As a child, Troye Sivan was passionate about two things in particular – singing and acting. From singing a rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow at the 2006 Perth Telethon to performing at a local theatre as Oliver Twist, Sivan made his voice known from a young age. In 2008 he made his first upload to YouTube, a video of him singing Tell Me Why, on a channel which would eventually accumulate more than 3 million subscribers. His first EP, Dare to Dream, was This EP features six songs that are full of rhythmically unique patterns and a sound which is incomparable to other artists of this generation. Not only do his songs get stuck in your head for days, the lyrics have emotional meaning and a rawness which will stick with you forever. Beautiful harmonies are scattered through these songs, along with snaps and claps which add to the raw and unique sound of Troye’s music.
The title track, WILD, begins with a chorus of children singing playfully, which is a great way to begin this fun song. The ever present richness of Troye’s voice throughout this song is impossible to ignore. Lyrics from this track bring a smile to my face, “Never knew loving could hurt this good,” and “You make my heart shake” stand out specifically.
THE QUIET gives me an elevator music vibe, if you were to add a nice beat and the sweet voice of Troye Sivan. If only this could be typical elevator music, I would habitually ride elevators in my free time. It has a dreamy quality which takes me to another place when I listen to it. The lyrics of this song hit home for me and the way Troye expresses his emotion so thoroughly through his voice makes it all the more moving. “Anything hurts less than the quiet.”
The sound of rain is the first thing the listener hears on DKLA, or Don’t Keep Love Around, adding to the soothing quality of this track. Tkay Maidza has a part in this song, a small rap section which proves to be a nice addition to the repetitive nature of these lyrics. Clapping keeps a beat for a part of the song, which also shows up in the other songs on this EP, and gives it an interesting and natural sound.
EASE features Broods, a duo who released their first album in 2014, creating even more complex harmonies that create an ethereal feel to the song. The beat of this track is amazing and the beautiful chords, piano and muffled background music cause the song to be somewhat dream-like, causing the listener to truly feel at ease.
FOOLS begins more softly than the other tracks, with a slow piano that compliments the smoothness of his voice. The lyrics of this song express frustration which is evident in Troye’s passionate way of singing, “Only fools fall for you,” “It’s my mistake.”
And then my favorite track, BITE. The harmonies in this track rank above any that I have heard in a long time. A low bass and cowbell sound give it a heartbeat, creating life and coaxing the listener to really get into the song. Near the end, the bass stops and is replaced by a set of snaps, allowing the track to end sweetly and calmly. This is the song that will get stuck in my head and stay for days, but I am definitely not complaining.
