With his latest single ‘Poison’, ASTOR continues to make a strong case as one of electronic music’s rising names. Based in New York City, the producer has already raked in over 2.16 million streams and earned support slots at venues like NOTO in Philadelphia and The Summer Club in NYC, sharing stages with the likes of Nicky Romero, Hardwell, Sam Feldt, Loud Luxury, and Julian Jordan. A political analyst and finance professional by day, ASTOR began his music journey during the pandemic, channeling inspiration from artists such as Martin Garrix, Alesso, Third Party, and DubVision. Following well-received releases like ‘Fly Alone’, ‘Storm’, and his Revealed Radar debut ‘Holding Tight’, his latest track balances emotional depth with big-room intensity, further solidifying his place in the next wave of melodic dance music talent.
Stream ‘Poison’ and read our interview with this powerhouse producer below:
Tell us about you. How long have you been making music? What inspired you to start?
I’ve been making music for a few years now, but my journey didn’t start in the usual way. I’ve always loved progressive house and mainstage EDM—artists like Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, and Alesso have shaped my taste for a long time. But I didn’t take the leap into DJing and production until later in life. I have a demanding full-time job outside of music, which I still enjoy, but a few years ago, I promised myself I’d pursue something creative. That “something” turned out to be DJing, and it snowballed from there. I fell in love with the process, started learning Ableton, and haven’t looked back.
The music industry is super competitive these days. Was there a moment when you wanted to give up on music? How did you stay focused and keep going?
There have definitely been moments of doubt—especially in the beginning. I didn’t grow up playing instruments, and I was in my 30s when I started learning production from scratch while juggling a full-time career. The imposter syndrome was real. I think back to my first ADE in 2023—I hadn’t released anything yet, and it was intimidating to step into that world with no catalog behind me. But the feedback on my demos gave me a huge boost. I’ve learned that consistency matters more than perfection. Setting small, tangible goals—like finishing my first track, reaching 100K streams—helped me stay focused and build real momentum.
How would you describe your creative process? Are the music and lyrics written together or separately?
For me, it usually starts with the emotion in a vocal—not always the lyrics themselves, but the feeling behind the performance. I’ll often dig through vocals until something connects with where I’m at emotionally or creatively. Once I’ve found that spark, I build the track around it—shaping the tone, energy, and atmosphere to support the vocal. So while the lyrics and music develop in tandem, the vocal almost always leads the way.
Where did the inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from that feeling of euphoria during a great set—that hands-in-the-air moment when the music and crowd energy align. I first felt that during the golden era of progressive house, and it left a lasting impact. That era defined why I love this genre. Now, I’m working to bring that energy back—but with a modern edge. Whether it’s cinematic strings, big melodic builds, or even progressive D&B drops, the goal is always to create music that makes people feel something.
What’s next for you?
I’ve got several unreleased tracks I’m really excited about—some that lean hard into euphoric, progressive energy, and others that explore this hybrid space between progressive and drum & bass. My track ‘Holding Tight’ was recently signed to Revealed Radar, which was a huge milestone for me. Right now, I’m focused on leveling up my production, growing as a performer, and continuing to balance it all with a demanding day job. 2025 is shaping up to be a big year—and I feel like I’m just getting started.
