Astrid Young returns with “The Beautiful Can Get Away with Murder,” a measured, unsettling new single featuring David J of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets, and the first glimpse of her forthcoming LP produced by legendary engineer and producer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, The Kinks, John Mellencamp). Rooted in Americana with a restrained country pull, the song examines how charisma and privilege warp accountability—not through outrage or indictment, but through weary recognition. Young tells the story as something lived and witnessed too many times to be surprising anymore: all the evidence is there, the consequences are not, and that imbalance is understood rather than mourned.
That emotional restraint defines the track’s sonic world. Recorded under Kramer’s guidance alongside longtime collaborators, “The Beautiful Can Get Away with Murder” resists obvious release in favor of atmosphere. A guitar line hangs in the air like oppressive heat, tightening its grip without ever breaking. The rhythm section doesn’t resolve the tension so much as anchor it, letting unease accumulate. Kramer’s production favors clarity and space, allowing the song’s weight to arrive unadorned and unmistakable.
David J’s contribution deepens the song’s shadow without overwhelming Young’s voice. His vocal and lyrical presence introduces a subtle darkness that feels deliberate rather than dramatic, the result of musicians who trust economy over excess and understand when to let implication do the heavy lifting. As David J explains, “When Astrid asked if I happened to have any lyrics that would work for our upcoming session, I dusted off this unused true crime narrative and it fit like a bloody glove on the hand of the prime suspect! Those sessions were a pure joy and working with the great producer, Eddie Kramer, meant that each day was a master class that I felt very privileged to attend. All of the musicians were top notch and Astrid is a kick ass songwriter and a truly beautiful soul!”
Within Young’s wider body of work, the song feels both familiar and sharpened. Its imagery circles themes she has long explored—duality, perception, and the quiet violence embedded in social imbalance—delivered with the confidence of artists who don’t need to underline their point. “The Beautiful Can Get Away with Murder” doesn’t shout; it lingers, trusting the listener to feel the discomfort settle.
Listen to “The Beautiful Can Get Away with Murder” HERE.
Astrid Young, photographed by Stephanie Trattner, is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose influences span classical, heavy rock, prog, roots, blues, and country. Her discography stretches back to 1984 and includes over forty-five releases, five solo albums, and an extensive career as a side musician and background singer for A-list acts around the world. Beyond music, she’s written screenplays (some optioned), made a film, authored a Canadian bestseller, and earned three sommelier certifications as an award-winning wine professional. Still, one of her most singular credits remains otherworldly: her voice has been heard in space—Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” which she sings on, was officially played aboard the International Space Station. Now based in Ontario, Canada, Young is completing a new LP produced by Eddie Kramer and featuring members of Violent Femmes and Bauhaus/Love & Rockets. “The Beautiful Can Get Away with Murder,” a co-write and duet with David J, calls out the cult of celebrity and the public obsession with privilege that too often forgives the unforgivable. Live highlights in 2025 included opening for Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts on their Canadian tour, followed by a sold-out solo run in the Netherlands.