NYC-based artist Car Astor has given synth-pop a number of makeovers since beginning her solo career in 2016. Over the course of her two EP and two single releases, this singer/songwriter has displayed her talent as an emerging artist by mixing clean blends of synth-heavy electro pop. Her wide vocal range steers her sound, allowing her to deliver in formats ranging from poignant ballads to danceable hits. But it is Car Astor’s experimentation that pushes her music beyond the lines of her genre. Her most recent single, “Girlfriend,” (featured below) coolly executes a catchy pop melody, but is given depth with an electro-rock backbone and a defiant lyrical attitude. Though she may abide by archetypical pop song structures, this frontwoman’s darker style and killer vocal control is enough to give her sound a more sultry, polished edge. Her more touching songs, however, like “She Cries” and “Closed Eyes Open” off her first EP Ties, expose the softness around this artist’s edges with their rich arrangements and thoughtful substance. Check Car Astor out for yourself on Soundcloud or Spotify and catch her playing live at Mercury Lounge on December 23. – Rebecca Carroll
