London’s Kane Luke, the artist behind The New Citizen Kane, released “As Within, So Without” on February 13th as the latest single from his album Psychedelika Pt. 1, which came out back in November via Citizen Records. Kane Luke’s been in the game since the mid-2000s, starting in Dublin’s theatre circuit at 17 and releasing music since 2008. The reworked single version leans into synthwave with elements of electronica and trip-hop, and notably replaces the second verse and chorus with a French verse.
The song explores the way people seek themselves in others, that intoxicating comfort of love that can become an escape from reality rather than something solid to build on. Kane Luke describes it as capturing the phase in a relationship where you’re hiding inside each other, building everything on quicksand because you haven’t created a safe space within yourself first. The tones of the various synth layers show experience, with how perfectly curated the sounds are for their role in this experimental synth orchestra. The production quality is perfect. The drum loops are not too daring, but they do serve their purpose. Each element sits exactly where it needs to be in the sonic vista of this beautifully mixed song.
The New Citizen Kane has a solid track record behind him, performing at festivals like Sonar and Secret Garden Party, and Psychedelika Pt. 1 has already been well-received. “As Within, So Without” is a strong example of what he’s been refining over the years, someone who understands production deeply enough to make every choice intentional. Worth checking out if you’re into synthwave that actually has something to say.
