Years & Years’ new track ‘Sanctify’ was inspired by Olly Alexander’s experiences with straight guys
Olly Alexander is back and looking fierce AF in the group's brand new video.
By Will Stroude
Three years after their debut album Communion topped the charts, Years & Years are back with the first track from their brand new record – and it’s a corker.
‘Sanctify’ is a moody electro-pop number that continues the trio’s flair for the spiritual, and it comes with a stunning video that sees the group’s out and proud frontman Olly Alexander embrace his inner Britney as he auditions for a mysterious organisation in a futurisitic metropolis populated by androids.
If that sounds like a lot to process, it’s because IT IS.
Appearing on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show last night to premiere the track (March 7), Olly opened up about the surprising inspiration behind ‘Sanctify’, which is set to appear on the group’s upcoming second studio album.
“It’s a song I was inspired to write after I had a few experiences with some straight guys who were struggling with their sexuality”, Olly revealed.
“When I was in the studio and we were doing this I wanted to recreate Britney’s ‘Slave 4 U’ vibe.”
He joked: “I bet everyone’s like ‘what the hell!'”
The 27-year-old singer, who made sure his male back-up dancers put on a steamy, inclusive display at Brighton Pride last summer, continued: “I just wanted to make stuff that sounded like music that I love, and the music that, expecially when I was a bit younger, that I just vibed to so hard.
“I always had that in my mind in the studio, like ‘does it sound like something TLC could have done, or Destiny’s Child, or Britney or Christina. And then that kind of got filtered through the Years & Years matrix.”
While an official first single is still to come, ‘Sanctify’ is a real statment of intent from Years & Years as they embark on their eaglery-anticipated second chapter. And with the likes of Sam Smith and Troye Sivan also on the comeback trail, it looks like 2018 is set to be one of biggest years for gay pop artists in, well, years.
Check out the video for ‘Santify’ below: