Troye Sivan has been one of the most interesting pop stars for almost the past decade. It feels as though that he has not had a lot of mainstream moments, but that does not diminish the quality of the music he has been making. Whether it was with his debut album “Blue Neighbourhood” which captured the teenage soft boy aesthetic stunningly, or his second album “Bloom,” the first project of his to show signs of what it was like becoming an adult and loving your sexuality, it has all been something I love and listen to.
Sivan in the "Rush" music video, during one of the most popular scenes. Photo courtesy of Capitol Records
For his third studio album, Sivan has hit all the perfect punches for creating conversation around this era. From the heavy usage of TikTok to promote the album or even the album cover itself, everything seems so different from his previous sounds and aesthetics, but still him to the core of it all. The lead single for this album, “Rush,” was arguably one of the songs of the summer. From the second it starts, you immediately feel an intensity build up in you.
I would not be honest if I were to say I immediately connected with this album. It took a few listens for me to fully enjoy it, but now I can definitely say I do. Particularly on the second track, “What’s The Time Where You Are?,” after my first listen I felt mixed because I did not know if I liked the chorus, I felt it could have hit me a little harder. However, after a few listens, it finally clicked and is now one of my favorites on the album.
Troye Sivan in the "Get Me Started" music video. Photo courtesy of Capitol Records
The second single, “Get Me Started” features an iconic sample from the song “Shooting Stars” by the Bag Raiders. You may not know the song from the title alone, but you definitely have heard it in some form before. It is most popular for being part of a bunch of different memes in the 2010s decade and the Bag Raiders have not let anyone sample it until Sivan approached them. The sample can cause people to react, either good or bad, only because the sound can be cringey since it was tied to a now dated meme. However, I love the sample and find that it really lets the song take off.
A lot of the album relates to the concept of unrequited love, a topic many gay men and queer-identifying individuals can definitely relate to. Specifically, the third single, “One Of Your Girls,” mentions how Sivan has been in situations with men who are not publicly out or who do not identify as men who like men but still show interest in Sivan romantically.
In the music video, Sivan lusts after a mix of different men, one of them being Ross Lynch, then eventually transforms into a drag version of himself. The way Sivan sings the lyrics, “Look at you skip the application, interview / Sweet like Marabou / Look, look at you,” in a whispery tone is pleasing on the ears and his cadence almost reminds me a little bit of the way Jack Johnson sings. Also, the lyrics, “Face card, no cash, no credit,” is instantly memorable and will definitely be used in a lot of instagram captions.
Troye Sivan (in drag) with Ross Lynch in the "One Of Your Girls" video. Photo courtesy of Capitol Records
The single choices for this album have all been stellar, and it is a credit to Sivan and his label for picking great and captivating singles. Each of them has had their own unique pop culture moments, which is smart of Sivan to do when releasing a new album. Whether it is the unabashedly gay music video for “Rush,” the sample in “Get Me Started,” or the drag transformation for “One of Your Girls,” Sivan has done everything to create a buzz around this era, and it’s working.
Sivan uses a lot of fun and different vocal adjustments in the production like the using a vocoder and synths. These little intricacies keep the album sounding fresh and intriguing.
I have a lot of favorite lyrical moments in this album like in the third track, “In My Room,” I love the lyrics, “So in my head, and I leave it like an unmade bed.” I find that if you take the album without the production, even though all of the production is great, the album is still just as good and holds up with his voice and the lyrics.
Troye Sivan in the "Rush" music video. Photo courtesy of Capitol Records
Maybe the weirdest sounding song on the album, “Silly,” is my favorite from the non-singles. In the song, Sivan is still caught up on an ex but he can not blame them because that’s just how “silly” he can be. Throughout the whole song, there is some kind of effect on his vocals that at some points, he sounds just like BMO from “Adventure Time,” which is just more reason for me to love the song.
Even though he is no stranger to the genres in his previous music, this is definitely his most unapologetic dance and pop album. Throughout this era, he has talked about the influence popular female pop artists have had on this album, specifically Janet Jackson and her “Damita Jo” album and that’s definitely evident. Especially, with the whispery singing, and the vocal intricacies, you can definitely hear a Janet influence.
Sivan, in drag, in the "One Of Your Girls" music video. Photo courtesy of Capitol Records
In my opinion, Sivan has not made a bad piece of music yet in his almost decade long music career. “Something To Give Each Other” is the most mature piece of work Sivan has made so far, and he does it all while just being himself. I have a feeling this album will end up being one of my most played of the year, and thank you Sivan for giving that to me.
