The New Citizen Kane has always possessed a knack for turning personal introspection into an invitation for listeners to examine their own emotional lives, but do YOU trust INSTINCT? finds the Irish singer-songwriter, producer, and multidisciplinary artist entering particularly fascinating territory. Following the philosophical awakening of FREE TO FEEL, this second chapter shifts the conversation from self-acceptance toward something considerably more unpredictable: what happens when we finally acknowledge what we want and decide whether to pursue it? Attraction, temptation, chemistry, obsession, romantic abandon, and the occasional questionable decision all become part of Kane’s sprawling emotional landscape. Across eight tracks, he explores the uneasy relationship between instinct and reason, questioning whether our carefully constructed rules about love actually protect us or simply prevent us from experiencing something extraordinary. The title itself feels like both a challenge and a confession. Trusting instinct sounds wonderfully liberating until desire begins pointing us toward circumstances we cannot easily explain, relationships that defy our expectations, or feelings that refuse to cooperate with common sense. Kane understands that emotional freedom is rarely a tidy process. Sometimes it means following an irresistible connection; sometimes it means recognizing that attraction has become something more troubling. What makes this EP particularly engaging is its willingness to entertain those contradictions without demanding a simplistic conclusion. Rather than presenting romance as an uncomplicated destination, Kane treats it as a landscape of possibilities, mistakes, discoveries, and occasionally life-changing surprises. The result is a collection that feels playful and provocative while retaining the introspective intelligence that has become central to his artistic identity.
Opening with “interTWINE – Radio Edit,” Kane establishes an atmosphere of sensual curiosity, introducing the possibility of two people discovering a connection that neither anticipated. The electronic sensibility gives the song a playful immediacy, allowing its romantic questions to unfold within a setting that feels inviting rather than overly earnest. There is something particularly appealing about the idea that attraction might recognize its own potential before the conscious mind has assembled a convincing explanation. We spend so much time defining what relationships should look like, identifying acceptable circumstances, and constructing elaborate expectations that spontaneous chemistry can feel almost suspicious. Kane seems interested in that precise moment when those expectations begin to dissolve. The title’s suggestion of intertwining also establishes an important thematic thread, hinting at the emotional entanglements that will become increasingly complicated throughout the EP. “517s” subsequently brings the conversation closer to everyday experience, celebrating the apparently insignificant details that can transform an ordinary encounter into something unexpectedly meaningful. An outfit, a glance, a fleeting impression—these seemingly minor elements become the beginnings of an emotional possibility. The song’s premise captures the peculiar excitement of recognizing something intriguing in another person before either individual has any real understanding of where the connection might lead. What makes this progression effective is the way Kane moves from abstract questions about attraction toward the tangible excitement of romantic discovery. These opening tracks suggest that instinct does not necessarily arrive as a dramatic revelation. Sometimes it begins with a moment so ordinary that we only recognize its significance afterward.
That initial excitement takes a darker turn with “WEB of DESIRE,” arguably one of the EP’s most psychologically intriguing concepts. Here, attraction becomes less reassuring, venturing into forbidden territory where intrusive thoughts, emotional fixation, and the distinction between obsession and genuine love begin to blur. Kane’s central question becomes considerably more uncomfortable: what happens when the feelings we experience contradict everything we believe we should want? There is an inherent tension in this subject, because desire can be both deeply personal and profoundly unreliable. Something may feel irresistible without being healthy, and an emotional connection may become increasingly difficult to distinguish from the compulsive pursuit of its own intensity. The song’s conceptual placement is particularly important, interrupting the romantic optimism established by the opening tracks with a reminder that instinct is not automatically a trustworthy guide. This is where do YOU trust INSTINCT? demonstrates its willingness to complicate its own central philosophy. Kane is not simply encouraging listeners to abandon reason and surrender to every passing impulse. Instead, he acknowledges the psychological messiness that emerges when attraction begins operating independently of our better judgment. “dress Up & play GAMES” extends the EP’s interest in romantic performance and interpersonal uncertainty, suggesting another dimension of the emotional games people play when navigating attraction. The title itself carries a mischievous theatricality, evoking flirtation, role-playing, and the sometimes ridiculous lengths individuals go to when attempting to impress or manipulate one another. Within the EP’s larger narrative, this playful dimension offers a useful counterpoint to the heavier psychological implications of “WEB of DESIRE.” Romance can be dangerous, certainly, but it can also be delightfully absurd.
If the preceding songs examine attraction’s complications, “NOSEdive” arrives like somebody finally deciding that overthinking has become exhausting. The track represents the EP’s most exuberant expression of romantic surrender, celebrating the courage required to plunge into a relationship without knowing precisely where the emotional landing might occur. Its inspiration, rooted in a real-life romance that progressed from a modern encounter into shared adventures and a life-changing commitment, gives the song a particularly convincing emotional foundation. Kane’s observations about relationships being approached like checklists are especially relevant here. Modern romantic culture often encourages people to evaluate potential partners through increasingly elaborate criteria, treating compatibility as something that can be established through careful calculation. Yet genuine chemistry rarely respects those boundaries. Occasionally an encounter simply feels different, and the instinct to pursue it becomes more compelling than the desire to explain it. “NOSEdive” captures that exhilarating moment when uncertainty stops functioning as a reason to retreat and becomes part of the adventure itself. Its placement after the more troubling “WEB of DESIRE” is also significant, distinguishing reckless emotional fixation from the genuine vulnerability involved in taking a romantic chance. Falling headfirst into love may be frightening, but Kane suggests that the alternative—remaining permanently protected from disappointment—can be its kind of loss. The song’s emotional appeal lies in that willingness to embrace the unknown, recognizing that some of life’s most meaningful experiences begin with decisions that would never survive an overly cautious committee meeting in our heads.
“YOU’RE making ME high” and “SWAY, oh palm TREES” continue the EP’s exploration of romantic intoxication, shifting the emotional atmosphere toward pleasure, sensuality, and the seductive possibilities of surrender. The former title immediately evokes the euphoric rush of being emotionally consumed by another person, that peculiar elevation in which ordinary surroundings acquire a heightened significance simply because somebody has entered our lives. There is a natural connection here to the EP’s recurring fascination with chemistry: attraction can make the world feel brighter, more immediate, and temporarily freed from its usual constraints. Yet the earlier warning about obsession remains relevant, lending these expressions of romantic abandon an additional layer of complexity. Kane’s emotional universe does not treat pleasure as inherently suspicious, but neither does it pretend that intensity automatically guarantees permanence. “SWAY, oh palm TREES” introduces a particularly evocative image, suggesting movement, warmth, and the possibility of escaping familiar emotional routines. The title carries a dreamy, almost cinematic quality, conjuring a romantic environment where surrender feels natural rather than calculated. Across these tracks, the EP’s thematic progression becomes increasingly apparent. The initial curiosity of encountering somebody unexpected develops into fascination, temptation, emotional risk, and finally the intoxicating pleasure of allowing a connection to take hold. Kane’s songwriting thrives on that movement between contrasting states, understanding that romantic experience rarely remains confined to one emotional register. Even when desire feels overwhelming, there is always the possibility of reflection waiting somewhere beneath its surface.
The closing “INTERtwine – B Bop Version” provides an intriguing opportunity to revisit the EP’s opening proposition from a different musical perspective. Returning to the song that initiated this chapter creates a sense of circularity, as though Kane has brought listeners through the various complications of attraction only to arrive again at the original question. The alternate version also reinforces the importance of interpretation within the project: a connection can remain recognizably the same while revealing different qualities depending on how we approach it. That idea feels especially appropriate for an EP concerned with the shifting relationship between instinct, expectation, and emotional understanding. Across its eight tracks, do YOU trust INSTINCT? builds a compelling portrait of somebody attempting to navigate the unpredictable business of wanting another person. Its most interesting moments emerge when Kane refuses to romanticize every impulse, acknowledging that the desire for connection can produce both extraordinary happiness and profoundly uncomfortable uncertainty. The contrast between playful flirtation, psychological darkness, and romantic exuberance prevents the collection from becoming a straightforward celebration of falling in love. Instead, it becomes a broader reflection on the courage required to participate in life without demanding guarantees. Kane’s multidisciplinary approach and electronic-pop sensibility provide an appropriate setting for these themes, giving the EP an atmosphere that can accommodate sensuality, humor, introspection, and emotional intensity. Ultimately, do YOU trust INSTINCT? makes a persuasive case for allowing ourselves to be surprised. It recognizes that reason has its place, that warning signs deserve attention, and that obsession should never be confused automatically with devotion. But it also understands that excessive caution can become its own prison, keeping us from experiences that might fundamentally change our lives. The EP’s most resonant message is therefore not simply to follow the heart at any cost, but to remain open to the possibilities that emerge when we stop trying to control every outcome. Sometimes instinct gets things wrong. Occasionally it leads us somewhere extraordinary. The New Citizen Kane embraces both possibilities, and that willingness to live with uncertainty makes this chapter of his artistic journey feel genuinely alive.
For more information, follow The New Citizen Kane
WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – SPOTIFY – SOUNDCLOUD – YOUTUBE
