The trio consists of Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen.

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Türkmen and Goldsworthy met online and they decided to form the band after discussing their similar interests, which included Radiohead.

 

Until 2013, there were five members of the group. Noel Leeman and Olivier Subria were the other two original members.

 

“I Wish I Knew” was the name of their first single, released in 2012. All five members of the band participated in the song.

 

The following year, in 2013, the band was signed to Kitsuné Records.

 

By 2013, Leeman and Subria had left, which meant there were now only three musicians in the group when Kitsuné Records gave them a contract.

 

Olly Alexander joined Years & Years when Mikey Goldsworthy heard him singing in the shower the morning after a house party.

 

Alexander has stated in an interview that he is a keen singer whilst in the shower, and “Killing Me Softly” is his ‘shower song’.

 

Goldsworthy is a big fan of Metallica and Marilyn Manson, and said that the band’s music is often inspired by them.

 

Türkmen, on the other hand, likes the Beatles, and all the band members enjoy a bit of country music now and then!

 

The trio are very active on social media, and love getting likes and comments on their music videos.

 

Olly Alexander featured in the TV show Skins for several weeks before Years & Years was formed. His acting skills also got him a part in the 2014 movie, The Riot Club, as well as the BBC drama ‘Great Expectations‘.

 

Dylan Bell is a drummer who joins the band for their live performances, despite not being an official member of the group.

 

Mikey Goldsworthy seems to be a man of many talents, and used to work at the River Café in London. He served several celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, during his time there.

 

In 2014, Years & Years won the award for BBC Sound of 2015.

 

In the same year, they won the award for Artist to Watch from mtvU. These awards really gave them the boost they needed, since more people started listening to their music.

 

Everybody knows him as Olly Alexander, but his full name is actually Oliver Alexander Thornton.