Today, German synth maestro Luke Tangerine unveiled Tomorrow’s Dreams of Yesterday, a new full-length collaboration with an outstanding vocalist Kate Pending. Rich in retrofuturist textures, cinematic moods, and shimmering synthpop elegance, the album marks a milestone in their long-standing creative partnership. We sat down with both artists to explore the songwriting and composing process behind the record, their ongoing artistic chemistry, and the stories embedded in these time-bending soundscapes.
What draws you to mixing retro synth textures with modern production, and how do you balance nostalgia with innovation?
Luke: I’ve always loved the spirit of the ’70s ‘80s, but I try to frame it with current grooves and techniques. It’s about intuition—blending warmth with freshness.
The album spans multiple genres. Was that intentional, and did any track set the direction?
Luke: It happened naturally. Our second single ICU was a turning point—it gave a clear sense of where the sound was headed.
You collaborated with Kate Pending before. What led to a full album together?
Luke: After Sonic Youth, I invited Kate to work on two tracks for my album Synthedelic. That experience made me realize I wanted to do a whole project together—she’s just awesome!
Analog textures define your sound. What gear or techniques shaped this album?
Luke: This album features a lot of guitar and bass—my background is more as a live musician than a pure electronic producer. I try to record real instruments or sample myself whenever possible. You’ll also hear Moog synths, the Roland Juno, and my favorite, the PPG Wave.
Any surprises or challenges during production?
Luke: Honestly, no issues (at least from my perspective, haha). I think the sound came together naturally, largely thanks to Kate. Five tracks on the album are written by her, with my arrangement and production.
One track that best reflects your artistic vision?
Luke: Embers — it’s written by Kate, but I really connected with the vibe and added my vision through guitars, synths, and orchestration. I think it’s a powerful song that captures the overall message of the album.
How did working with Kate influence your process?
Luke: She brought emotion, lyrics, and structure. It helped me think differently about how to shape and arrange music.
The title Tomorrow’s Dreams of Yesterday feels temporally dislocated. How does that theme come through in the record?
Luke: Sonically, through dreamy textures and vintage synths. Conceptually, it’s about future memories—nostalgia for a future that never happened.
Your work on this album moves between lush atmospheres and high-energy grooves. What was your entry point into this sound world, and how did you interpret Luke’s musical vision into your own contributions?
Kate: Luke’s sound world is like stepping into a retro-futuristic dream, an aesthetic I’ve always loved. I focused on adding warmth and texture through vocals, melodies and atmospheric pads.
When collaborating with a producer like Luke Tangerine, who has such a defined aesthetic, how do you maintain your own creative identity while still serving the broader sound of the project?
Kate: I think our styles work well together, so rather than trying to match his style, I try to respond to it. We really listen to each other and respect each other’s instincts, and I think that’s what lets the magic happen. It’s less about leading or following, and more like a creative conversation.
Can you describe your songwriting or composing process for this album? Were there particular themes or emotional landscapes you sought to explore?
Kate: A lot of the writing came from instinct, leaning into emotion first and figuring out the structure later. Some lyrics started as phrases or feelings that just stuck with me, while others evolved through improvisation. I’m often drawn to sounds with a dreamy, ethereal, or nostalgic quality, that naturally shaped the mood of the song.
Is there a track on Tomorrow’s Dreams of Yesterday that was particularly meaningful or creatively fulfilling for you? What makes it stand out in your memory?
Kate: Without a doubt, ‘Pastlife Mix’. This track weaves together elements from our other songs, including ‘Allein’, ‘Sonic Youth’, and ‘ICU’, into something entirely new. It feels like an audio scrapbook, capturing the journey Luke and I have shared together. In a way, it became a collaboration of collaborations, like hearing your own memories remixed in real time.
How has your experience on this project changed the way you approach songwriting or collaboration, especially within the electronic music genre?
Kate: Luke and I quickly found a rhythm where we trusted each other’s ideas, even when they were still rough or abstract. We could bounce ideas back and forth without overthinking, which created a really open and supportive space. That kind of creative trust gave me the confidence to be more spontaneous and to try vocal takes I hadn’t planned or follow the pull of an unexpected sound. This collaboration reminded me how freeing it is to let go of expectations. It encouraged me to take more risks and lean into experimentation, making me braver in how I approach production as a whole.
Was there a moment during the album’s creation that firmed the creative chemistry between you and Luke, a session, a demo, or an idea that clicked and became a turning point?
Kate: Yes, absolutely. With the song ‘ICU’, everything just clicked from the first draft. The vocals came to me instinctively, and without overthinking I went straight to the mic to start recording, aligning, layering, and augmenting in Ableton. As soon as I had something, Luke was already on it, building out new elements around them, adding textures, rhythms, and melodies that fit so naturally it was like he knew exactly where the track wanted to go.
We’d already released a few tracks together with other collaborators like Robson Darker and Ambitstream, which were great experiences. But this was the first time it was just the two of us, and there was a real vibe. It felt like we were completely in sync creatively.
The album has been described as a “sonic time capsule.” What do you hope listeners feel or remember after experiencing this blend of past and future soundscapes?
Kate: I guess because we have that retro-futuristic sound going, 80s synths with modern house and funky grooves, that the tracks have a nostalgic, dream-like quality to them. It’s a feeling we hope really connects with listeners, evoking memories and emotions while offering something fresh and unexpected.
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