Olly Alexander performs new rendition of ‘Shine’ with inclusive choir
Olly Alexander called the performance “one of the most diverse productions I have ever been involved in."
Olly Alexander has performed his latest take on the Years & Years’ hit ‘Shine’ – a collaboration with The Absolut Choir.
The star has called the collab “one of the most diverse productions I have ever been involved in.”
He performed with the choir live for the first time on Tuesday (22 November) at Night Tales in Hackney, East London.
The Absolut Choir is made up of people representing a range of causes including body positivity, disability awareness, and equal rights – among them, members of Trans Voices Choir, the UK’s first professional trans+ choir.
Trans rights advocate Kenny Ethan Jones, Trans Voices Choir director Coda Nicolaeff, and creatives from the Trans Creative Collective (TCC) are among those taking part. Joining them are the disability champion Sian Lord and body positivity advocate Nyome Nicholas-Williams.
Speaking ahead of the event, Olly said: “When Absolut came to me with this project I instantly had so many ideas, from working with the TCC [Trans Creative Collective] and Trans Voices to re-recording Shine, I wanted The Absolut Choir to be entirely inclusive.”
“I have worked in this industry for a while and can genuinely say this has been one of the most diverse productions I have ever been involved in, from the crew to the people both in front of and behind the camera,” the 32-year-old singer and actor added. “It’s good to feel like things are changing.”
He went on to say he wants to use his platform and voice to “put the spotlight on people and things that need to be heard”
“We are literally here to amplify people’s voices and I can’t wait to see what else is to come from these incredible people,” Olly continued.
Trans Voices’ Nicolaeff told the crowd at the event that topics people struggle with, including “transphobia, racism, fatphobia, ableism,” are ultimately “different struggles, they’re different issues, but they have a very common root.”
Joining the choir on stage, Olly said: “I’m obsessed with all of you, so thank you so much to all of you for being here, and all of you [the audience] for being here, for Absolut for bringing us together, it’s been such a fun experience.”
Years & Years are joining Kelly Rowland to headline Mighty Hoopla 2023 in June.
Olly has designed a limited edition bottle wrap for the event, which is available to purchase here.