Olly Alexander Announces Solo Album ‘Polari’ with Single ‘Cupid’s Bow’

Olly Alexander shares his new single ‘Cupid’s Bow,’ teasing his album Polari due on February 7, 2025.

Olly Alexander has announced his highly anticipated album Polari, marking his first solo project following his work with Years & Years. The album will be released on February 7, 2025, via Polydor Records, and fans can already enjoy its lead single ‘Cupid’s Bow,’ which is available now.

‘Cupid’s Bow,’ co-produced with Danny L Harle, delivers a powerful club sound while tackling themes like desire, identity, and intimacy. The song is a tribute to electronic pop’s queer pioneers, combined with Olly’s exploration of love and the places it can be found—whether through mythological imagery or modern dating scenes.

The album’s title draws from the secret slang Polari, a coded language once used by LGBTQ+ communities in the 20th century. For Olly, discovering this hidden history was transformative, influencing both his personal life and his performance in It’s A Sin.

With Polari, Olly steps fully into his own as an artist. The album blends 80s-inspired pop with modern production, creating a soundscape that reflects both nostalgia and present-day complexities. Visual storytelling also plays a big role in the album’s release, with Olly designing an aesthetic inspired by Derek Jarman’s films.

Accompanying the album is a short play written by Olly, packed with whimsical characters like gods and cowboys. At its core, Polari explores themes of connection, belonging, and the human need for expression—offering listeners both an artistic journey and a pop experience.