The New Citizen Kane – Ratbag Joy (2025)
A few months ago, we came across The New Citizen Kane – a pop artist redefining the realm of electronic pop, infusing bouncy, carefree dance beats with introspection, reflection and a weighty world of juxtaposition. The introduction to The New Citizen Kane was his single ‘San Diego’ – a song made for road trips where you sing along while the wind rushes through your hair and the sun bounces off your sunglasses. Yet, the summery soundscape delicately unpicked the complexities of living with joyful love and the sting of loss, all based on the idea of a city and its effects. Today, we take another ride into The New Citizen Kane’s profound mind with ‘Ratbag Joy’.
Following the singles ‘Lump In Your Throat’, ‘San Diego’, and all the remixes of these tracks, ‘Ratbag Joy’ keeps the ball rolling, presenting audiences with another dance-flavoured tune entwined with poignant meaning. Penned and produced by The New Citizen Kane, with Steven Speranza contributing to the composition, ‘Ratbag Joy’ is a dance floor-ready anthem embracing the joyfulness of bouncy pop music with toe-tapping, body-swaying, smile-inducing happiness.
Yet, the genius of The New Citizen Kane’s musical realm lies in its contraries and juxtapositions of his fun-filled melodies. As the rich vocals ooze warmth and tenderness in the kaleidoscopic whirl of electronic pop music, those vocals also usher in poignant lyricism, making ‘Ratbag Joy’ intriguing from its sounds to words. The New Citizen Kane explains:
“… a song that lives in contrasts. A happy feel-good dance song on the surface, the lyrics carry more weight than you’d expect… The lyrics paint a picture of someone teetering on the edge, chasing fleeting highs, and desperately trying to outrun the hollowness within… the pursuit of temporary pleasure as a means of avoiding deeper issues… It’s not that the music is oblivious to the darkness; it reflects the very denial the lyrics describe. It’s the mask the protagonist wears, the carefully constructed façade of carefree abandon…”
In addition to the single, The New Citizen Kane released an official music video for ‘Ratbag Joy’. You can view the video below and/or on his YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED
Find out more about The New Citizen Kane on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more electronic pop on The Other Side Reviews Electronic Pop playlist:
