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]