Rating: 5/5 stars

Songs about love, passion and desire are no rarity in the media; modern pop stars such as Katy Perry (“I Think I’m Ready”) and Taylor Swift (“I Can See You”) have laid the groundwork for relationships of infatuation and longing with hit singles “Teenage Dream” and “Blank Space” respectively. Many other female artists have also contributed to this particular genre, and the majority of the time they are seen as the dominant force of this sect of music.

Troye Sivan (“Rush”) is the most recent exception to this phenomenon. Born in South Africa, Sivan began his independent music career in Perth, Australia with the release of his debut EP “Dare to Dream” in June 2007, and continued his rise to stardom with “TRXYE,” another five-song EP released in 2014 that debuted at no. 1 on iTunes across 55 countries. 

“Something to Give Each Other” is Sivan’s third and most recent album, and jumps right into the fast-paced blur that young men and women live when at full liberty of expressing themselves. Shirtless with baggy jeans, plenty of beer bottles and skin-close interactions match the pumping beat of “Rush,” Sivan’s most recognized song of the year. “I feel the rush” are the opening lyrics to the song, and a rush the song is; the change of resonating vocals that describe the intimacy of lovers to the hasty pace of popper-fueled adventures, a mesmerizing choreography executed so quickly and effortlessly, and a bass that echos in the ears of the listener all culminate in this legendary work. 

While a male artist in pop is not an unprecedented situation, in 2013, Sivan uploaded an eight-minute YouTube video where he came out publicly as gay. With an informal background and no effects whatsoever, Sivan’s nerves were crystal clear as he disclosed his sexuality to the world.

 “The date today is August 7, 2013, and the reason I am telling you this is, is because on August 7, 2010, I told my family that I am gay,” Sivan said. “And now on August 7, 2013, I want to let you guys know that I am gay.” 

Sivan’s fanbase – both past and present – has been overwhelmingly supportive in his identity, and no longer bound to secrecy, Sivan’s music began to incorporate the themes of modern homosexuality, including the difficulty of finding meaningful love when the population is predominantly heterosexual. Sivan does not only focus on this painful topic, however, as his other works dive into the rush of laid-back, free-for-all parties and underground scenes.

What sets Sivan apart from others that follow this format is that it shines a light on overlooked same-sex relationships. Lyrics from “Rush” such as “Take me to the feeling, boy, you know the one” and “Boy, you better show me what you’ve been schemin’ up” redirect to Sivan’s personal identity, which has been a significant influence in his musical career.  

While “Rush” is a fun homage to the young atmosphere of today’s let-loose youth, other songs on the album such as “In My Room” or “Got Me Started” bank on the tragic nature of unreciprocated attraction and the loneliness that accompanies it. According to a 2022 study by the American think tank Pew Research Center, only around 7% of the American adult population identifies as gay, lesbian or bisexual; it is then easy to see how some individuals find it incredibly strenuous to find a compatible partner. Using slower pacing and softer vocals, Sivan drives home the point that these realities hurt, and they hurt bad. 

Troye Sivan’s “Something to Give Each Other” is beautifully representative of the complexities of homosexuality, bisexuality and every other sexual orientation: there are peaks of never-ending fun and satisfaction, fueled by friends and new acquaintances that share experiences just like yours, and the troughs of isolation and depression, where it feels like no one is there to say “I love you” because no one seems to be like you. 

Image from Troye Sivan via YouTube