Hayley Kiyoko, much like our boy Troye Sivan, is keeping things queer for the kids.
If you’re not already on the Hayley Kiyoko journey, consider getting onboard now: the 26-year-old singer-songwriter’s been serving up solid pop for some time now, from 2015’s “Girls Like Girls” to 2016’s Citrine EP (“Gravel to Tempo” forever) to last year’s irresistibly catchy and slick “Feelings.” Her accompanying visuals always seem to have a LGBTQ-oriented slant in one way or another.
And no, this isn’t some “I Kissed A Girl” one-time naughty straight girl experimentation/exploitation, or even t.A.T.u.-style Sapphic performance art. It’s just…actually gay.
With “Curious,” the first official single from her upcoming debut album Expectations due out on March 30, Hayley’s calling out her crush for playing the field – and her heart. Consider it like a bisexual alternative to Charlie Puth‘s “Attention.”
Produced by Swedish duo Jack & Coke (who co-produced Loreen‘s “Euphoria” – gulp!), the slick, slightly chilly synth-pop track bounces along as Hayley asks a few questions – just out of curiosity.
“Did you take him to the pier in Santa Monica? / Forget to bring a jacket, wrap up in him cause you wanted to?” she rapidly monotones. What? She’s just curious!
“This song is all about self-respect and knowing when to walk away when someone you care about is playing games. The treatment I came up with for the video helps gets that point across in a fun and tongue-in-cheek way. I hope people connect with it and can’t wait for everyone to see it,” she says.
The music video finds that certain “someone” in question pulling up to the house party with a dude – even though she’s still totally thirsty for Hayley, sending mixed messages to all involved. Perhaps you’ve encountered the type in your personal life?
Pent-up emotion and sexual frustration leads to awkward in-person encounters and reignited feelings – all leading to one steamy bathroom make-out session. Also: this choreography! Okay, Hayley!
“Growing up, there were some [out] celebrities who were much older than I was and I wondered if I had to wait until then to be happy. I didn’t have role models who I could relate to at the time, where I could think, if they can do it, I can do it,” Hayley remarked at the end of 2016. Evidently, Hayley realized that she’d just have to become her own visible queer-pop youth heroine.
What a time to be (gay and) alive.
“Curious” was released on January 11. (iTunes)
This song is featured on the MuuTunes Spotify playlist. Subscribe!
Photo by Amanda Charchian.
