Introspective Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and producer ASTN has announced his signing to Warner Records with the emotional single “Gradually,” as well as an accompanying music video. Watch the video now below.
“ASTN is a star in the making. What instantly struck me is ASTN’s ability to move between both Pop and R&B influences so effortlessly. His inspirations are familiar, and his music timeless, yet he’s bringing to it a fresh style all his own,” says Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-Chairman & CEO, Warner Records. “He’s so clear on who he wants to be, what he wants his music to sound like, what he wants his visuals to look like, and what will make the most authentic connection with his fans; these are all marks of a true artist. When you add his natural ability to utilize all the tools the social space has to offer, along with a bright and talented management team, you’ve got the makings of a breakout act. Tom Corson and I are thrilled to welcome him to the Warner Family.”
The track is an affecting breakup anthem, warmed by smooth R&B production and ASTN’s gentle, yet confident voice. The comforting environment allows him the space to explore some uncomfortable feelings, airing out the confusing thoughts that consumed his mind when a relationship was crumbling. “The song poses the question: Is it more agonizing to see someone you love vanish from your life all of the sudden, or slowly detach from you over time?” explains ASTN. “It’s about knowing this person is on their way out, and yet you still try to make it work, salvaging anything from it that might be left. But truthfully, there’s a beauty in letting go.”
There’s certainly a beauty to the “Gradually” video. The nocturnal clip finds ASTN rolling down a lonely road at night in the back of a vintage car, sipping champagne and contemplating where things went wrong. It’s a moving tribute to lost love—reflective, earnest, and self-assured.
“Gradually” is ASTN’s Warner Records debut, and his first original release since his R&B remix of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever.” Dropped on TikTok and Instagram in November, the cover garnered so much attention—4 million views overnight and over 59 million views on TikTok alone—that fans demanded a full-length release, which arrived the next week. He was suddenly a viral sensation, but it was the result of the groundwork he’d been laying for years on textured, emotional independent releases like 2017’s Tell Your Friends and June 2021’s IT’S NOT THAT SERIOUS. Now, with Warner in his corner, he’s ready to reach even more open-hearted listeners—something that songs as generously emotive as “Gradually” will surely help him do.