really love all the music we made, but it always came with its own complications.”Despite not being involved with the creative/writing process this time around, Goldsworthy is due to tour as part of Years & Years’ live band.

Alexander said the reunion won’t be “weird”, but instead “like having your bro back”.“Mikey’s just the best person to have on the road because he just plays his Switch and has bants with the lads,” he told NME before reflecting on the “huge adjustment” of going it alone on ‘Night Call’.“You’re kind of in a relationship when you’re in a band,” Alexander told NME. “I mean, I’m still in a relationship with these people,.