Citizen’s track-by-track guide to new album Calling The Dogs

Two years on from Life In Your Glass World, Citizen are back with their fifth album Calling The Dogs. And it’s a poignant, personal one. Here, vocalist Mat Kerekes reveals what’s been on his mind…

“I’ve always been self-motivated, often questioning my own efforts and authenticity. This song dives into that mental maze, grappling with doubts about music, physical efforts, social life, etc… In Headtrip I try to capture this whirlpool of indecision and uncertainty.”

“Loyalty tested, often unreturned, stings deeply. This song contrasts empty rhetoric with authentic action. Questioning friendships you once thought were genuine.”

“Hyper Trophy explores the struggle and failure in pursuing a goal, but frames it as a valuable endeavour. It's admirable to give your all to a passion, but you have to be accepting of unexpected outcomes.”

“Growing up in a toxic home, I absorbed and mirrored harmful personality traits for years. This song is about evolving from selfish, narcissistic behaviour to being nurturing and a reliable shoulder to lean on.”

“Lay Low tackles the arrogance of a person who belittles others to boost their own ego. When in truth, they’re just a negative, phony presence that contributes nothing to anything. Instead of battling with these people, I’ve learned it’s better to just remove them from your life entirely. However that may be.”

“Devoting life to any art form brings extreme highs and lows. Needs captures the emotional rollercoaster and the inspiration drawn from people connecting with our songs. It’s essentially a tribute to the strong bond between Citizen and the fans.”

“This track explores the drain of dealing with someone’s projected insecurities, until you finally cut them off to preserve your own well-being.”

“At times, talking things out isn’t the solution to a problem. This song advocates for taking decisive action instead.”

“When I Let You Down tackles moving on and embracing new experiences, contrasting it with friends stuck in the past. It addresses the stagnation some people face, living life on autopilot instead of making new memories.”

“Having a one-track mind is a double-edged sword: intense focus at the expense of neglecting other life aspects and relationships. The lyrics are from the viewpoint of someone who feels sidelined and overlooked due to this.”

“This song confronts a broken relationship with my mother, highlighting how I’ve outgrown her manipulation tactics. It’s a declaration of recognising and breaking free from her influence. It is a triumphant way to end the record that, in a way, symbolises the overarching theme of the way Citizen operates as a band.”

Calling The Dogs is released October 6 via Run For Cover. Catch Citizen in the UK next February with Drug Church – get your tickets here.

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