The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion EP Review: A Vibrant Fusion Of Electronic Pop, Emotional Depth, And Infectious Energy

The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion
The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion

Emerging from the vibrant cultural landscape of London, The New Citizen Kane represents the latest reinvention of artist Kane Luke, who has long been known for reshaping his sound and persona with bold creativity. Previously performing under identities such as Discokane, Kane has built a reputation for fusing glamorous pop aesthetics with emotional honesty, balancing synth-pop foundations with cinematic house atmospheres that stir both heart and imagination. His breakout release in 2014, It’s Not Science… It’s A Feeling, set the tone for his signature blend of drama, vulnerability, and sonic grandeur. Now, under the new name The New Citizen Kane, he steps into an evolved artistic era where music, storytelling, and visual art merge into a singular vision, offering listeners not only soundscapes but entire worlds to inhabit. With “Causing A Commotion”, he affirms this identity by pushing forward with a project that feels at once celebratory and introspective, timeless yet rooted in the pulse of now.

The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion

Released on 5th September 2025, the EP “Causing A Commotion” by The New Citizen Kane is a carefully crafted exploration of electronic pop that exudes both warmth and sophistication. From the very first moments, the listener is enveloped in layers of soft synths and hypnotic rhythms that immediately establish the EP’s vibrant yet introspective tone. The production strikes a delicate balance between playful, bright textures and a subtle undercurrent of melancholy, evoking the sensation of late-summer evenings where joy and reflection intermingle. Every element, from pulsing basslines to shimmering electronic accents, is meticulously arranged to create a sense of forward motion, making the EP feel cinematic in scope while maintaining an inviting intimacy. The soundscape is rich, dynamic, and immersive, offering repeated listens that reveal new subtleties and details with each play.

The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion

Vocals play a central role throughout “Causing A Commotion”, providing a unifying thread that ties together the diverse sonic layers. The vocal performances are bold and commanding, cutting through the dense instrumental textures without ever feeling overpowering. Each note and phrase is delivered with intention, drawing the listener into the emotional core of the music. The lyrics, while seamlessly integrated into the production, carry a thoughtful vulnerability that complements the energetic arrangements. This interplay between voice and instrument ensures that the narrative remains as compelling as the musical execution, allowing listeners to engage with the EP on multiple levels. The vocals are not just a feature but a driving force that elevates the tracks beyond mere rhythm and melody, anchoring the emotional resonance at the heart of the EP.

Causing A Commotion EP Track List:

Subconscious (Primordial Radio Mix):
“Subconscious (Primordial Radio Mix)”
opens with an immediately immersive and hypnotic atmosphere that draws listeners into its late-summer warmth. Soft synths intertwine with pulsing rhythms to create a textured electronic landscape that feels both expansive and intimate. From the very first notes, the track establishes a tension between emotional immediacy and controlled production, setting the stage for an exploration of inner conflict and desire. Every layer of the instrumental arrangement is deliberately placed, from the resonant synth pads to the subtle rhythmic pulses, creating a sense of momentum that mirrors the track’s thematic focus on the interplay between mind and heart.
The vocal performance on “Subconscious (Primordial Radio Mix)” is strikingly bold and captivating, serving as the emotional anchor of the track. The delivery carries an intensity that feels raw yet instinctive, combining confession with melody in a way that feels both authentic and relatable. The voice sits prominently within the mix, commanding attention without overpowering the carefully constructed instrumental backdrop. Through this expressive performance, the track communicates the thrill and vulnerability of unexpected attraction, capturing the tension of surrendering to feelings that cannot be fully controlled. The vocals become a direct conduit for the listener to experience the oscillation between restraint and abandon, making the emotional content feel immediate and immersive.
Beyond its vocal and instrumental prowess, the track functions as a sonic diary of subconscious longing. The layered synth textures and steady rhythmic foundation provide a canvas on which the emotional narrative unfolds, suggesting a careful attention to how sound can reflect psychological states. The track explores the exhilarating and sometimes terrifying experience of confronting hidden desires, portraying the delicate balance between control and surrender. It succeeds in translating these complex, intimate feelings into a universal language of sound, delivering a deeply human experience that resonates long after the track ends. “Subconscious (Primordial Radio Mix)” is both a reflection and a celebration of the messy, beautiful impulses that define our inner emotional landscapes.

The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion

Bubble Gum Hot:
“Bubble Gum Hot”
bursts into life with an irresistible, effervescent energy that immediately grabs the listener’s attention. The production is bright, sparkling, and playful, with buoyant synth elements that glide effortlessly over dynamic rhythms. From the opening moments, the track establishes a mood that is both fun and confident, creating a sonic environment that feels glossy and vibrant. The arrangement is carefully crafted to maintain momentum while allowing each layer of synth and percussion to shine, resulting in a track that feels lighthearted yet full of texture.
Vocally, “Bubble Gum Hot” is bold, catchy, and infectious, delivering lines with a playful swagger that perfectly complements the upbeat production. The vocal performance carries confidence and charm, effortlessly cutting through the glossy instrumental layers to anchor the song’s mood. While the track radiates fun and positivity, the vocals also hint at subtle emotional undertones, reflecting the tension between restraint and surrender beneath its playful surface. This balance between buoyant sonic textures and expressive vocal delivery ensures that the track engages both the body and the emotions, making it a fully immersive pop experience.
Beneath the sparkling exterior of “Bubble Gum Hot,” the song’s layered electronic grooves reveal a nuanced emotional depth. The interplay between the rhythmic foundation and the shimmering synth lines creates a sense of mischievous joy, inviting listeners to move and dance while also sensing the internal complexity woven into the track. The charismatic vocals guide this experience, providing both charm and narrative focus, allowing the listener to feel connected to the track’s energetic pulse while also appreciating its subtle emotional layers. “Bubble Gum Hot” is the kind of track that effortlessly combines fun, sophistication, and emotional resonance, making it both a dancefloor favorite and a thoughtful listening experience.

The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion

Ratbag Joy Alternative Radio Version:
Ratbag Joy Alternative Radio Version” opens with a stripped-down, intimate vocal that immediately commands attention, setting a tone of haunting immediacy. The voice is bold and compelling, carrying a theatrical urgency that makes each line feel like both a personal confession and a direct invitation to the listener. From the outset, the track establishes a delicate tension between vulnerability and control, creating an emotional space where the listener is drawn in by the raw, human quality of the performance. This careful opening allows the track to build naturally, giving weight to the instrumental layers that follow while keeping the emotional core firmly in focus.
As the song progresses, driving synths, pulse-raising percussion, and a danceable beat enter, transforming the track into a euphoric, energetic experience without diminishing the intensity of the vocals. The layered instrumentation accentuates the emotional peaks, with the voice riding each surge to maintain its central role in the storytelling. Despite the celebratory, high-energy production, there is a destabilizing undertow in the lyrics, hinting at themes of inner unrest, escapism, and emotional turbulence. This contrast between the vibrant soundscape and the reflective lyrical content gives the track a captivating duality, making it both immediately engaging and profoundly resonant.
The brilliance of “Ratbag Joy Alternative Radio Version” lies in this collision of energy and depth. The vocals are unpolished in the best way, alive with tension, oscillating between conviction and desperation, which embodies the song’s emotional complexity. The track invites listeners to move, dance, and lose themselves in its infectious rhythms while simultaneously demanding reflection on the underlying emotional currents. This balance of joy and fracture, exuberance and introspection, makes the song a standout within the EP, demonstrating The New Citizen Kane’s skill at crafting music that is as compelling on the dancefloor as it is in the mind and heart.

The New Citizen Kane – Causing A Commotion

The arrangement of tracks in “Causing A Commotion” demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of musical dynamics and pacing. Each song ebbs and flows with intentional rises and falls that mimic the natural rhythm of emotional experience. The EP never feels static; there is always movement, a sense of propulsion that draws the listener from one track to the next. This dynamic construction also allows Kane to explore contrasts within the music, juxtaposing energetic, danceable moments with softer, reflective passages. The result is a body of work that feels cohesive yet multifaceted, offering a journey that is both exhilarating and contemplative. Listeners are invited to experience not just individual tracks but the EP as a continuous, evolving soundscape that rewards attention and immersion.

One of the most striking qualities of “Causing A Commotion” is its ability to merge the infectious energy of disco and funk with electronic sophistication and introspective depth. The EP embraces rhythmic grooves and melodic hooks that immediately capture attention, while simultaneously embedding layers of harmonic complexity and textural richness. This duality allows the music to be both accessible and profound, creating an experience that is as suitable for the dancefloor as it is for reflective listening. Kane’s mastery of electronic instrumentation is evident in the seamless integration of synths, basslines, and percussion, each element contributing to a holistic sonic environment that feels alive and immersive. The music exudes a warmth and vitality that is difficult to resist, yet it retains an emotional sophistication that distinguishes it from conventional pop releases.

Causing A Commotion is a Vibrant Fusion Of Infectious Electronic Pop Energy And Introspective Emotional Depth That Captivates From First Listen

Ultimately, “Causing A Commotion” stands as a testament to The New Citizen Kane’s artistic vision and evolution. The EP succeeds in creating a musical universe that is vibrant, nuanced, and emotionally resonant, demonstrating Kane’s skill at blending glamour, vulnerability, and cinematic depth. Each track is thoughtfully produced and performed, with careful attention to the interplay of rhythm, melody, and vocal expression. The EP as a whole provides both immediate enjoyment and lasting engagement, rewarding repeated listens with its rich textures and subtle details. By combining infectious energy with introspective complexity, Kane delivers a work that is both joyful and reflective, capturing the essence of his artistic identity and offering a compelling entry point for new audiences while satisfying long-time fans. “Causing A Commotion” is a vibrant celebration of sound, emotion, and creativity that solidifies The New Citizen Kane’s place as a distinctive voice in contemporary electronic pop.

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