Astra King ebbs and flows through new dimensions in "Make Me Cry"

Hailed for their appearances in within the PC Music fandom, producer, singer and songwriter Astra King has been welcomed into the hyperpop community with open arms. Their set at Appleville (alongside Charli XCX, Oklou, Clairo and more) is one for the books, and their new single "Make Me Cry" expands into a vast sequence.

Astra’s first official release under PC Music was a cover of A. G. Cook's “Silver” from his first album, 7G. “I sort of gained a rep for being a ‘cover band’ because it’s my favourite way of avoiding teasing my own stuff while actually still teasing my own stuff,” Astra explains. “It’s all I would feel comfortable playing at these shows for a while. Hilariously, my first official release under PC Music is a PC Music cover, which feels kind of perfect.

The production on this new single is top-notch; the lyrics are relatable and honest, making it easy to connect with the song on a personal level. With its catchy beats and unforgettable hooks, "Make Me Cry" is sure to unveil the newcomer from a liminal space, into a wider yet colourful universe.

Astra King reminisces on the single’s conception, “it’s about the music that makes you cry… It’s also my First Collaboration with A. G. Cook. We started the demo at this studio right before lockdown. It came together so quickly! But then I was stuck at home forever, summer after summer, agonizing over how to produce it into a full song, re-recording and rearranging it over and over too many times. I actually did cry while doing the final vocals. From laughing. Nervous breakdown. That’s what happens when you keep repeating the same week.”

Astra is also known for utilising audio recording equipment, such as a microphone, to capture singing performances, which are then edited and mixed with other sounds to produce a completed recording. The whole production has a fresh take, and as time progresses, you could find yourself regularly revisiting the track to return to their melancholy and chilled-out take on hyperpop.