Troye Sivan's "She's the Best" Explores Yearning with Producer Leland
The Los Angeles musician co-wrote all 12 tracks on Sivan's latest album, aiming for a vulnerable and diverse sound.
Troye Sivan's fourth album, “She’s the Best,” delves into themes of yearning and romanticism, a departure for the artist known for his sleek pop sound. The album, co-written entirely by Los Angeles-based musician Leland, aims to capture the singer-songwriter's experiences as a single gay man.
Leland, who has previously collaborated with artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and Charli XCX, encouraged Sivan to embrace a more vulnerable side for “She’s the Best.” "It's an album of yearning, of wanting to find your other half, your partner in crime, and wishing you'd found them sooner," Leland told HuffPost. He described the project as Sivan's favorite body of work they have created together.
The album features 12 tracks, with Sivan describing it to NPR as “a love album to someone I don’t know.” Songs like the duet with Lily-Rose Depp, “Lost Time,” and “Cowboy” explore wistful sentiments, while tracks such as “Party” and “Canada Dry” offer more upbeat, danceable moments. The music video for “Party” includes an introduction by Ian McKellen, and the song itself samples Madonna's 2000 hit, “Music.”
Leland and Sivan share a long-standing creative partnership, beginning with Sivan's debut album “Blue Neighbourhood” 12 years ago. Leland emphasized the depth of their friendship, noting, "We would be friends even if we didn’t make music." This strong personal connection, he believes, allows for a more authentic creative process.
The rollout for “She’s the Best” has been bolstered by notable cameos. Nicole Kidman appears in the music video for the title track, and the sample of Madonna's “Music” on “Party” received clearance through their management teams.
Leland also noted that the album’s themes reflect the important women in his and Sivan’s lives. "I'm surrounded by incredible women, and so is Troye," he said. "As we both have been dating people and all of that, it dawned on us that ... as these boys come and go, the through line is powerful, funny, strong women."
In addition to his work with Sivan, Leland has been a songwriter for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” since 2017 and contributed to soundtracks for the film “Stop! That! Train!” and the FX series “The Shards.” He also collaborated with Jack Antonoff on the song “Caught Myself Believing” for the “Practical Magic 2” soundtrack, featuring Sivan on backing vocals.
Looking ahead, Leland plans to begin work on his first stage musical in New York and release his own solo music in 2027. He has also recently worked on new material for British pop singer Jade. "I'd love to get a boyfriend," he quipped, "and have a bit more balance."