Forget that you saw this guy act as an awkward kid in the Spud films. Wipe any preconceptions about this skinny white boy, his beliefs or sexual orientation and do yourself a favour – just listen.
As a musician, I am very tempted to make some broad parallels that may seem premature, but Troye Sivan’s album Blue Neighbourhood is the real deal. Not only is it unique and unapologetically stylised, but it is a cohesive experience from beginning to end. True art transports us – and I am convinced that this is one of the most fresh, innovative examples you could find in today’s market.
What makes me excited is not only the raw poetic lines and the endlessly tight, colourful rhythmic framework, but the fact that this music is being lapped up by the up-and-coming music generation. In a world defined by singles and charts, Troye’s new offering is pretty much going viral. When you have twelve year olds appreciating this level of music, you know that the future is brighter than you would expect.
This album, in a way, plays on the whole ‘Pop Culture’ idiom, referencing the bland suburbia of everyday life as a canvas. Where singles and ‘hits’ are becoming more and more about the groove, you will find Blue Neighbourhoodis more intricate. Every beat, synth, vocal dub and effect has its place. Nothing is blurred. Every little detail – from chimes, to 8bit samples, snaps and echoes – is definitive and expressive. It is like he is ‘painting with primary colours’ only. Everything is bold and striking – in a good way, which is a huge accomplishment.
Vocally, Sivan is reductive in style, letting the lyric and producing truly have the stage. Stylistically, you could draw parallels with Frank Ocean, Kanye, Ryan Lewis, Chvrches, Justin Bieber, Melanie Martinez, Years and Years and Lorde. A kaleidoscopic combination of genres makes this album a little manual to what the music of today is. It could be referenced in text books as an honest overview of everything good happening in the industry at the moment.
With shoutouts from music royalty such as Adele and raving reviews from top critics, Troye is definitely on the forefront of what music will be in the next few years. Look forward to more from this guy!