On Friday, queer pop artist, songwriter and Grammy-nominee Troye Sivan released “She’s the Best,” the title track from his upcoming fourth studio album out Oct. 9. This marks the first new music from Sivan since signing with Interscope Records. The track is written by Troye Sivan, Leland, George Daniel, Jack Antonoff, Styalz Fuego and produced by Daniel, Antonoff, Fuego and Sivan.
The track is described as a love letter, honoring the women – especially trans women – along with the drag queens, feminine-presenting people and the feminine spirit that has shaped his life, creativity and sense of self.
Sivan reteamed with director Gordon von Steiner for the accompanying video. They worked together on visuals for “One of Your Girls,” “Got Me Started” and “Rush”.
The video serves up 1980s queer New York inspiration that leans heavily into hyper-feminine iconography and fluid expressions of femininity through an editorial, high-fashion lens. Nicole Kidman makes an appearance with her fellow Aussie.
The release also marks the first announcement of Sivan’s next album. In it, the singer will explore desire, identity, joy, loneliness and queer belonging.
Sivan stated in today’s press release, “She’s the Best (the album) is a painting that captures my life in all of its moods and colors. It explores the high-octane highs of the last few years, and the solitude and longing that sat underneath. It’s chaotic, layered, organic, troubled and alive. It feels like the truest and most creative version of myself I’ve ever shared. At some point along the way I realised – the only constant in my life keeping me somewhat sane has not been the work, or the men, but the feminine. Thank god for them.”
Initial vibe: Don’t expect the high energy of the tracks from his last album like “Rush and “Got Me Started.” Sivan approaches the track with a dreampop edge underlined by a lush, slight dissonant beat. He languidly rolls out the lyrics by speaking them. The track starts out slowly but builds into an infectious track. His lyricism is underwhelming here, but in Sivan style, he works overtime to inject his provocative perspective. The video is gorgeous and all eyes are easily on Nicole Kidman despite the slew of colorful characters as well as Sivan that make up the action. She simply radiates with star power in this stunning piece of visual eye candy.
Watch the video for “She’s the Best” below:
–Rich Lopez