Troye Sivan, a YouTuber turned international pop star, officially landed on the music scene in 2015 with his first album, “Blue Neighbourhood” — an airy record with plenty of power.
But in the last three years, Sivan hit the recording studio and spotlight stronger than expected.
With the release of his second album, “Bloom,” at the end of August, Sivan quite literally blossoms with all 10 tracks.
Similar to the Australian singer’s first album, “Bloom,” is fresh and intricate.
A singer, songwriter and actor, Sivan knows how to produce a story. Each synth-threaded track tells a story about his experiences as a young gay man.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
Perhaps the most well-known song off the album, “Dance To This,” featuring Ariana Grande appeared as an instant hit when the single released in June. It has star power, a subtle, catchy beat and plenty of strong vocals from both performers. This track doesn’t lie — it truly is the perfect song to sing and sway to.
The first track released off the album, “My My My,” appears second in the lineup. It’s an anthemic beat added to the 10-track album.
A small departure from the upbeat vibe Sivan portrays in much of his album, “The Good Side” showcases a classic, sorrowful ballad. This song emphasizes Sivan’s more refined side — a tactfulness in what could have easily become an all-too-common break-up song.
The namesake of the album and its fourth track, “Bloom” is filled with delicate and subtle metaphors. A song centered around virginity and the intricacies of lust, “Bloom” fully deserves to be the center of attention in this album.
Another track filled with metaphor, “Plum,” reminisces fragments of a less-than-perfect relationship. It’s an upbeat track paired with a more somber storyline — a style in Sivan’s writing that fits so well with this album.
In “Lucky Strike,” an ode to an addictive relationship like an addiction to cigarettes, Sivan’s sultry and smoky voice shines. It’s in this song Sivan finds his footing as a more serious artist than three years prior.
Sivan’s moments of intense and subtle metaphor in “Bloom” make his sophomore album a giant step forward. Years of YouTube stardom and a great deal of time spent perfecting his craft, the 23-year-old singer has created a plethora of titles at the top of many lists.
For many rising pop stars, taking more than three years to produce a second record often spells disaster. For Sivan, it was a blessing in disguise.
Even with a first album to die for, Sivan pulls out all the stops with “Bloom.” All 10 tracks tingle the senses with each beat and lyric.
Sivan, a household name on the pop scene, isn’t going anywhere, and fans should grant him all the time he needs to keep producing albums like “Bloom.”
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Hailey_ann97