When asked about the collaboration, Years & Years’ Olly Alexander said: “Working with Kylie was a literal dream come true. Her music has consistently inspired me since I was a kid, she is a true icon I am pinching myself this actually happened!!”

On her social media Minogue added “I had so much fun channeling my inner Olly in this video – felt like a KING,” Then she posted on Twitter about the involvement of Jodie Harsh “Thank you to the ICON Jodie Harsh for this incredible remix of ‘A Second To Midnight’,”

Thank you to the ICON @jodieharsh for this incredible remix of A Second To Midnight @yearsandyears which is out NOW, have a great NYE Lovers! https://t.co/GiEb1tQjNU pic.twitter.com/UMyBD4mFqq

— Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) December 31, 2021

In celebration of the New Year, Minogue and Years & Years have released an official remix of the track.  “A Second To Midnight (Jodie Harsh Remix)” can be listened to at the link below.

Writing on Instagram, Harsh said: “Couldn’t get to the final day of 2021 without a special musical treat! My remix of ‘A Second To Midnight’ is out everywhere NOW! I loved making this so much – hope it gets you dancing way into the new year.”

 

 

 

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Earlier this year, Years & Years’ also collaborated with Kylie for a joint remix of “Starstruck”. The original song was released in April. Alexander then followed this up with a piano arrangement of another Minogue song “Love At First Sight”.

In addition to this, Minogue also joined Years & Years to celebrate the new year with a performance on BBC’s One’s The Big New Years & Years Eve Party with Kylie and Pet Shop Boys. For those who missed it, you can watch the show on BBC iPlayer.

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The dance-pop bands frontman, Olly Alexander, is starring in the new drama. The five part series, set in the 80’s, is focused on the AIDS crisis in Britain. With Russell T Davies as the creator, Alexander told NME “There’s not been a drama about this period made in the UK on this scale ever.” The show focuses on the ‘fun loving boys who were left grappling to make sense of the senseless, while authorities and the public found it easier to look the other way’. Alexander plays Ritchie, an 18 year old who relocates from a small town in Isle of Wight to the big city lights of London.

This makes the cover of The Pet Shop Boys’ famous track even more special. Years and Years are renowned for their synth pop tracks with groovy 80s beats, however this cover stays solemn and mellow throughout, with just Alexander’s vocals and haunting piano chords. The contrast from the original track and from the bands usual musical covers (such as Breathe, originally by Blu Cantrell ft Sean Paul) to this acoustic cover invokes a sadness that the TV series will undoubtedly perpetuate.

George House Trust helps those with HIV in the UK and have offered their support and guidance since 1985. Alexander is a fierce and strong LGBTQ+ activist, fighting to have LGBTQ+ positive education on the school curriculum. Growing up in Thatcher’s Section 28 meant that there was no teaching LGBTQ communities in schools to ‘prohibit the promotion of homosexuality.’ To NME, Alexander said ‘There was no mention of gay people in my school anyway, so there was nothing inclusive in the syllabus. When I got older, part of my self-discovery as a gay man is reconciling what this whole Aids epidemic really means; and what it means to my identity and my community. As gay people, we’ve inherited this massive trauma – and one I was scared of even delving into.”  To speak more about the show and its importance, Alexander will be hosting ‘It’s A Sin: After Hours‘ on Channel 4 Youtube and Facebook page. 

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It’s A Sin also had an impact on the bands long awaited third album. After scrapping an albums worth of songs, Alexander stated “The pandemic happened and I went back to square one and just wanted to make a lot of upbeat, euphoric dance tunes. Definitely the show had an impact on that. Although I don’t think it’s going to sound ‘80s, I’m trying to channel that energy and dancefloor transcendence.”

It’s A Sin airs tonight (22nd January) on Channel 4 at 9pm.

Years and Years frontman and now a friend of MNEK, Olly Alexander, wrote the song with the Grammy-award winning dance-pop artist Uzoechi Osisioma “Uzo” Emenike, MNEK, last year and have since performed it live on a few of the Years & Years arena tour dates. Olly said: “Uzo and I were inspired to write a song about the many fuck boys who have done us dirty.

“I’m lucky to have a friend like Uzo – somebody I talk to when I’m upset about a boy and working together was basically an extension of us hanging out. Particularly proud of the message it sends across and how “unashamedly gay” the song is, Olly goes on to explain why the song is not quite the norm in regards to other mainstream pop hits.

“I’ve known Uzo for a while now and I’m just in awe of his talent. I hope the lyrics connect with people regardless of their sexuality – we all know a Valentino – but I am so proud of this song for how unashamedly gay it is.

“Two men singing about a boy is still disappointingly uncommon so it makes me very happy to be putting this song out with MNEK.”It’s safe to say the feeling is mutual as MNEK admits to having the “best time” producing the new song and was excited when Olly suggested releasing Valentino in a timely fashion.

MNEK said: “Olly has become a really good friend of mine, so I had the best time not only producing this record but also writing and singing it with him. He invited me to perform the song with him on a few stops of the Years & Years’ tour last year which was amazing. He texted me a few days ago saying, ‘we need to put Valentino out on Valentine’s Day’ so of course, I said, let’s go!”

The video for Valentino has also been launched today which involves the two friends getting over their “fuck boy syndrome” by going on an anti-Valentine’s mission to purge the nefarious ‘Valentino’ character for good. The visuals were shot in Stockholm which was a stop on Years & Years’ European tour and was directed by Olly, Uzo and Jordan Rossi.

Years & Years has also recently released ‘Play’ with Jax Jones which went Top 10 in the UK singles chart ad alongside this has received a nomination for Best British Band at this year’s BRIT Awards. Years & Years are currently bringing their wonderful world of ‘Palo Santo’ to Russia and Ukraine before they head to Asia and South America for a further string of live shows.

Listen to ‘Valentino’ HERE / Watch the video HERE.