Photo Credit: Tim Ashton

Troye Sivan is the name that is now unanimous with queer artists on the rise, but not limited to the former statement. He is creating buzz with good reason to back it up. With a humble and enigmatic image, the singer creates an aura that would seldom attract attention. He is fearless while not being too pompous about it. Sivan has the abilities of becoming a new-age pop sensation, regardless of what his true ambitions might be. Much of Troye Sivan’s songs are a gamble, the singer puts you in a position where he presents feelings of isolation and loneliness and attempts to lure you in with a more laidback tone. Not many artists have that ability, and the ones that do automatically become etched in our memories as true legends.

The first single and track off of his latest project In a Dream titled “Take Yourself Home” stands as proof as to why Sivan produces songs that have potential to be far more than “one-off” hits. He uses the usual morose, depressing vocals and lyrics, but when the pop music is added, it does not turn out to be a diversion. Rather, it becomes a complementary choice that works wonders to elevate the song already strengthened during its intro.

Next track “Easy” is a song reminiscent of his debut album Blue Neighborhood. The song follows the same route of using melancholy as both the primary tone and the narrative device. “STUD” is the perfect mood-setting track, while “Take You Home” presents a contrasting and rather uplifting vibe compared to the former. Hands down the standout on the EP is ‘”Rage Teenager!”, a nostalgic nod towards the angsty teens we let go of in the long and tumultuous road to maturity. It is his most relatable track yet, and is certainly the one to be picked as the top favorite here.

It seems like Sivan chose a theme of change for the EP with its closing track “IN A DREAM.” In it, he transitions into a more optimistic route, like the earlier track “Easy”, but its far more effective considering its timing. Yet again, the singer juggles with the feelings of sadness by syncing them with upbeat sounds of synth and techno, leaving the listener hopefully amazed with the level of irony he has mastered through his craft. Overall, Troye Sivan does a perfect job at blending old sounds with newer ones in a well-thought, well-produced compilation of songs that stand out as much on their own as they do altogether.

Written by: Masud Zaman