Olly Alexander has unveiled the title track of his forthcoming debut solo album, Polari. This second single, following “Cupid’s Bow,” introduces listeners to a conceptually rich and sonically dynamic project. Produced in collaboration with Danny L Harle, “Polari” serves as a high-energy opening to the album, blending pulsating beats with a nuanced exploration of identity and communication.
The track comes with a visually striking video directed by Colin Solal Cardo, known for his work with artists like Charli XCX and Robyn. With its vibrant and chaotic aesthetic, the video mirrors the unpredictability of the music and its thematic core. Speaking about the track, Olly described it as “an audio collage” that sets the tone for the album: “It’s meant to feel like a shot of adrenaline—a jumpstart for everything that follows.”
Polari, as an album, draws inspiration from its namesake, the nearly forgotten coded language that emerged in Europe and gained prominence in the twentieth century as a form of secret communication for marginalized communities, particularly queer individuals. The concept resonated deeply with Olly, whose portrayal of Richie in It’s A Sin prompted personal reflections on identity and expression. “Polari means ‘to speak,’” Olly explained, adding that the track examines how language connects and divides us in a world where communication is increasingly fragmented.
Musically, “Polari” channels the essence of 80s club music—a shared passion between Olly and Harle. The duo crafted a soundscape that fuses retro and avant-garde pop influences with a modern edge, a style already praised in the album’s first single, “Cupid’s Bow.” Critics like Queerty highlighted its “80s club nostalgia with a modern edge,” while Out Magazine celebrated its “killer chorus.”
Beyond its musicality, Polari is a multimedia experience. The album arrives with an accompanying short play, penned by Olly, that weaves gods, cowboys, and industry satire into a narrative inspired by Derek Jarman’s anarchic aesthetic. This layered approach underscores the album’s ambition to explore universal themes of belonging, intimacy, and connection through the lens of queer history and culture.
For Olly Alexander, Polari marks a new chapter. After a decade as the frontman of Years & Years, he steps into his own as a solo artist with a bold vision. The album promises to be a celebration of self-expression, rooted in the past but speaking directly to the present.
