Olly Alexander has praised Sir Elton John and Kylie Minogue for taking him under their wing
(Picture: Getty)Olly Alexander has revealed he turned to Sir Elton John and Kylie Minogue for guidance after feeling overwhelmed by fame.
The Years and Years singer says he is “constantly questioning why the hell I’m here and doing what I’m doing”, but praised the music icons for their support and, above all, understanding.
Speaking to the Standard, the 32-year-old explained: “Working with Elton and even Kylie, two of the most iconic legends, they both told me how they’ve struggled as an artist to feel like at times they knew what they were doing, feeling really dark.
“Elton talks a lot about how depressed he was and how difficult things got for him and hearing them talk about that you just go ‘wow’.”
He added: “They — obviously, I mean, it sounds silly — are real people, but even at the top of their game [they] can feel insecure and anxious.
“I’m someone who is constantly questioning why the hell I’m here and doing what I’m doing like ‘oh my God’ — I’m totally that person. But to hear that from people I really, really respect that it’s normal and you just get through it somehow. That was good advice and good to hear.”
While Years and Years officially became a solo project for Alexander after the synth-pop trio decided to disband last year, he has teamed up with premium vodka brand Absolut for a new campaign that has seen him find a new group of people to sing with.
Members of The Absolut Choir include a diverse array of inspirational changemakers and pioneers from across the UK, including trans rights advocate Kenny Ethan Jones, disability champion Sian Lord, body positivity advocate Nyome Nicholas-Williams, Trans Voices Choir directors Coda Nicolaeff, ILÄ Sebastian and their members, and creatives from the Trans Creative Collective.
Together they are calling for queer joy, better body representation in fashion and the media, policy change for trans rights and an end to marginalisation of disabled people.
The Harrogate-born star got his first taste of being in a choir at school and was excited about getting the chance to revisit the experience.
“There’s something really special about using your voices and breathing with a group of people and it’s really restorative,” he enthused.
For the project, they have recorded a new, powerful and progressive version of the Year’s and Year’s chart-topping single Shine.
Featuring multiple harmonies and new vocal arrangements, it has been remixed by the Kaizen Collective, including Alexander’s long-time collaborator Mike Hough.
While musicality didn’t come naturally to some members, Alexander insists that doesn’t matter and was overcome by the way in which everyone came together.
“That’s the whole thing about a choir, you don’t necessarily have to be a great singer to be part of it because if you can make sound, you can join in,” he reflected.
“I totally get it because it is really exposing and lots of people would be really scared to do that and we had a few people who were, but bless them because they joined in.
“Hearing [Shine] with everyone’s voices was very emotional, it’s an emotional song anyway, but you can hear the vulnerabilities in people’s voices so I just think it has taken on an extra meaningfulness for me.”
Away from singing, Alexander won plaudits for his role as Ritchie Tozer in the Russell T Davies-penned TV series It’s A Sin.
While he says he currently doesn’t have any other roles lined up, the Bafta-nominated star is “open” to offers, particularly if it is “horror or science fiction-related” and involves playing a “mythical being with wings”.
He added: “I would love that!”
Another pipedream would be to star in a TV show with Dame Judi Dench, whom he has struck up a surprising friendship with after she narrated a short film for Years and Years in 2018.
“We could do a cruise or something! I know she is quite a busy lady, but any TV commissioners reading this who want to pitch to me and Judi I’m all ears,” he said.
Elsewhere, he has recently taken up a new hobby.
“I’m really getting into gardening,” he confessed. “I’ve only recently moved somewhere with a garden but I’ve kept some houseplants alive for quite a few years so I think I don’t completely have non-green fingers so I’m going to give it a go!”
The trend-setter — who has also designed a limited-edition bottle for Absolut — joked that a “sexy gardening range” could be on the cards.
Share this film to make their voices louder and tag @AbsolutUK. Head to absolut.com/uk/BornToMix for more information on how you can support our changemakers.
