TRXYE brings unexpected depth

Jessica Qian, Head Editor

Self-proclaimed Tumblr addict and internet kid Troye Sivan took his YouTube viewers by storm when he made an announcement at VidCon 2014: his first EP was on its way.  About a month later, on Aug. 15, TRXYE was released. The five-track EP best described as a dreamy mix of electronic pop and R&B sold 30,000 copies in its first few days.

Sivan promised his music would “[share his] life in a more personal way than [he had] ever done before,” and he succeeded. His lyrics throughout the album are drawn from personal experiences and listeners can feel the honest emotion behind each word.“Gasoline” reveals new side to Sivan as he repeats, “bathe me now, wash me clean,” attempting to cleanse himself from guilt by finding forgiveness.

“The Fault In Our Stars” haunts listeners as “simple human emotion weighs me down, more than the tank ever did.” With a mix of a heartbreaking vocals and simple piano melody, Sivan manages to evoke the achingly painful happiness that Hazel and Augustus felt, capturing the essence of John Green’s novel.

In “Happy Little Pill,” Sivan brings listeners into a space-like realm as he pours his heart out with notes so smooth they blend into the synth. Though the song is upbeat, his words dig into the serious reality behind antidepressants – pills which he believes bring emptiness instead of intended happiness.

Sivan’s music also contains small doses of his inspirations (Lana Del Rey, Frank Ocean and more), as heard in “Touch.” However, these small traces do not distract from his original sound. “Touch” contains the ideal balance of instrumentals and vocals; Sivan’s reverberant vocals give a hypnotic lift that leads up to perfect bass drops, bringing listeners back into reality.

Similar to “Happy Little Pill,” “Fun” contradicts its title and upbeat sound, bringing an insightful message that can be easily missed if not listening carefully. Sivan uses irony in “Fun” to challenge tolerance of war and violence, specifically in the Middle East, singing, “you just gotta take their lives boy, let me take you for a drive boy, oh I swear you’ll feel alive.”

TRXYE effectively shows how much Sivan brings to the music industry. His music is not only appealing, but the messages beneath the music are equally, if not more, powerful.