OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE Universal Music Canada
30 APRIL 2021 (TORONTO, ON) - Years & Years has today released an Ofenbach remix of new single ‘Starstruck’, which is available now on Polydor Records/Universal Music Canada, the country s leading music company. The French DJ duo put a euphoric, house twist on Olly Alexander’s latest anthem, following recent appearances ranging from Graham Norton and the Late Late Show With James Corden to The One Show and Sunday Brunch…
‘Starstruck’ is the first new Years & Years music since 2018’s much-loved second album ‘Palo Santo’, and comes hot on the heels of Olly’s leading role in Channel 4/HBO’s huge show, ‘It’s A Sin’; which has broken all records on All 4 since its premiere in January, with over 18 million views to date (the platform’s biggest ever instant box-set) and an incredible reception from fans and critics alike.
Alexander never ‘came out’ as gay, though was advised to hide his sexuality: instead, their first single ‘Real’ called the love interest a ‘boy’, waiting for a journalist to ask. Years & Years’ first album,
Communion, is filled with ’80s-inspired dance melodies about anguished love and power imbalances that feel good in their pain (
“I was a King under your control”) turning queer shame into something you can sweat out.
Palo Santo kept the queer self-flagellation theme up. Lead single ‘Santfiy’ even included a reference to a queer literature classic, Andrew Holleran’s
Dancer From The Dancer (
“
I breathe the richness of the dancer’s dance”), a nod to how those before Alexander have found release on the dancefloor and hook-ups facilitated by nightclubs.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE Universal Music Canada
12 APRIL 2021 (TORONTO, ON) - Years & Years have today released the video for brand new single Starstruck, which was directed by Fred Rowson and choreographed by Sherrie Silver (responsible for Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’). It’s the first new Years & Years music since 2018’s much-loved second album ‘Palo Santo’, and follows hot on the heels of Olly Alexander’s leading role in Channel 4/HBO’s huge show, ‘It’s A Sin’; which has broken all records on All 4 since its premiere in January, with over 18 million views to date (the platform’s biggest ever instant box-set) and an incredible reception from fans and critics alike.