TROYE SIVAN: WILDFLOWER
“I’m 23, über-happy and enjoying life,” says Troye Sivan. With a “mellow” new relationship, a must-see movie and a stunning new album, Bloom, Troye is queering up the world… beautifully.
Young, gay and happy, Troye’s new relationship, new movie and new album Bloom are queering up the world… beautifully.
On August 31, Troye Sivan releases Bloom, his much-anticipated second album. At the ripe young age of 23, it represents a huge artistic leap forward from 2015’s Blue Neighbourhood, his debut.
Born into a Jewish family in Johannesburg, South Africa, Troye grew up in Western Australia’s capital, Perth, often singing at the local synagogue. He came out at the relative young age of 14. While working on his burgeoning, self-financed pop career, he was also noticed for his acting abilities.
“It’s cool, when you’re getting some shit at school for being gay, to know that you just filmed X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” he says wistfully. “I was thankful to have the arts to help me secure my place in the world.”
At 18 he came out to the world on YouTube, at the same time, coincidentally, he signed a major label record contract.
“Dad raised me to be unapologetically proud about who you are,” Troye says. “What choice do I have? I have to put the rest of my life first and accept whatever the consequences [of coming out] may be.”
His next two EPs charted at No 5 on the US Billboard 200, he was named one of Time magazine’s 25 Most Influential Teens, released and starred in a groundbreaking music video trilogy about queer love, won a GLAAD award for Outstanding Music Artist, and even found time to release the aforementioned and acclaimed Blue Neighbourhood.
In hindsight, he now views that debut album as, perhaps, trying a little too hard to be independent. Bloom, however, is lovingly enveloped in shimmery, seductive pop, inspired by the unlikely trio of Drake, Madonna and Phil Collins.
Now on the verge of superstardom and living in Los Angeles, Troye is also happily attached. That’s a not-so-inconsequential fact that his new album lets us know intimately and repeatedly over its 37 minutes.
“The goal was to make a love letter of sorts,” he explains about Bloom. “I wanted to communicate these potent emotions I was feeling of love, joy, self-confidence and self-love. I wanted it to be a gift to where I am in my life and my current relationship.”
He even had “a moment” while filming the unapologetically flamboyant video for the title track. “I was going for it,” he recalls with a laugh. “I had a smoky eye and was in a dress with platforms, but when I looked in the mirror my heart sank for a second because I was like, ‘Oh. There’s that person I was so scared of for so long’.”
On a rare, lightning trip back home to Australia, DNA caught up with the bloomingly wonderful Troye to talk Grindr, the gay agenda and Grande (as in Ariana)… >>
We’re doing a pretty good job. The gay agenda is working!
>> DNA: Hi Troye. How are you?
Troye: I’m good. I’m in Sydney!
Home for you is LA these days, right?
Basically, yes. I don’t know if it feels 100 per cent like home yet, but that’s where I’ve decided to put down some roots.
Perhaps you can consider yourself more of a global citizen?
I consider myself an Australian. My family are here and my closest friends are here. I’m really enjoying living over in the States, but I definitely get homesick pretty often.
The first line of the first song (Seventeen) on the new album goes: “I got these beliefs that I think you want to break!” That’s a bold opening, especially as it details a sexual awakening with an older man.
Yeah, that song was about a rather precarious situation that I put myself in as a younger kid in an effort to try and find a sense of community and belonging.
Is it true that the song was inspired by a Grindr date?
[Laughs.] Um… not that particular song but, in general, yes. In that particular experience we met in real life.
Not that there’s anything wrong with Grindr dates, of course.
[Laughs.] No, not at all!
The Bloom album has a very sexy, if not overtly sexual, vibe. Is that a fair assessment?
I think so. I’m 23, über-happy and enjoying my life. For me the key was trying to push myself to not hold anything back or censor myself. At the end of the day I wanted to talk about what every other pop singer wants to talk about, which is love and all that comes with it.
Even your poignant new ballad Postcard can’t help “bursting at the seams” with sexiness.
I don’t know if I was specifically talking about anything sexual in that song. I need to have a good think about the lyrics in that one. In general, that one was a bit more of a song about realising your partner is not perfect and having a moment of wondering if it’s a deal-breaker or not. Is it worth working through it with them or not? It’s the moment where you decide to stay and say yes. Although Dance To This is sung as a duet with Ariana Grande, it stills sounds like an exceptionally gay song.
[Laughs.] Oh good.
After the Manchester bombing, Ariana created something healing and meaningful musically. Does she inspire you?
Definitely. She is such a genuinely lovely person who has a really insane life. To come out the other side of being in the public eye since she was a really young child, and everything that has happened to her, and be a lovely, genuine person is so impressive to me. I really appreciate her and love her to bits.
Another of your new songs, What A Heavenly Way To Die, is inspired by Morrissey’s ’80s band The Smiths. How did that come about?
The title of the song was. I’ve always wanted to write a classic, timeless love song that hopefully someone is going to use as their wedding song
someday. That’s the goal.
Many artists have already namechecked you as someone who has opened up the music biz for openly gay artists. Well done!
That is so sweet to hear. It’s awesome. I’m trying my best to do my part. There is a big-picture goal here that we’re all working towards and all doing a great job of. It feels like there are more queer artists in mainstream music than ever before, or at least when I was growing up, and that feels very exciting. Like it or not, you’re a gay role model now; do you feel that weight on your shoulders?
I don’t feel any weight because, as I said, I see myself as part of that conversation. With artists like Kehlani, Kevin Abstract and Perfume Genius – we’re really making strides in music as far as openly queer artists go.
There’s Sam Smith, Olly Alexander from Years & Years, MNEK… Times have changed.
Yes, for sure. We still have a very long way to go. We’re doing a pretty good job. The gay agenda is working! [Laughs.]
It’s got a lot to work against at the moment, though!
Exactly.
So, American model Jacob Bixenman is the lucky chap who’s won your heart. Is he the one who makes you “an animal” as you sing on the album?
Well… I’m very lucky that we both have jobs that allow us quite a lot of flexibility, so he can come on tour with me. It’s more uncommon for us to be apart, than it is for us to be together.
What does he think about dating someone as famous as you?
I actually don’t know. I don’t think it’s ever been a thing that we’ve considered. We met as two people, and that’s always the way it’s felt. It does feel like this is a crazy ride – for everyone involved including my friends and my family but, at the end of the day, we’re all still the same people. It doesn’t change all that much, personally.
You aren’t off running around in crazy celebrity circles, are you?
No. I definitely don’t have a big entourage or anything like that. My managers travel with me and sometimes my family will come out.
It’s starting to get a little bit bigger. I’ve got a photographer coming out on tour with me, which will be cool, but I definitely don’t have the grand 15-people entourage.
You’re young, famous and gay and have, so far, avoided the pitfalls of the gay party scene.
Yeah, I’ve always been a very mellow kind of guy. I have moments of wanting to explore all that and be a part of the gay nightlife scene. Now I feel comfortable, and I’ll almost always choose a night in over a night out, and I’m completely fine with that.
Bloom is released through EMI Music. For more go to www.troyesivan.com or find his dedicated YouTube channel (which at last check had over 6 million subscribers).
I want to talk about what every other pop singer talks about… love and all that comes with it