HIS LIFE IN BLOOM
Oh My My My
~by joel martens ~
What where you doing when you were 23? If you were like the rest of us, you were probably still trying to figure out what it is that you wanted to do with your life. Maybe close to finishing college, looking to get that first job and start the journey to adulthood that comes with it.
If you’re someone like 23-year-old Aussie, Troye Sivan, whose doe-eyed face belies someone even younger, you’ve already had your first album to debut at No. 1 on iTunes in over 55 countries, and No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Titled TRXYE it became Sivan’s first Top 10 album, and the song “Happy Little Pill” would go on to be certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. His second EP Wild would serve as an introduction to his debut studio album Blue Neighborhood, which offered up the lead single “Youth,” becoming Sivan’s first single to enter the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Before that, and yes, there is a before that—a way, way before that— Sivan was performing as he said, “pretty much as long as I can remember, I think I started when I was like seven or something like that.” By the time he was thirteen he’d been on Australian television, duetting with Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian, then making it to the finals himself in 2007. A popular YouTuber, Sivan amassed over six million subscribers on his self-titled channel and a collaboration video titled The Boyfriend Tag, filmed with fellow YouTube star Tyler Oakley, won them a Kid’s Choice award in 2014. At thirteen, he made his acting debut in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine playing the younger version of Hugh Jackman’s character and would go on to star in the 2010 comedy Spud as well as in the 2013 sequel, Spud 2: The Madness Continues.
Unapologetically out, Sivan gracefully shared his emotional exodus from the closet with his loyal YouTube audience saying later, “Part of the reason why I came out is to do whatever I wanted and be with whoever I wanted. That freedom is something that I’ve worked hard for.” His music reflects that, singing unabashedly to and about boys in his music. As he said, “I just wanted to write normal pop songs and when the time comes to use a pronoun, I’ll use the word ‘he.’” A totally refreshing and wonderfully validating stand to take… and not just for himself, but for every one of us in the LGBTQ community. He’s a groundbreaker for sure, reflective of a generation who is fast taking control and running with it.
Sivan sat down with The Rage Monthly to chat about his new album, Bloom, his life, career, what’s important to him and where he’s headed.
Thanks so much for doing this. I’ve been stalking you for two years to land an interview.
Oh my gosh really? (Laughs) I’m glad we could make it happen.
Let’s start with your early forays on the web. When did you first become aware of what being online could do for you as far as career possibilities?
I uploaded my YouTube video when I was 12 and it got like a thousand views. I remember thinking, “I’ve never sung for a thousand people in real life, this is the way to do it!” It kind of clicked for me really early on and I’m really happy it did, because I just kept going and just growing, you know, grew from there.
What was the first posting that sort of made you realize “Holy crap, this could really become something.” Was there a specific turning point?
There was a video for a song I covered called “Tell Me Why” and I remember it just kept getting views. My other videos kind of got cold after a while and this particular one, it was like my only video that ever hit a million views. I don’t know why it did, but it didn’t ever stop. I’d say that was kind of a big moment for me, I realized that the potential was kind of endless with the internet.
It’s interesting to see how the process of gaining recognition on the web works. You seemed so comfortable sharing your world very early on. Was that always the case?
I think it was, just because I don’t really remember not having the internet. I remember having dial-up, very vaguely and by the time I was able to kind of use the computer by myself, the internet already existed. I’ve always known it to be there and so it’s just a comfortable place for me and a big part of my personal journey. It’s where I looked when I didn’t know where else to seek out any sort of community or relatability to anyone. I grew up in a really tight knit Jewish community in Australia and I felt like, for me, being online was kind of like a necessity to being able to find queer community and belonging. So yeah, it’s just always been there for me and always a place of exploration.
I love how much access the web gives, it allows even the most isolated an opportunity to connect to the LGBTQ world. Your coming out video is a great example, it’s an amazing, personal moment for you to have shared. What was the biggest surprise after you posted the YouTube video?
How few negative comments there were. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was ready for drama and it didn’t happen. There were pages and pages and pages, filled with comments of love and support. Obviously, it was a really pivotal moment in my life, but when I think about it though, not much really changed. I still got to go on and do all the things that I ever wanted to do. The main difference was I just felt like I could be myself… I felt happier.
There’s been such a seismic shift in how the coming out process works and what being out looks like. Being gay is just an aspect of who we are, rather than being the only thing that defines us and people are finally starting to understand that to be true. Is that part of what you have found as you’ve interacted with people?
I still get asked about it in every interview, so I think I see it as a sign that people need to talk about it more. They still kind of have a curiosity that needs to be satisfied and explained and I’m totally fine to be a part of that. In general, I do think that the ideas around what a queer person is has broadened. When I was a little kid, if I met someone who was gay—I think maybe because I knew in the back of my head that I was—I just remember thinking, “That person’s gay, that person’s gay” the entire time that we were with them. I don’t do that anymore, but I can kind of relate when you’ve never met or seen a gay person before and it’s an unknown. I think it is why representation is so important and having these conversations is so important.
You’ve sort of become a poster child for the young LGBTQ movement. I literally get teary eyed watching your videos, the freedom I see in you, your music and your ability to express your true self.
Wow. Thank you so much.
You’ve never apologized for who you are, which is another thing I find really cool about witnessing your journey. Do you credit that to having the kind of family support that you had, or is it just a part of who you are?
First and foremost, I should say I credit almost everything to LGBTQ people who came before me for anything like I’m able to do. I’ve had it so easy, if you know what I mean. My radicalism is making a music video that’s funded by a major record label, which then gets posted and I get almost no negative comments on it. The people who came before me and marched in the streets, they made it possible for someone like me to even exist today. I credit it to those people and then, to the really strong support system of my family, my friends and my fans, ultimately. I feel so safe in their hands, I feel like anything could happen and I know at the end of the day I have these people to fall back on.
That safety is apparent in your new album. There’s a lovely expression of queer sexuality that I found delightful because it’s so unencumbered, specifically in the song “Bloom.” What was the motivation behind writing the song and what prompted you to choose it as your album title?
Honestly, I so had the word “bloom” before we even wrote that song. I knew that it resonated with me and I kind of felt like it summed up where I was in my life: it felt celebratory, it felt joyous, which is everything that I want to capture. In a session we had kind of started toying with the song idea, but it wasn’t really going anywhere. As a last resort my best friend Leland, who’s another queer artist, he and I were kind of whispering to each other and having a laugh about what we could potentially write this song about. It felt cheeky and fun and like something we would have done in private, I never thought it would see the light of day. I kind of fell in love with the song and I’m so happy I did, because it felt exciting to me… the real me. Thankfully, it’s had a really, really positive reaction from people. I think the song is going to be a fun one to play live for the rest of my life and I’m happy it exists.
Let’s talk a little bit about the film Boy Erased and your role in it. I know it’s not quite out yet, but I’m wondering how you got involved?
It was actually a really traditional route, I got sent the script and I auditioned for the movie. That was the beginning of my falling in love with this project. I flew through the script in like two hours and would have done anything to be a part of the project, because it feels so meaningful and important. I knew from the cast and crew working on the movie, that it was going to be handled sensitively and it’s just an incredibly important story to tell. Thankfully, I got the part and just threw myself at it in any way possible. I was like, “If you guys want to use any of my music, any of my old catalogue, you can have it. If you want me to write something new for the film, I will… I just want to be involved.” Now, I’ve got an original song in the movie, and they also put “The Good Side” [from Bloom] on the soundtrack. I’m just so proud to be a part of this project.
Of the songs on Bloom, is there one that sort of speaks to you in particular?
For me, “Animal” is one of my favorite tracks. I had a list of things that I wanted to achieve with this album and “Animal” sort of checked all of those boxes in one song. I Love the way that it sounds, I love the lyrics and I’m really, really proud of it. If somebody said to me “You can only give me one track to kind of sum up where you’re at musically and personally, which one would you give?” I would give “Animal,” because it speaks to me the most.
Bloom released on Friday, August 31, to get your copy, go to troyesivanstore.com.
Troye will be at San Diego State University’s Open Air Theatre on Saturday, October 25, you can purchase tickets at troyesivan.com
Boy Erased, Sivan’s latest important film, opens on Thursday, October 25. For more information, go to focusfeatures.com/boy-erased.
Here’s a rapid-fire Q&A, a sort of a “Get to know Troye moment.”
What type of shows do you watch in your spare time?
I watch a lot of documentaries, like anything I can get my hands on.
Favorite singer you’re listening to?
Right now, Ryan Beatty.
If you could duet with anyone that you haven’t so far yet. Who would it be?
Christine McQueen.
Stage rituals?
A little hand thing with my band, we do it before every show.
What’s your favorite color?
Like a royal blue.
Favorite comfort food?
Pasta! Really good pasta.
What keeps you grounded?
My family.