Years & Years to become Olly Alexander solo act as bandmates announce departure

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Years & Years will continue as a solo act for lead singer Olly Alexander, it was announced on Thursday. “This upcoming new album has been an Olly endeavour and we’ve decided that Years & Years will continue as an Olly solo project,” the statement read. Mikey will be part of the Y&Y and play with us live and Emre will focus on being a writer/producer.” Adding that the past twelve months had been “crazy for us all”, the statement also revealed that new Years & Years music would be released this spring. open image in gallery Alexander on stage with Years & Years Many fans shared their surprise at the news, with one Twitter user writing: “I totally did not see this coming.