By Clare Kim
The older I become, the more I compare myself to others my age. Often times, I choose not my peers, but people who are creating change, finding success in their passions and receiving the global spot light. Given the same number of years on this earth, why are they there, and I here? Last month, Troye Sivan, an Australian singer songwriter, released his first EP, TRXYE, which debuted in the Billboard Top 10. Like myself, Troye Sivan is 19.
Sivan began his path in show business at the age of 12, when he received his first acting role as a young wolverine in the blockbuster film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Afterwards, he was featured in the Spud trilogy films, which were a hit in South Africa. However, his roles in these movies were not the most significant way he was able to reach stardom. His online presence gave him the audience which would later give TRXYE the traffic that it received. “Online presence:” a term foreign to the previous generation and the same term that is being linked to almost all up-and-coming talents today.
Sivan is a Youtuber, one who uploads vlogs, sketches and covers of songs, sharing them with the viewers who subscribe to his channel. With a following of over two million people, Sivan has created a global fan base by sharing three to four minute videos that he creates in his bedroom with a webcam. Justin Bieber is another example of this type of fame. A record company picked him up after seeing his youtube videos. This online community is here to stay, and this new form of publicity and advertisement will soon be the only kind. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Youtube and Instagram are all sites where anyone can join and gain a following. They tap into this generations need for direct contact with their idols and shuts down the idea that famous people are somehow different from the average human being.
Sivan’s five-song EP showcases the talent of this young musician. The songs are catchy, slow and reflect his social media background. Even in his songs and music videos, the influence from his online community is prevalent. The trendy electronic beats of his single “Happy Little Pill,” along with the muted colors in the music video, hold direct correlations to the illustrations and artwork on Tumblr. Sivan’s story reveals of a new type of fame, one that will shape and change the industry of stardom.
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Clare Kim is a Staff Writer for The Fordham Ram.
