Best known as the magnetic frontman, guitarist and songwriter for space-rave pioneers HENGE, Matthew C. Whitaker steps into more introspective terrain with his new solo single Lucid Dreamer. A lush, cinematic soundscape, the new solo tune glides between orchestral grandeur and futuristic electronica, weaving together sweeping strings, crooning melodies and ambient textures that feel both timeless and otherworldly. The track captures the sense of floating between wakefulness and imagination — a moment of emotional clarity suspended in the dream world.
Henge @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea
“Lucid Dreamer is about surrendering to the subconscious,” Whitaker explains. “It’s about finding beauty and meaning in those moments when reality softens and dreams take over.”
The song’s hypnotic visual companion — directed by acclaimed Manchester-based visual artist Antony Barkworth-Knight — translates that theme beautifully. Shot within Supermassive, an immersive visual installation in Manchester, the video bathes Whitaker in shifting light and colour, creating an ethereal journey through sound and vision. Its cosmic, meditative tone perfectly mirrors the track’s emotional resonance. The collaboration sees Barkworth-Knight’s signature fluid imagery blend with Whitaker’s reflective songwriting, offering a multi-sensory experience that blurs the line between performance and art installation.
Lucid Dreamer is the first taste of Whitaker’s forthcoming miniature album, Songs For The Weary — a collection of eight compositions crafted to comfort, calm, and reconnect listeners with stillness. Recorded alongside Irish producer, composer and string arranger Alan Keary (also known as Shunya), the album intertwines classical guitar, rich string arrangements and delicate electronics. Whitaker describes Songs For The Weary as “a kind of medicine for modern life — music that breathes, that makes space for reflection.”
The record features an impressive roster of collaborators, including Alabaster DePlume, Rob Turner of GoGo Penguin, and members of HENGE, yet remains Whitaker’s most personal and introspective project to date. With its cinematic palette and emotional honesty, the album promises to reveal new dimensions to an artist already known for his expansive creativity.
Before Songs For The Weary lands, Whitaker will rejoin HENGE this November for a joint UK tour with Gong, bringing their trademark intergalactic energy to stages nationwide. In early 2026, he’ll embark on his own headline tour alongside Shunya, bringing his new solo material to intimate venues across the UK. Fans can expect immersive performances combining live instrumentation, visual projection, and the heartfelt storytelling that defines Whitaker’s new work.
Henge @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea
Matthew C. Whitaker with Shunya – UK Tour 2026:
FEBRUARY
14th – Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
15th – Todmorden, The Golden Lion
17th – Liverpool, Kazimier Stockroom
18th – Edinburgh, Leith Depot
19th – Newcastle, Cobalt Studios
20th – Sheffield, Café No9
MARCH
2nd – Nottingham, The Grove
3rd – Totnes, Barrelhouse
4th – Falmouth, Cornish Bank
5th – Bristol, The Jam Jar
7th – London, MOTH Club
8th – Brighton, Folklore Rooms
10th – Manchester, Band on the Wall
Henge Bring Psychedelic Rock From Parts Unknown To Portsmouth’s Wedgewood Rooms
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