“She’s The Best”-Takes Troye Sivan In A New Direction
Troye Sivan is taking on a completely new sound with his 4th album She’s The Best.
“She’s The Best” kicks off the album as an ode to women with a techno sound that slowly morphs into a more rock sound throughout the song. A hard-hitting snare beat picks up through the song peaking at the end, all while the guitars get louder and faster.
Across the album, Troye explores different vocal stylings, most notably in the lead singles “She’s The Best” and “Party.” He tends to focus on a sensual, smooth tone in most of the songs, occasionally pushing this sound to convey more emotion in songs like “Lost Time.” Vocals are expertly used to add texture to these already incredibly full tracks and bring each track to life in their own ways.
“Canada Dry” follows this lead single, completely switching to a 2000’s club anthem. Funky synths and autotune complete the track accentuating the catchy melody of this track. The club vibes from this track lead straight into “Party” that features a lyrical and synth sample of the Madonna song “Music.” “Party” feels like the grown-up version of “Rush,” more layered and interesting, but maintains the same general theme.
Synths and drum tracks are a consistent phenomenon throughout the album, drawing in the 2000’s dance sound. While it’s nostalgic and evocative, Troye is also able to maintain a fresh sound in this genre. His unique vocal choices and deep tone heighten the high-quality production on each song, negating any thought of this album being a regurgitated dance hit.
“Cowboy” is the first song that stops the club sequence that leads the start of the album, still maintaining the atmospheric synths, but cutting down on the intensity. Multiple guitars, piano, and mellow beats keep the track pumping during Troye’s yearning lyrics. The album dips into a slower pace with a more vulnerable tone for the next few tracks, picking up with the hyperpop sound of “Troye Meets World.”
This album features a wide variety of producers and musicians including Troye’s brother Tyde Levi, George Daniel, Jack Antonoff, and Leland. While each musician is collaborating on this album, it is still noticeable who is doing what. Tyde tends to be on the more house-central tracks, while George and Jack tend to be on the slower tracks that focus more on a cinematic sound. This variety helps the songs have an incredible production value where each track is ambient and feels as though a new element pops up for each listen.
Troye’s last album, Something to Give Each Other, feels like someone at the beginning of a journey, whereas She’s The Best feels like someone that has completely settled into themselves. The new album exudes confidence and strong sense of self-awareness with relatable lyrics and mature sound.
