“Angel Baby” is the first of many songs that Troye Sivan intends to release in the next few months. He described the single as “surprise gushy juicy doting adoring power bottom gay ballad” that people need during these trying times.
Although a huge chunk of his previous songs were based on real-life experience, “Angel Baby” is “the ultimate fantasy of finding that person that just makes you want to live in that moment forever and make time slow down“.
The Australian singer-songwriter recently took some time off from his studio session to chat with the media from Southeast Asia. This 26-year-old pop up opened up about his artistic growth over the past few years, creating “Angel Baby”, that stunning MET Gala dress, Lil Nas X, and more.
Is there anything you miss from Southeast Asia?
I miss everything. My soul is deprived of playing live, eating incredible food and going to incredible places. Touring Southeast Asia was one of my last memories before the pandemic. It was great because I felt so alive, free and present at that time. Can’t wait to come back!
You’ve been releasing music for more than 7 years, what is the thing that you’ve felt really changed in terms of musicality compared to the first single, ‘Happy Little Pill’ that you’ve released up till now?
When I first started I would have to throw a million things at the wall to see where it sticks. Now, I feel like I know how to get from Point A to Point B. It’s a little bit easier and I know how to communicate. Other than that, it’s the same process but I feel more comfortable and confident doing it.
How would you describe your relationship between yourself and your music?
I would say it’s very intimate. The 2 are very closely interlinked. I’m at my happiest when I’m songwriting and there were some times when I felt like I needed some writing. “Could cry just thinking about you” was written at my lowest point of life and I was crying in my kitchen when I was writing it. It felt so much better after that.
How has Troye from the ‘Blue Neighbourhood’ era evolved into the person and artist that you are today and if you could give one piece of advice during your debut album, what would it be?
So much has changed but at the same time I would tell that person to try and relax a little bit. You’re doing better than you think you do. And since you know that you love your family and being at home, put that love into the music you make too because that’s the way of expressing yourself. I would also tell that person to have more faith in himself. It actually comes with time. Last time, I’d beat myself over a bad writing day but now, I’m more prepared and have started thinking it as a fun process.
‘Angel Baby’ has no doubt impressed your fans with its nostalgic 80s and 90s vibes. Can you share some of the personal stories and messages associated with this track?
For me, the song is a complete fantasy as its not a complete reality. It gives the idea of giving hope of finding somebody and on a rainy night day, the person shows up. The pining is there and the man showing up in a rainy night has yet to happen. So, the song allowed me to fantasise and remember how much I love love and how beautiful love is.
‘Angel Baby’ has a very retro feel to it especially the nostalgic drums and base lines. Was there a nostalgic song that came to your mind when writing this?
I grew up with my dad buying concert DVDs and I have a memory of Toto being one of the very first bands that I listened to. So, the influences of those songs are very thick in my music. I would say, Phil Collins in general is the reference.
How was the artistic process like on working with ‘Angel Baby’?
It was different because it was done in Australia. It was done from afar and I came back to L.A. late last year for a short period of time. That was when I wrote the verses and I didn’t want to touch the chorus because it was perfect before. We wrote the bridge that day too.
You mentioned that ‘Angel baby’ sounds like an updated 2021 version of ‘Blue Neighbourhood’, how do you feel your musicality and artistry evolved since your debut album? In what ways do you hear that in ’Angel Baby’?
I just feel more confident vocally and you could hear that in the music. It was a new side to my voice when I was singing. It was exciting.
Can we expect a similar vibe of a sound just like in ‘Angel Baby’ for your upcoming music?
I don’t know. I just started working on it. It’s at an infancy stage. Those elements in ‘Angel baby’ are definitely inspiring so, I’m sure that there will be similar elements to it.
Your VMAs performance marked a meaningful milestone as it was the first time in early two years that you got the chance to perform live again. What was it like on stage after such a long time?
I almost cried. I choked up and I had to take a second. It’s weird and I dreamt about doing this. It almost came true but it got snatched away. But when I finally got to do it, it felt really emotional.
Your stunning outfit at the MET Gala this year definitely astonished fans in such an inspiring way as it was a bolder version of you. What’s the message that you’d like to send to your fans through it?
It was weird because before I put on the dress I thought it was crazy. I didn’t want to do drag or play a character because I was in a dress. It felt like myself. Clothes, truly aren’t gendered.
You recently said in your Instagram Stories that you met Lil Nas at the MET Gala and you’ve mentioned about pushing the gayer gender in your arts. How important do you think this is for the LGBTQIA+ artists these days and for you yourself especially, with ‘Angel Baby’?
Well, I was kinda joking because the gayer gender doesn’t exist. We wanted to make sure the community is accepted and loved. You really can’t state how important Lil Nas is because he’s been so inspiring to me and he’s understanding that it’s okay to have some space. Before I knew I was queer, and I was happy that I have people who listened to my music were cool with it, I still had a feeling of hanging in the shadows for a while and he’d done the complete opposite of that and it’s really inspiring.
How do you strike a balance between what’s popular and your usual writing style?
I always listen to pop music and I think it will naturally infiltrate my brain in a positive way. I’m a fan of so many people and I’ve always listened to what’s cool right now but I try to make a conscious effort to make things exciting to me and my listeners. So, I’ll always remind myself to find that balance between knowing what’s popular and knowing my music taste using the feeling in my gut.
Are there any artists that you’d love to work with?
There’s a lot of film directors that I’d want to work with. There are so many people that come to my mind. As far as music goes, I really enjoy writing with other artists whether it’s for me or for them. I want to write a song with Benny from New Zealand and she’s in L.A. Hopefully, I could make that happen.
You have been in the industry for a few years now and you’re still thriving. In your opinion, what do you think is a key role to sustaining one’s music career with the ever-emerging of new music and new artists?
I would say, make stuff that you actually like because chances are, someone else is gonna like it too. I could not care less about the trajectory going up or the numbers. I just want to keep it exciting for everyone and for myself. So, I make something that I’m proud of.
You’ve done well in acting too. What are the similarities between acting and music?
I feel like I worked the same. As a songwriter, your job is to bring up real emotions that maybe or not necessarily feeling that thing in that exact moment. If you’re lucky enough to be able to get into a studio and write when you’re in the thick of something, that’s awesome! But most of the time, it’s about recalling feelings and communicating them to tell the story. That’s exactly what acting is as well. It’s a lot of pulling up stuff from your past. There’s a lot of dualities there. I feel acting is scarier because I’ve done less of it.
Is there a new project that you’re currently working on?
So, I’ve just started writing again and I’ve been having so much of fun. I’m always working on music and I was in a film that has just wrapped up its filming. Hopefully, that would get released next year. That would be my first lead role in an American movie as an actor which is very scary but exciting. That’s lots of cool stuff but I can’t say them out.
“Angel Baby” is available on platforms such as Spotify, JOOX and Apple Music.
