“Oh Yeah?” is a Soft Confessional Arc of a Bisexual Narrator

After four years of absence, Steve Lacy finally returns with a new project titled ‘Oh yeah?,’ a slow ambient ballad exploring his colourful love journey thus far, or the lack of it, revealing the challenges of modern dating through a Black queer lens, specifically as a bisexual fellow. With guest appearances from SZA, Erykah Badu, and more, Steve introduces an intricate sonic dance accompanied by minimal instruments such as a classic guitar, drums, and airy vocals; an approach that has since become his signature sound.

Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya, better known to the world as African-American Steve Lacy, is a 28-year-old singer-songwriter and producer who began his music career with the alternative group The Internet while still in high school. Perhaps what is most interesting about him, aside from his collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Tyler The Creator, and more, is that he recorded all his earliest songs with an iPhone. His 2022 project ‘Gemini Rights’ earned him multiple groundbreaking awards, while he currently has almost 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Thus, Steve Lacy has become one of the most sought-after voices of his generation.

Steve’s first single ‘The Feeling’ set up the tone for the rest of the project to follow. From the first listen alone, it appears as if Steve is going through the ember stage of heartbreak, but as one pays closer attention, the song can be interpreted as the painful grieving process of a one-sided love never explored, a common experience in the bisexual community. Its intimate, obsessive lyrics that seemingly address a male muse, from the verse, “When you start writing songs just to stop thinking about him,” coming at the final bridge, really gave us the first hint of a fluid turmoil Steve has been meaning to soft launch. Similarly, Steve chooses to start ‘Is It Cool?’ with the words “Never needed a man,” which really comes across when one goes through the lyrics word for word.

This jumpy, avoidant approach to same-sex attraction is nothing new, as in his 2022 song “Static,” Steve Lacy sings, “Looking for a b*tch because I’m over boys,” to a seemingly majorly hetero interaction with a woman of interest. It is that notion that bleeds throughout the project; Steve is not actively trying to hide his sexual identity through lyrics; he is trying to balance it, inside a universal language like music that offers little to no bisexual love narration.

Another standout track is ‘show you me,’ where Steve confronts his muse with the following line: “Are you even gay?” Steve showcases his longing for love at full display, whether with a man or woman, admitting to himself that the drive for this search is loneliness. A central theme to this project can be traced in the lyrics, “As of late, I guess I’ve been leaning closer to D.” It also becomes apparent that, whereas in the past, songs directed to his female muses were lived experience, his songs directed to men are a distant companionship, often with the male muses unaware that Steve has unresolved feelings with them.

In a track that reminds one of ‘Californication’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Steve Lacy really paints the modern dating scene well in ‘doom.’ In a time where sex is more accessible than ever, and social media encourages validation over authenticity, there is little room for genuine affection. However, Steve doesn’t run away from reality, also admitting that he’s been a willing participant in this ordeal. The nihilistic lyrics paired with the uplifting instrumental are the perfect recipe for disaster.

Perhaps one of the most underrated tracks from the project, which really encapsulates the longing of a bisexual individual, can be felt in ‘nothing.’ Accompanied by a solo guitar, the simple lyrics establish the intensity of Steve’s one-sided infatuation. There is a certain atmosphere of delusion coupled with obsession that perfectly captures the narrow lines of fluidity. Intimacy with one was accessible, yet on the other end, it is unattainable, often self-inflicted, a love he finds difficult to explore in the open.

Steve Lacy’s latest project, ‘Oh yeah?’ contains all of the complexities, delusions, obsessiveness, and overall confusing emotions surrounding queer fluidity in today’s dating climate. In its cover, where a circle in the colours of the bisexuality flag emphasizes Steve’s wondering gaze, it already foretold the loneliness and anguish that awaits. Steve Lacy is not just dealing with a longing for queer love; he is struggling to keep afloat in an environment where temporary satisfaction and distant glaze have replaced meaningful connection. This is Steve Lacy’s most vulnerable and honest piece of work yet.