Years & Years

Years & Years

Years & Years at Festival SOS 4.8 in Murcia, 2015.
Background information
Origin London, United Kingdom
Genres
Years active 2010–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website yearsandyearsofficial.com
Members
Past members
  • Noel Leeman
  • Olivier Subria

Years & Years are a British electronica trio, it was founded in London, United Kingdom. The band consists of frontman and keyboard player Olly Alexander, bass guitarist Mikey Goldsworthy, and keyboardist Emre Türkmen.[1] Years & Years' music has been described as electropop, mixing R&B and 1990s house elements. The band's debut studio album, Communion, debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart in July 2015 and was the fastest-selling debut album of the year from a UK signed band.

Their biggest hit single "King" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in March 2015, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland.

Career

2010–14: Formation and early years

The band was formed in 2010, after Goldsworthy moved to London from Australia and met Türkmen online.[2] Shortly afterwards, Alexander joined the band as lead vocalist after Goldsworthy heard him singing in the shower.[3] The band was originally a five-piece group, with Noel Leeman and Olivier Subria.[4] Leeman left the band in 2013.[5]

Years & Years' first single, "I Wish I Knew", was released in July 2012 on the Good Bait label, with the band performing as a five-piece group.[6] In 2013, the group signed to the French label Kitsuné as a three-piece and released their second single, "Traps", in September 2013.[7] Their third single, "Real", was released by Kitsuné in February 2014 and its music video featured an appearance by Alexander's Peter and Alice co-star, Ben Whishaw, and the former Misfits actor Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.[8] In 2014, the group signed to Polydor Records and released their fourth single, "Take Shelter". The song reached number one on the iTunes UK Singles Electronic Chart.[9] In December 2014, the group's fifth single, "Desire", was released, peaking at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.[10]

2015–16: Communion

Years & Years were nominated for the Critics Choice Award at the 2015 BRIT Awards.[11] In January 2015, they also won the prestigious BBC Sound of 2015 award.[12] In the same month, the band's sixth single, "King", was previewed on BBC Radio 1 and selected as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record of the Day.[13] "King" was released on 1 March 2015 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. Internationally, the single peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland.

On 18 March 2015, Years & Years announced their debut studio album, Communion on their Instagram profile. It was released on 10 July 2015 by Polydor Records and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart.[14][15] As well as it being the fastest-selling debut album in 2015 from a UK signed band, it was also the first number one on the inaugural New Music Fridays release date, marking a moment in history.

To celebrate the launch of the album, a world first interactive ad-break takeover happened on Channel 4, on the evening the album was released. Three exclusive music videos for the band's next single, "Shine", were filmed especially for the initiative, and fans were encouraged to 'take control' of the ad break by tweeting the hashtag for the video they most wanted to see; #ChooseLight, #ChooseShadow or #ChooseDark. The initiative garnered 1.55 million viewers and resulted in the most interacted-with ad in Channel 4 history.

"Shine" was the band's seventh single and follow-up to "King". It was released on 5 July 2015 and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Following this, "Eyes Shut" was the next single to be taken from Communion. The music video for the single was released on 27 September 2015, and depicted the band exploring a post-apocalyptic world, set in the outskirts of Sofia, Bulgaria.

In January 2016, Years & Years were nominated for four BRIT Awards, including British Group, British Breakthrough Act, British Single (for "King") and British Artist Video (also for "King").

On 2 March 2016, the band announced that Tove Lo would feature on their next single; a new version of, "Desire." The music video was released on the next day, accompanied by an open letter from frontman Olly Alexander on the band's Facebook page. This detailed the concept of the video and highlighted the LGBT issues addressed by it (such as sexuality and gender dynamics), for which Alexander had become somewhat of a spokesperson.

The band played their biggest headline show to date on 8 April 2016, at Wembley Arena, London, as part of their 2016 UK headline tour. The show was completely sold out, with support coming from MØ, Nimmo and Mabel.

In July 2016, the band released the music video for their next single from Communion, "Worship". The music video was directed by Matt Lambert, with choreography from Ryan Heffington.

On 11 September 2016, Years & Years performed their last show at Lollapalooza[16] in Berlin marking the end of their Communion tour.

2016–present: Post-Communion

On 13 September 2016, the band released a new song called "Meteorite" which was an official soundtrack for the movie Bridget Jones's Baby. On 28 September 2016, the music video was released for the song. They are currently in studio making new songs with Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter

Influences

The group's influences include Radiohead, Flying Lotus, Marilyn Manson,[17] the Beatles, Jai Paul, Timbaland, Joni Mitchell, Aaliyah, Robyn, and Sigur Rós.[18]

Members

Live members

Discography

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Award Work Result Ref.
2014 Popjustice Popjustice £20 Music Prize 2014 "Take Shelter" Nominated [20]
2015 BBC Music Awards British Artist of the Year Years & Years [21]
BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards Best British Group [22]
Best British Single
Brit Awards Critics Choice [23]
MTV Brand New Brand New For 2015
MTV Europe Music Awards Best UK & Ireland Act [24]
Best Push [25]
Q Best New Act [26]
Attitude Album of the Year Award Won [27]
BBC Sound of 2015 Sound of 2015 [28]
European Border Breakers Award European Border Breakers Award [29]
GAFFA Best New International Artist Act 2015 [30]
O2 Artist's Recognition Award [31]
mtvU Artist to Watch [32]
Wing Music Awards [33]
UK Music Video Awards Best Artist Nominated [34]
Best Interactive Video "King"
Best Pop Video
MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best New Artist Video Won [35]
XITE Most Played Music Video [36]
2016 Brit Awards British Artist Video Nominated [37]
British Single
British Breakthrough Act Years & Years
British Group
MTV Europe Music Awards Best UK & Ireland Act

References

  1. ↑ "Years & Years". Last.fm. 28 October 2014.
  2. ↑ O'Brien, George (20 February 2014). "Introducing Years & Years". The Line Of Best Fit.
  3. ↑ Rudick, Clarke (9 April 2014). "Real Talk with Tears & Years". Opening Ceremony.
  4. ↑ "Years & Years". Indie Shuffle. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Years & Years Live At Rescue Rooms". Rescue Rooms. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Years & Years – I Wish I Knew". The Music Ninja. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Cragg, George (7 August 2013). "Years & Years – Traps: New music". The Guardian.
  8. ↑ Baggs, Michael (20 May 2014). "Years & Years talk tours, 'Real' success, their mums and more". Gigwise.
  9. ↑ Etheart, Zac. "Passing time with Years & Years". Interview.
  10. ↑ "YEARS & YEARS". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Singh, Anita (15 January 2015). "Brit Awards nominations list 2015: year of the male". Telegraph. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Youngs, Ian (9 January 2015). "BBC News - Years & Years top BBC Sound Of 2015 list". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Years & Years - King". Radio 1. BBC. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Years & Years on Twitter: OK you can now pre-order our debut album Communion out 10-07-15". Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Years & Years' debut at Number 1: "This is the best day of our lives"". The Official UK Charts Company. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Lollapalooza (6th October 2016)".
  17. ↑ Corner, Lewis (January 9, 2015). "Years & Years interview: 'We now have a responsibility to not be s**t!'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  18. ↑ Levine, Nick (April 7, 2016). "Years & Years: How They Became The Most Important Pop Band Of Our Time". NME. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  19. ↑ "Vevo Polska on Twitter". Twitter.
  20. ↑ "The 2014 Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize: as it happened". Popjustice. Popjustice Ltd. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "BBC Music Awards 2015: Shortlisted Artists Revealed!".
  22. ↑ "BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards".
  23. ↑ "Brit Awards 2015: James Bay wins Critics' Choice prize". The Independent. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "2015 MTV Europe Music Awards - BEST UK & IRELAND ACT".
  25. ↑ "2015 MTV Europe Music Awards - BEST PUSH".
  26. ↑ "Q Awards 2015 shortlist announced!".
  27. ↑ "Attitude's Album of the Year Award: 'Communion' by Years & Years".
  28. ↑ "Years & Years top BBC Sound Of 2015 list".
  29. ↑ "Years & Years win 2016 European Border Breakers Award".
  30. ↑ "Se Years & Years takke for GAFFA-Prisen".
  31. ↑ "O2 Music".
  32. ↑ "Winners from the 2015 mtvU Woodie Awardst".
  33. ↑ "Winq Music Award winners Years & Years".
  34. ↑ "Nominees Announced For 'UK Music Video Awards'".
  35. ↑ "WINNERS OF THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2015 ANNOUNCED".
  36. ↑ "YEARS & YEARS ONTVANGT EERSTE XITE AWARD 2015".
  37. ↑ "Brit Awards 2016: Adele, James Bay and Years & Years lead nominations".

External links

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