In the span of less than a year, Conan Gray has emerged as a magnificent new voice in the world of anti-pop. Yet, what begins to explain the rapid rise of this wunderkind who is set to embark on his sold-out North American headlining tour? Maybe it’s an impeccable debut EP, 2018′s Sunset Season, that touches upon young love and societal misgivings in the same breath? Or maybe it’s the hair (like at least half of it has to be the hair, right)? Or perhaps it is the fact that with each new release, we are witnessing, first-hand, the evolution of a phenomenal new pop star.

“The King” follows the recent release of “The Other Side” and illustrates Gray’s inimitable talent for transforming commonplace matters of the heart into veritable bops. Over an array of sublime production, Gray calls out a certain someone who simply cannot and will not admit their true feelings. While an all-too-relatable annoyance, the true magic of “The King” arrives in just how Gray finds a way to turn a wholly irritating sentiment into a track that soars like a dream. Gray spoke on the underlying inspiration for the dreamlike track, sharing,

“‘The King’ is a song I wrote about this massive crush I had on someone who just wouldn’t admit they liked me back. I think knowing that someone likes us, and having that person not admit it for one reason or another, is something we all experience at one time or another, and it’s so incredibly frustrating. In my case, this person would always call me up late at night, talk about me constantly to their friends, even show up at my house unannounced, so I wrote this song as a last straw; as a ‘hey, you’re not fooling anyone, we’re perfect for each other and you should choose me.’”

From chronicling his life on YouTube to entering the music world, every step forward for Gray has felt like a genuine, organic evolution, and we are fully here for his next step forward, as we welcome “The King” of bedroom pop. 

Listen to “The King” below:

For more Conan Gray greatness, revisit our exclusive performance and interview with the king of bedroom bops below.