Actress-singer Hayley Kiyoko makes a compelling case as the next, great pop superstar on “Curious,” a promo single released in advance of her highly-anticipated debut album ‘Expectations.’  

Her time has come! 26-year old Actress-singer Hayley Kiyoko, who releases her debut album, Expectations in 2018. Among singles released in advance of Expectations is “Curious.” Kiyoko showcases assertive vocals following a breathy “Yeah.”  She is exuberant as she shines in her upper register shines on the infectious pre-chorus.

“I’m just on the floor, I’m like a model / Been looking through the texts and all the photos / But don’t you worry I can handle it / No, don’t you worry I can handle it.”

Kiyoko delivers incredibly rhythmic vocals on the chorus. Her attitude and feistiness are a pro.

“If you let him touch ya, touch ya, touch ya, touch ya, touch ya, touch ya (yeah) / The way I used to, used to, used to, used to, used to, used to (yeah) / Did you take him to the pier in Santa Monica? / Forget to bring a jacket, wrap up in him cause you wanted to? / I’m just curious, is it serious?”

What makes the chorus in particular interesting is how sexuality comes into play. First things first, Kiyoko is gay.  Clearly, contextually, she’s curious about an ex-girlfriend who is now dating a boy. The bridge is essentially a reprise of the pre-chorus.  There is one change – a ‘stuttered’ “If you let him, if you let him” that occurs before the final chorus.

Final Thoughts 

Ultimately, “Curious” is another example of the incorporation of the LGBTQ perspective in pop music.  The curiousness exhibited by Hayley Kiyoko on “Curious” is something that would have never been acceptable by society in the past, as awful as that sounds. In 2017, the bisexual-themed “Stangers” (Halsey featuring Lauren Jauregui) was among progressive steps forward giving LGBTQ artists a bigger, mainstream platform to express themselves.  Sexuality aside, this is a fun, well-produced single that makes a great case for the rise of Kyoko.

Hayley Kiyoko • Expectations • EMPIRE / Atlantic • Release: 3.30.18

Writers: Lisa Vitale, Brandon Colbein, Jakob Hazell, Savante Halldin, Hayley Kiyoko; Producer: Jack & Coke

Photo Credit: EMPIRE / Atlantic