In five years, a lot can happen. Most students will complete their secondary education in less time. Even a president’s first and possibly only term is over and done in four years. For the British electronic pop trio Years & Years, five years is what was needed to generate substantial waves on the blogosphere and British radio.
The band was fully formed back in 2010 when vocalist Olly Alexander joined the then quartet following bassist Mikey Goldsworthy hearing him sing in the shower. Then in 2013, the now trio signed with French record and fashion label Kitsuné – which is home to artists like Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club, and Hot Chip.
Moving forward, the trio released two commercially unsuccessful singles, despite being critically acclaimed by music journalists and bloggers. This opened a doorway for the band the following year when the group signed to Polydor and gained recognition for its first release “Take Shelter.”
Fast forward to 2015, and the band has certainly captured the attention of the world after being named the winner of the BBC Sound of 2015 poll. Years & Years were quick to springboard off the promotion and release the Y & Y EP not even a month ago.
Alexander’s voice can fit into nearly any situation, from the boy band tinges in “Desire” off the now trio’s latest extended play the Y & Y to an emotionally affected and uncredited feature in the explosive garage house anthem “Stronger” off Clean Bandit’s New Eyes. Band member and beat maker Emre Turkmen is able to play off the strength of Alexander’s chameleon vocals to create a majestic yet atmospheric soundscape as evidenced in the euphoric “King.”
“King” is truly unlike anything I’ve heard in the last year and definitely a song most mainstream pop acts would have killed to use as their own single. The soaring vocal hook is coupled with a synth mimicking a royal procession as a deeper bass grinds away underneath. It’s extremely easy to get lost in the various components of the song and that’s not a bad thing in this case because it shows that each layer is interesting on its own.
The EP ends on a less upbeat note with the simple downtrodden piano ballad “Memo” as Alexander sullenly airs his feelings out to an unknown lover “Who wouldn’t want it when he looks like that? / I want you stay / and if I try my hardest, would you look my way?”
Years & Years’ age and musical versatility is exhibited in a fleeting 15 minutes and hopefully the group is able to continue its momentum by making its way stateside either on its own or as an opening band. The breath of fresh air it offers is much needed in both American pop music and British pop music. Don’t sleep on them for too much longer or you’ll find yourself in the dust this time next year.
