Sporting a bucket hat and an immediately disarming grin, Olly Alexander appeared on my screen like a ray of sunshine, his disposition melding perfectly with the glorious London weather beckoning us out and away from our respective screens.
The English singer, actor and LGBTQIA+ activist may not look a day over 21, but he’s had quite the career. He rose to prominence as a musician in the early 2010s as the lead vocalist for electropop band Year & Years, but Alexander had already been quite the television staple for Nineties and Noughties babies.
From CBBC to the West End and the final season of Skins, the multi-hyphenate has starred alongside the likes of Ben Whishaw, Judi Dench, Sam Claflin and Douglas Booth – but it was his breakthrough role in It’s A Sin which cemented him as a household name on our humble island.
When the time came to pick a Eurovision contender for 2024, Olly Alexander was a natural choice. Arguably one of our nation’s favourite acts in the last decade or so, Alexander stunned despite the seemingly cursed role and the UK’s perennial inability to score points in the competition.
We caught up with the star following an impromptu singalong with his lookalike at St Pancras station with Twix.
What have you been up to recently?
“Well, I just finished the Up Close and Polari tour for my album that came out in February, and that was really a joyful and fabulous experience. I had such a great time.
“I also just did a very impromptu pop-up performance in St Pancras station at 8:30 am last week with Twix. I performed with a tribute act, who’s also my doppelganger. His name is Keith Marshall, and he’s so lovely – but he basically performs as me. It blows my mind. He’s so talented and wonderful. I think the morning commuters didn't know what they got themselves into.”
What are your touring non-negotiables?
“On the tour bus, I must have the bunk that’s at the back. When you first start touring, it’s a race for the best bunk. Obviously, it’s my tour bus now, so I’m choosing my own bunk. It’s got to be at the back on the top right, or it’s just unthinkable.
“I bring my own pillow on tour, too. Other than that, wet wipes have saved my life in various places around the world. And I also couldn’t go without my bright pink vocal warm-up straw. It’s like a pacifier. An emotional support straw.”
What does your capsule wardrobe look like on tour?
“My aim is to feel comfortable, because you’re always getting in and out of quite uncomfortable spaces and positions on tour. Over the years, I’ve tried to curate stylish but relaxed clothing. I have a pair of Acne jogging bottoms that I’ve worn to threads. I also have these very flash but also practical platform Crocs. Because you have to shower at venues, you need a waterproof shoe.
“I like a loose-fitting T-shirt, and I also really enjoy a good hat. There’s always one or two nights on tour where you’ll want to dress up, even if you don’t go anywhere and are just hanging out with the band and crew – so for that I have a nice pair of overalls.”
How do you unwind after a hectic day?
“On tour, you’re surrounded by people. So I often need a little bit of alone time in my bunk. I’ll shut the curtain and just like, listen to the radio or play a game on my phone. I love Balatro, or tower defence games and even Roblox. Call me a gamer! But the rest of the time, my favourite thing to do to relax is just watch some TV with my cats.”
What are your beauty and wellness essentials?
“Oh my gosh. I mean, you should see my bag when I go on tour. Like, the majority of the space is taken up by skincare and cosmetics. I recently took an at one of those LED masks on tour with me. You know, I’ve tried the Gua Sha, I’ve tried facial massage, and those are all well and good – but the LED mask really helps me to de-puff.
“I’ve spent a lot of time and money on skincare, and I do think a lot of it is b*****t. But SPF is my number one thing. I have a medical-grade retinol and anti-acne cream too. I love Medik8’s Daily Radiance Vitamin C, which also has SPF in it.”
What’s on your rider?
“It’s quite simple. It’s usually just fruit and veg to – you know, stave off scurvy and that. I like having something I can make a sandwich with. I’ll also have honey, lemon and ginger teas, sparkling water and a Twix. But I don’t need twenty Twixes in my dressing room alone, so they’ll get shared across the crew. I’ll usually have a few beers on my rider too, so that I can have a beer after a show. Just one though.”
What has inspired your artistic and creative direction in the last few years?
“The queer community, and especially the queer people and gay men that have come before me. They've always been a source of inspiration, but in the last few years even more so – especially off the back of doing It’s A Sin. I’ve really been looking to artists from that period like Derek Jarman, Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys, Andy Bell and Erasure, and even George Michael.
“I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from their boldness and courage to be themselves, and to make art about their experience and identity at that time. That story is still ongoing, because it's such a rich, creative world that we’re perennially influenced by.”
Can you explain what the word Polari means to you?
“It's hard because Polari has expanded to mean so many different things to me. But I suppose what I love most about Polari is that it’s inherently subversive but always playful. I’m interested in the way that words and languages are formed, and Polari is a real magpie collection of different languages, phrases and slang words. I love taking that as a wider approach to life and embodying a patchwork of queer culture from over the last few decades.”
“It’s a word which looks to the past, but also feels spiritual and futuristic because Polaris is also the North Star. Since making the album, I’ve used the word to describe all sorts of things. Whether it’s styling, visuals, or anything else, I’ll always say, oh that’s so Polari.”
What’s your dream musical collaboration?
“Oh my gosh, it's so it's hard. I am. I'd love to work with William Orbit. Cher would be incredible. My all-time favourite is probably Stevie Wonder. Maybe we can all do something together.”
Olly Alexander is the ambassador for Twix's latest campaign, two is more than one.
