Olly Alexander joins Rebecca Judd on Apple Music 1 for a special episode of The Rebecca Judd Show to discuss performing at Eurovision 2024, new music, the success of Years and Years and the decision to launch a solo career. He also talks about the support he’s received from his hometown, guest starring on Eastenders and how ABBA has influenced his music.
Olly Alexander discusses why Eurovision is the next step in his career…
I finished touring my album last year, and started work on my next one early last year, and I made all my new music with Danny L Harle, who's a brilliant producer, and he loves Eurovision too. And we were talking about Eurovision and thought it would be so amazing if we could take one of our songs to Eurovision. Wouldn't that be so fun? It just seemed to make sense as a timing, because I am coming back with new music and it's an amazing platform. For any artist. So I thought, "Okay, this might work out in my favour." And I just love to put on a show, so I just thought, "Why not?"
Olly Alexander talks the success of Years and Years and the experience it's given him…
I think in some ways it's been helpful, because obviously having the experience is good, and I know a bit what it's like to be under pressure and having to perform on the stage. But on the other hand, I think I've got people who are like, "Okay, well, we've seen what you can do, so you have to really impress us."
Olly Alexander talks about the results of Eurovision and wanting to make the UK proud…
The result is going to be whatever the result is going to be, and I'm just going to make sure I do my best and do a performance that I'm proud of, and then it's like, it doesn't matter. Taking part is enough for me. Of course, I want to do well and I want to do, mostly myself proud, but of course I'd love to make the UK proud, but you just never know what's going to happen. So we'll have to wait and see.
Olly Alexander talks about performing under his own name instead of Years and Years and releasing a new album…
It's less pressure in a way, because some people, obviously, they know me as Olly from Years and Years, but some people don't know. Do you know what I mean? They'll be like, "Oh, you sound so much like the guy from Years and Years." "He's my biggest idol." So I'm like, maybe I'm like this brand new, fresh, new artist for people to discover, which is obviously quite exciting too. And it's just nice, I suppose, to start a new chapter with a bit of freshness, a bit of newness. So it has been really nice. I obviously love Years and Years, but it's a good feeling to start a new chapter, I guess. I've got a new album on the way, I'm just finishing that up now, I can't wait. I'm super happy with it and I can't wait to put it out.
Olly Alexander discusses guest-starring on Eastenders…
Olly Alexander: It was a career highlight of mine. I think they just got in touch and said, "Would Olly be interested in doing a little walk-on, little cameo role in an episode of EastEnders?" And of course I was like, "Please, yes, let me." I've grown up watching EastEnders and it's my mum's favourite TV show. I knew she would be just losing her mind if she saw me in it, so I was, yeah. And it was such a fun experience. I just showed up at the Vic, had a drink. Obviously I can't say too much because it's not out yet, but it was fantastic. I met so many icons, Natalie Cassidy, Pat just icons. And it was a great, great day. It was just a dream. I want to go back. I want a recurring storyline.
Rebecca Judd: Tell me that the Queen Vic actually smells like a pub. Please tell me. Otherwise, my dreams are shattered. Does it smell like a pub?
Olly Alexander: It does smell a bit like a pub, because they've got real the kegs with, maybe it's fake ale, but it smells of that leftover beer smell. So there was authenticity there for sure.
Olly Alexander discusses the other Eurovision contestants…
This is a really strong year. There's a lot of really brilliant performers. I love the Spanish entry, Nebulossa, they're a great pair. And I love the Ukrainian girls Alyona Alyona. I'm buddies with the Irish act, Bambie, the Swiss act, Nemo. Nemo is favourite to win. I think they probably will win. They're so amazing. Silvester from Lithuania. There's a lot of really cute, just great artists. I'm so excited to see them kill it on the stage and take off. And Luna from Poland. There's a lot of really sweet Mustii from Belgium. There's a lot of really great LGBTQ acts as well, which is really fab to see.
Olly Alexander discusses the support from his hometown…
I'm very touched, I've got a lot of support from my hometown, and they're a really lovely bunch of people. They're going to be watching it, I think, at the local cinema, which is a great little local-run cinema. I really, really appreciate the support for sure.
Olly Alexander talks about his love for ABBA and how they’ve influenced his music…
ABBA made some of the finest pop music ever created. They have incredible range, but a lot of their songs really take you on a journey. They weren't afraid to use unusual chord sequences, unusual progressions, and they're obviously always about melody and hook, which sounds obvious. And obviously the singers, their ranges, they would always use the whole of their range. So I always try to do that in my music as well, using the full range of the melodies, the chorus is going to be up here, but then you can modulate and maybe introduce a different chord sequence. And ABBA just always nailed that so brilliantly. They're really complicated songs. That's why you don't hear people cover ABBA songs a lot because they're so difficult.
