British pop singer, songwriter, and actor Years & Years – aka Olly Alexander – has announced details of his new album Night Call, released on January 7 via Polydor Records.
The announcement of Night Call is accompanied by the new single “Crave,” which the singer describes as a playful way of inhabiting the deranged sexual energy I’ve always wanted.” He added: “In the past, I felt like I’ve been dominated by toxic relationships, and I felt like it would be fun to turn it on its head.”
The video for the pulsating, daring dance track features Munroe Bergdorf and some of the cast of the hit series It’s A Sin, which Alexander starred in earlier this year. Omari Douglas, Nathaniel Hall, and David Carlisle all make appearances in the video following the record-breaking show’s Best New Drama win at the National Television Awards earlier this month.
Night Call is Years & Years’ first album since 2018’s Palo Santo and was influenced by French house, the 70s and 80s disco and R&B singer Sylvester, hedonism and escapism. At the heart of the record is the idea of looking for love but finding power in yourself instead, while Alexander takes inspiration from his acting career to embody the perspective of a new character.
The record continues Alexander’s exploration of queer life, reflecting his status as a powerful voice for the LGBTQ+ community, and blurs the line between fantasy and reality while capturing the joy and anticipation of going out. “I was writing from a fantastical space, stuck in the same four walls,” Alexander says. “I wanted to have as much pleasure as possible in the music.”
The album will be Alexander’s first as a solo artist under the Years & Years name. His former bandmates Emre Türkmen and Mikey Goldsworthy confirmed their departure from the group earlier this year, with Alexander telling Capital FM they had “grown apart musically”.
Night Call is out on January 7 and is available for pre-order.
