ASTN Wonders How She Could "Be So Cruel" on New Single
Photo Credit: Lexis Rother
Today, boundary-pushing R&B singer, songwriter and producer ASTN expertly straddles the line between pop and R&B on his addictive new single “Be So Cruel.” The bouncy track chronicles the imperfect process of letting someone go, with anecdotal lyrics and buttery vocals.
ASTN begins “Be So Cruel” by insisting that he has moved on. “She’s spicy just the way I like my Thai food,” he croons. “For a minute I forgot all about you.” However, he didn’t realize how he would feel when he saw his ex with someone new. “And I hope this breaks y’all up,” he sings on the melodic chorus. “I’m not crazy, but I might be for you — don’t treat me so cruel.” It’s a refreshingly honest and unfiltered account of post break-up jealousy.
Accompanying the release is a cinematic, suspenseful video directed by Hunter Lyon, that perfectly embodies the intense emotions of the single. ASTN describes, “I’m not crazy, but I might be for you”. That is the perfect line to sum up this video. I knew I wanted to do something unpredictable for the visual to offset the lightheartedness of the record. I’ve always enjoyed darker/moody cinema, and this felt like the right time to dive into that world. The juxtaposition between the playful sonics and references like “American Psycho” and “The Batman” was exactly what this video needed.”
ASTN signed with Warner Records after breaking the internet with his 2021 R&B remix of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever",” which generated 4 million TikTok views overnight. With “Be So Cruel,” ASTN has delivered another instantly hummable, thoroughly relatable anthem.