Prior to King reaching the number one of the UK singles chart on Sunday, we packed off photographer Chloe Newman to capture Years & Years live at Heaven.
Synth pop London formed trio Years & Years are swiftly soaring in recognition, with their first UK number one single charting this week for “King”, there is no better time for this intimate homecoming gig at London’s Heaven nightclub. Actor and newly beloved frontman and keyboardist of Years & Years, Olly Alexander, who you may recognise from films “Enter the Void” and the last instalment of TV series “Skins”, is presently showcasing his vocal talents alongside fellow band members Mikey Goldsworthy on bass/synth and Emre Turkmen on synth/beats, the two combined provide the soulful electronic beats Years & Years are rapidly becoming known for.
The atmosphere is amped up under the arches of Heaven, with the audience fixed on a red pulsating light encompassed by a completely dark stage, gradually the trio enter opening with the electro throbbing track “Foundation” progressing subtly into the tropical reggae undertones of “Take Shelter”. Olly tones the electronic atmosphere down for a moment with a piano played “Memo” before ‘testing out new material’ with new songs “Shine” and “Ties” showing off their more RnB influence in the heavy bass beats.
Oscillating through different lighting set ups from the smoky purples for “Memo” to full on lasers in the clap wrapped “Real”, with a room filled with adoring screaming fans, Olly shoots smiles towards them throughout, intersperse with his own unique dance moves to the backdrop of Emre and Mikey’s sheer electric concentration.
Returning to sit down and play piano for ‘Eyes Shut’, Olly’s vocals truly shine with controlled haunting vulnerability. Another new song ‘Without’ is presented after Olly’s slight set list mishap and playfully apologises for explaining the song’s background prematurely, followed by the catchy hook of the popular “Desire”, which inevitably prepared the crowd for the highly anticipated encore for their recent number one “King”. Teasingly these two sold out shows at Heaven equipped with new material is just a taste of what’s to come for their upcoming shows in June this year once their album is released.
