Luke Tangerine & ndge - “To Be Yours” ~ Where the ’80s Glow and Longing Grows!
- Esther
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
When we last checked in with Luke Tangerine, he was playing on the sands of Rio with “Ipanema Rendezvous,” fusing deep house pulses with Latin elegance in a sun-drenched fever dream. It was a sultry evolution, proof that Tangerine’s sonic palette was expanding far beyond retro synth nostalgia. Now, just a month later, he returns, this time trading beaches for bedrooms, rhythms for reverie, with “To Be Yours,” a synth-pop slow-burn co-crafted with British indie artist ndge. If “Ipanema” was a mirage of desire, “To Be Yours” is the ache that lingers after it fades. Together, they’ve created something that doesn’t just shimmer, it aches in neon!
There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when memory meets melody and “To Be Yours,” is the proof. But don’t mistake this for a shallow nostalgia trip. This is a deep dive into emotional storytelling, steeped in warmth, heartbreak, and everything in between. From the moment the track begins, you’re in it. Tangerine wastes no time building atmosphere, his signature shimmering pads and pulsing bass lines create a neon-lit highway for ndge’s vocal to glide across. The groove is instantly familiar, yet strikingly fresh. There’s restraint here, but also a cinematic scope that makes the song feel like the soundtrack to a sunset you never wanted to end. And then comes the hook. That chorus -
“I want to go back, I want you to know, I still want to be yours...”
Lands with a kind of aching sincerity that instantly pulls you in. It’s simple, yes, but so utterly human. A line that could’ve lived in a love letter, or a message never sent. In that moment, ndge isn’t just singing—he’s remembering, pleading, reliving. His delivery is soft but resolute, catching that bittersweet edge of longing that lingers in the space between breakup and closure.
What follows is the song’s first verse, and it's a Polaroid in motion, two lovers under the summer sun, exchanging glances that say more than words ever could. The imagery is romantic without being saccharine. These are the kinds of memories you don’t just remember, you feel them, like heat on your skin. The song knows exactly how to transport you there. And when ndge croons - “Take me back to that summer...”, the production rises to meet the sentiment. Tangerine's synths shimmer just a little brighter, guitars weep in the distance, and suddenly, you're back on that boardwalk, or that quiet rooftop, or in that car parked under starlight. Wherever your summer happened, this track finds it. By the time the final chorus fades out, with the repetition of - “I still want to be yours...”, dissolving into the ether, there’s this lingering silence that almost feels sacred. The kind of silence that makes you want to hit repeat, not just because the song is good (it is), but because it’s become yours, too. A memory, a mood, a feeling you don’t want to lose.
But what really makes “To Be Yours” a standout isn’t just its nostalgia, it's how fully-realized its emotional world is. This is a collaboration that feels symbiotic. ndge’s vocal performance is pure soul—confident, tender, nuanced. He doesn’t just ride the production; he inhabits it. His voice carries the weary hope of someone who’s been through it, who knows what it means to lose, and still chooses to feel. Tangerine, as always, brings a masterclass in texture and restraint. His synth work is lush without ever being crowded, filled with warm analog tones, moody lead lines, and subtle harmonic shifts that reveal new layers with each listen. The rhythm section is tight but breathable, drum machines snap with vintage bite, while the bass grooves just enough to keep everything grounded. And then there’s that guitar solo. It’s brief, but utterly effective, melodic, yearning, slightly haunted. Like a voice cracking mid-confession.
What’s most remarkable is the way the song avoids falling into the retro cliché trap. Yes, it’s 80s-inspired—but it’s also unmistakably modern. There’s a clarity to the mix, a polish to the dynamics, a precision to the pacing that marks it as a product of artists who deeply understand both the past and present of pop music. You hear echoes of synth-pop, dream pop, even a touch of indie rock, but it's all filtered through a uniquely Tangerine/ndge lens. “To Be Yours” hits on that universally aching theme: the one who got away, and the fantasy of getting them back. But what makes it resonate so deeply is the intimacy of the writing. These aren’t abstract metaphors or lofty declarations, they're plainspoken truths, dressed in melody. And somehow, that makes them feel even more potent. So if you’ve ever loved, lost, or lingered too long in the glow of a fading memory, “To Be Yours” is waiting for you. Support the artists who are still daring to make music that moves hearts, not just charts. Listen below!
#LukeTangerine #ndge #ToBeYours #DreamPop #SynthPop #Electronic #Music #Frankfurt #Germany #UK #Essex
Listen to "To Be Yours" on #Spotify -
You can check out more information about Luke Tangerine's musical journey here: https://luketangerine.myportfolio.com
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