Toronto dream-pop artist ARK IDENTITY (Noah Mroueh) unveils his most immersive project yet with Deluxe Nightmare, a surreal six-track EP that balances chaos and clarity in equal measure. The release marks a bold evolution for Mroueh, expanding his sonic world from shimmering dreamscapes to gritty, analog-driven anthems that feel both euphoric and unsettling.
At the center of the EP is the title track, a grungy, distorted burst of catharsis that transforms a recurring childhood nightmare into sound. Built on live one-take drums and guitar, “Deluxe Nightmare” captures tension through imperfection — complete with shouted section cues that bring rawness and urgency to the mix. “As a child, I had this recurring dream of flying monkeys breaking through the glass of my bedroom window,” Noah shares. “I wanted the title track to sound grungy and distorted and almost claustrophobic at times. I used fuzzy guitars, kept some of the rougher vocal takes, and leaned into repetition so it feels like you’re stuck in a loop or a bad dream that you can’t wake up from.”
Across six tracks, Deluxe Nightmare weaves dream-pop, psychedelic pop, and alt-rock into a cohesive exploration of discomfort and release. The record closes with the title track’s haunting outro — the sound of screaming monkeys and flapping wings — a surreal reminder of how fear can evolve into art. “This EP taught me to stop avoiding things that make me uncomfortable,” Noah adds. “A lot of these songs started from anxious thoughts or moments of fear, but instead of shutting them out – I leaned into them. That mindset opened me up creatively.”
Following his acclaimed debut ANNDALE, ARK IDENTITY continues his rise as one of Canada’s most promising new voices. Named one of “the most exciting new artists of 2024” by EARMILK, Noah has drawn praise for crafting soundscapes that feel both cinematic and deeply personal. With playlist support from Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify, plus a distribution deal through ADA (a division of Warner Music), ARK IDENTITY’s Deluxe Nightmare cements his status as a visionary artist unafraid to explore the edges of emotion.