EP Spotlight: Troye Sivan – WILD
Troye Sivan is not a newcomer to the limelight. Raised in Australia, Sivan is a decorated actor, YouTube personality, and finally musician; his resume includes the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), winning a Teen Choice Award for his collaboration with YouTube sensation Tyler Oakley (2014), as well as being featured in Papercut off Zedd’s album True Colors (2015). Amidst all of his other successes, Sivan’s music and unabashed openness regarding his homosexuality is quickly propelling the 20-year-old into new heights worldwide. Riding off of the success of his previous label EP TRXYE, which included his earlier hit Happy Little Pill, Sivan’s latest project WILD is surpassing already elevated expectations and is set to make Troye Sivan a recognizable name in popular music.
Track by Track
WILD – The EP starts off with its title track WILD, a blissful pop anthem about youthful love. The first of the “Blue Neighborhood Trilogy”, WILD’s official music video has also made waves as a result of its idyllic depiction of two young gay boys. Released on Sep. 3rd, the video already has over 3,430,000 views to date and represents yet another incredible step on Sivan’s path towards becoming a major public trailblazer for LGBT activism (re: advocate). WILD’s buzz, for both the video and the song itself, is well deserved.
BITE – After frolicking in adolescent love, the EP immediately takes a darker turn with BITE. The haunting 62 BPM grind describes Sivan’s early lustful contacts in Australia’s gay nightlife. Take a moment and lose yourself in the eerie atmosphere glued together by BITE’s relentless bass pump.
FOOLS – FOOLS was the song to initially put Sivan’s latest EP on our radar. As you’ll see, FOOLS’s heavy electro-R&B production is absolutely addicting. From 0:32 on, Sivan’s suave vocals effortlessly ring amongst FOOLS’s distorted vocal reverb and waxy future trip-hop vibe. Though FOOLS’s subject matter is more traditional than most on the EP, one can argue that FOOLS is nevertheless the album standout.
EASE feat. Broods – This song hits home for anyone who has ever abandoned comfort and risked danger to chase their dreams. If it weren’t for the thick drum pattern in the background, listeners would easily float away with Sivan’s ethereal harmonies alongside New Zealand’s Broods as he sings about homesickness after moving away to pursue music. Musically, EASE’s piano and soft electronic accents masterfully resemble a mother’s warm embrace. However, the lyrics ultimately outshine the production with their honest depiction of the anxiety brought about by uncertainty.
// I’m down to my skin and bone
And my mommy, she can’t put down the phone
And stop asking how I’m doing all alone, alone
But the truth is the stars are falling, ma
And the wolves are out c-calling, ma
And my home has never felt this far//
The diversity of Sivan’s emotional inspirations for the EP and his ability to perfectly paint his thoughts is increasingly rare, especially for a 20-year-old artist. This song may be overlooked by some, but make no mistake: EASE is a diamond.
THE QUIET – Sivan shatters the locks and opens his doors to expose his audience to the pain of a crumbling relationship in THE QUIET. Joining many contemporary soulful electronic artists, Sivan playfully experiments with the organic simplicity of the Rhodes piano in addition to a more energetic synth production. Though the electronic “build” could use a touch of ingenuity, the lyrical flow in THE QUIET – like in most of the EP – is stunning.
DKLA feat. Tkay Maidza – The EP ends with DKLA, or “Don’t Keep Love Around”. Featuring fellow Australian rapper Tkay Maidza, Sivan sheds his smoothness and adopts a rawer swagger in this murky final tune. Maidza’s Nicki Minaj-esque support comes in on the third verse, and with that, WILD slowly fades away along with the sub.
When it comes down to it, Troye Sivan has unleashed a beast with WILD that will likely cement a place for him in mainstream music. It’s hard to ignore the incredible reception Sivan’s latest project has already experienced with public endorsements from modern pop staples Taylor Swift and Sam Smith. The EP is steadily climbing iTunes and Billboard charts worldwide, but perhaps more importantly, Sivan as a musician is also transforming into a larger public figure of the LGBT movement. Similar to Frank Ocean and Sam Smith, Sivan is taking advantage of his artistry to steadfastly promote queer acceptance within mainstream culture. Sivan in his own words says, “I want to provoke thoughts and conversations, and hopefully inspire some change.” Here at Black Sheep, we appreciate the genuine complexity that Sivan presents in WILD and we’re excited to see where this budding star will take us.
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