King Princess Can Make Grown Men Cry On Downbeat Anthem 'Cheap Queen'

King Princess's penchant for downbeat, hungover pop had a good moment earlier this year whenever she paired up with legendary songwriter/creative force Fiona Apple for "I Know." That swaying, sleepy number belied the powerful gales of emotionality King Princess (real name: Mikaela Straus) can conjure with turn of phrase as well as a detached tone of voice.


Her latest single, inexpensive Queen," dropped on Friday (May 31) and continues the trajectory she traditional on last year's wonderful Make My Bed EP by magnifying her perspective. Alternating between calling herself an inexpensive queen" plus a "real queen," Straus delivers a whispery, however unbeatably catchy chorus that sounds like she wrote it out with minimal effort — nevertheless deep down, you know she worked hard.


"I'm getting also cocky since each person wants me / It's harder to be myself," she delivers on the bridge amid distant samples of a voice saying "queen." It's likely true: Since debuting in 2018 with the Harry Styles-approved "1950," Straus has grown steadily, working with Mark Ronson and making good on her early momentum.


inexpensive Queen" isn't as playful as "Pussy Is God" or as shout-ready as "Talia," however it revels in its own fogginess. Here, Straus subtly pushes forward the King Princess sound while examining her inner self. It's not hard to imagine fans singing along to the "I can make grown males cry!" Part on the Pussy Is God Tour, which makes a stop at Governors Ball in New York this weekend.


Listen to inexpensive Queen" above, then get to know King Princess through the the 2018 MTV News interview below.