“RATBAG” By The New Citizen Kane

The New Citizen Kane, or Kane Luke as he is also known, unleashed a powerful and genre-blending new piece of art with his new single and self-directed video “Ratbag Joy,” which revels on the edge of ecstasy and emotional meltdown. Hot on the heels of his UK Commercial Club Chart Top 10 hit “Lump In Your Throat,” Kane brings forth “Ratbag Joy,” which further establishes him as an indie dance music maverick. Now streaming around the globe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and all other major platforms, the new single is not simply a song, but rather a multi-sensory experience that offers a visceral punch and lingers long after the last beat fades.

Listeners immediately perceive the exquisite blend of juxtaposed sound and meaning in the song. The lyrics offer an exploration into the life of a person hanging by a fine thread between self-destruction and salvation. Lines like “sins high on a low town drive” and “dreams lost in white dust” evoke vivid struggle in one’s mind, depicting escapism coupled with internal chaos. However, the high-octane feel of the track’s best summer blast off beat delivers a counterintuitive kawaii feel, making it emotionally juxtaposed. It’s a paradox Kane manipulates with finesse: the joyful rhythm masks the torment underneath, echoing the very real phenomenon of putting on a brave face while everything within is falling apart.

The accompanying music video, which Kane directed himself, adds to this dynamic through a visual fever dream of over-saturated colors, erratic pacing, and frantic cuts that flawlessly reflect the protagonist’s mental turmoil. The video is captivating and frenetic as it pulls you into a world filled with artificial indulgences and haunting voids. Although the characters appear to joyously dance, lights flash mechanically, and a disturbing calm echo deep beneath all this pandemonium. It is a moving depiction of the chase after fleeting pleasures, an exquisite yet trapped club scene. Aside from the striking imagery, the music captures the listener’s attention. Kane proves yet again to be a masterful filmmaker and innovative musician through this piece.

Kane announced a self-released multi-sensory album titled “Psychedelika,” where “Ratbag Joy” will feature. With remixes from UK dance duo LOVE FOUNDATION, Ruff Loaderz, and long-time collaborator Red Man Runs set to drop on July 18th, the song is likely to gain traction in dance clubs and underground circles. "Ratbag Joy" signifies another pillar on Kane’s evolving skin, adding another piece to his ever-growing narrative tapestry. What sets him apart from the crowd is his ability to weave a deeply personal story into deeply relatable content, while always keeping the rhythm utterly infectious. Each release feels like a challenge to convention: Can pop music be smart? Can it hurt and still make you move? With “Ratbag Joy,” the answer is a resounding yes.

Ever since the release of his EP “Endless Summer Serenade,” Kane’s journey has been equal parts ambitious and unpredictable. From haunting listeners with his cover of Mariah Carey’s “Dreamlover” to his more recent alt-pop “Could Have Been” EP, Kane seems to evolve continuously without throwing emotional depth out the window. Although “Ratbag Joy” is arguably his most accessible track, it displays no artistic decline. Joy and sorrow, light and shadow, a contradiction all encompassing the human experience, is what “Ratbag Joy” embodies.

“Ratbag Joy” showcases Kane’s artistry not as riding the wave, but as crafting the current. At the cusp of a worldwide release, “Psychedelika” daringly teases what promises to be Kane’s universe-expanding pieces of art. Alongside the trackcore are stunning visuals,   Kane captures the world poised on the knife’s edge, the pulsating, bittersweet exhilaration of escape. With razor-sharp lines and electrifying production, this bold glimpse proves “Ratbag Joy” to be the neon-lit invitation into his neroscape soul-searching, waiting to be stepped into.

Written by Manuel