Troye Sivan’s ’90s dance groove and late-night revelations
When superstar Troye Sivan dropped his fourth studio album, She’s the Best, the world immediately caught the attention of A-list names. The accompanying video for the lead single and title track, She’s the Best, featured the stunning Nicole Kidman, adding a glamorous cinematic flair to the track. Sivan and Kidman appeared as he spoke-sang about a goddess, setting a tone that was both sultry and utterly captivating.
The excitement only grew with the release of the follow-up single, Party. This track delivered a more uptempo, bacchanalian house banger, instantly recalling the iconic energy of Madonna’s Y2K smash, Music. It was a masterclass in musical alignment, suggesting a clever choice: why settle for one certified “Mother” when you can call in a favour from two?
While the association with global icons was undeniable, the album itself offered something deeper and more relaxed than the spectacle suggested. Sivan aimed for a sound that felt less polished than his previous work. He sought to make She’s the Best feel more “sloppy” than his 2023 electro opus, Something To Give Each Other. Instead, the result was a wonderfully “loose” and “laid-back” exploration of sound.
This sonic shift brought a delightful fusion of influences. Sivan and his touring companion, Charli XCX, once dreamed of returning to the nostalgic feel of 1999. Now, with the help of covetable collaborators like Jack Antonoff and The 1975’s George Daniel, the sound leaned into grungey ’90s dance aesthetics.
The album’s tracks are a clever tapestry of nostalgic dance grooves and deeper, more intimate reflections. The deep house throb of ‘Canada Dry’ echoes Madonna’s downtempo 1992 album Air’s Erotica, while the melody of ‘Le Boy’ pulls from Air’s enduring hit, Sexy Boy. The vibe shifts seamlessly, with ‘I Do This For You’ feeling like George Michael knocking shoulders with Australian sampling legends like The Avalanches.
Deep within the production, the album is built around a subtle, knowing sample from Beck collaborator Carl Stephenson, drawing from the cult trip-hop collective Forest For The Trees’s ‘Dream’. This layered sound allows the music to drift effortlessly, achieving a mood that is simultaneously hedonistic and deeply revealing.
Some of the songwriting features wonderfully candid lyrics that surface the inner fantasies of the era. The gently strummed ‘Embarrassingly’ is a deceptively pretty song about navigating complicated relationships, while ‘Sex Star’ offers a knowing nod to Sivan’s enviable Melbourne home, suggesting a desire for intimacy: . Even the most explicit lines, such as , infuse the music with a confident, playful swagger.
Ultimately, She’s the Best is not designed to be the most immediate, chart-topping release, but it excels at creating an irresistibly intriguing atmosphere. It is the sound of secrets spilled and fantasies shared during the late-night hours, punctuated by moments of full-on dancing. It’s a mood that pulls you in, proving that sometimes the most engaging music is found in the comfortable chaos of shared desire.
Details about the release of She’s the Best include:
- Record label: Interscope
- Release date: October 9, 2026
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