ASTR is the solo project of American electronicR&B vocalist Zoe Silverman, originally formed with producer Adam Pallin.[1] Their debut EP, Varsity, was named the twentieth best album of 2014 by Spin.[2] Their second EP, Homecoming, was released in 2015.[3]
History
ASTR formed in 2013 after meeting at a yoga class.[4][5] Producer Adam Pallin was previously one half of Little Jackie alongside Imani Coppola,[6] who had a top-twenty hit with "The World Should Revolve Around Me" in the UK Singles Chart in 2008.[7] Zoe Silverman is the daughter of Tom Silverman, the founder of Tommy Boy Records.[6] In their earliest press coverage, ASTR were described as "mysterious" and left unnamed, and then briefly referred to only as Zoe ASTR and Adam ASTR.[8][9][10] A 2013 interview with The Village Voice revealed their identities, explaining that the duo had not wanted to disclose their real names in order to "distance themselves" from their backgrounds.[11]
Their debut single "Operate" was released through Tommy Boy Records in May 2013, followed by a second single "Razor".[4][9] The duo also played several sets at CMJ Music Marathon in the autumn.[4] ASTR later released a cover of Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home", which was a breakthrough hit on Hype Machine and compared favourably to the original.[8][12][13]
In 2014 ASTR released their debut six-track EP, Varsity, on 21 January via Neon Gold Records.[14]Spin later named it their twentieth best album of 2014.[2] ASTR performed at SXSW for the first time in March 2014,[15] and were praised as an "aural threat" by USA Today in May.[16] ASTR also created a new song, "Hold On Me", exclusively for DJ Annie Mac's blog,[17] and released a remix of Charli XCX's "Boom Clap" in the summer.[18] ASTR were the first act to sign for the new independent record label300 Entertainment.[19]
ASTR released their second EP, Homecoming, on November 6, 2015.[3] The track "Activate Me" was produced by Darkchild.[20] Silverman described Homecoming as "nostalgia pop" with lyrical themes around "industry sexism".[6] ASTR toured nationally in the month of the release.[21] A remix of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Run Away With Me" was released in the summer of 2015,[22] and a standalone single featuring Mick Jenkins titled "It's Over" was premiered by Billboard in September.[23] ASTR also performed at Governors Ball in June 2015.[24]
ASTR released a new single, "Bleeding Love", in March 2016.[25]
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