B-Side Guys

Distance creates its own mythology. The farther something exists from our current reality, the more magical properties we assign it. On his latest single, Toronto’s Noah Mroueh—recording as ARK IDENTITY—transforms geographical yearning into musical propulsion, channeling unrealized travel dreams into three minutes of synth-propelled catharsis.

“Take Me To Tokyo” marks Mroueh’s first collaboration with producer Ron Lapota and co-writers Bryn McCutcheon and Kirstyn Johnson, and this expanded creative palette becomes immediately apparent in the track’s confident sonic architecture. What began as a droning synth experiment has evolved into something more purposeful—a carefully constructed vehicle for emotional transportation. Pulsating 80s-influenced keyboards and punchy percussion create kinetic momentum while maintaining dream-pop’s characteristic atmospheric expansiveness.

Mroueh skillfully positions Tokyo not just as literal destination but as metaphorical space—one representing possibility, reinvention, and escape from the constraints of ordinary existence. When he confesses to having a “guilty conscience” while “trying to get out of my mind,” he establishes the song’s central tension between responsibility and release. The mention of paying taxes alongside existential concerns creates a poignant juxtaposition between mundane obligations and deeper human longings.

This thematic approach connects Mroueh to a long tradition of musicians using specific locations as emotional shorthand—from The Clash’s “London Calling” to LCD Soundsystem’s “New York I Love You.” What distinguishes “Take Me To Tokyo” is its transparent acknowledgment that the destination remains hypothetical—a dream shared between Mroueh and his best friend that exists purely in potential rather than experience. This unrealized quality gives the song a particular poignancy; it’s not a travelogue but a manifestation of desire itself.

The production deftly balances nostalgic elements with contemporary approaches. While the synth tones evoke 80s pop’s technicolor optimism, the vocal processing and structural choices feel thoroughly modern. This temporal fusion mirrors the song’s thematic exploration of standing at crossroads—between present limitations and future possibilities, between overthinking and action, between staying put and leaping into the unknown.

For a musician whose project name itself suggests both refuge (ARK) and self-definition (IDENTITY), this single represents a logical evolution. Having already caught industry attention with his ANNDALE EP and distribution deal with Warner’s Alternative Distribution Alliance, Mroueh’s musical journey seems to be accelerating even as his Tokyo pilgrimage remains unrealized. “Take Me To Tokyo” ultimately functions as both transportation and transformation—a sonic passport to places still waiting to be visited.