Introduction
Some songs are written to entertain. Others carry a story that reaches far beyond the music itself. With “The Lighthouse”, Spanish musician and composer Rüben Sykes opens a deeply personal new chapter. Released in November 2026, the single marks Chapter II of his evolving solo era and features the vocals and piano of Christian Miconi, frontman of Berlin-based gothic rock band Vlad in Tears. Built around atmospheric guitars, expansive melodies and a cinematic sense of drama, it explores loss, memory and the enduring presence of the people we carry with us.
Artist background
Based in the Toledo region of Spain, Rüben Sykes is a modern cinematic rock artist and composer whose music combines gothic aesthetics, alternative rock influences and technical guitar work. His journey includes leading Ara-Solis and sharing stages with established rock musicians, including Sherpa. His current solo project unfolds through conceptual chapters, allowing each release to contribute to a wider artistic identity. “The Lighthouse” is a particularly intimate chapter, built around family, remembrance and resilience.
Review of the song
Behind “The Lighthouse” lies a story of grief. The song began taking shape after the passing of Sykes’ grandfather in 2019, when he turned to his guitar and gradually transformed his emotions into melodies. Seeking a deeper emotional dimension, he shared the story with Christian Miconi, who, moved by its meaning, agreed to contribute vocals and piano. During recording in 2025, Sykes also lost his grandmother, adding another layer of meaning to a song already shaped by absence. As he explains: “That is why I will keep their memory burning bright.” The lighthouse becomes the central symbol: a guiding light that remains visible through the darkest nights. That image gives the single a clear and moving identity.
Musical analysis
Musically, Sykes draws on several generations of alternative and gothic rock. The atmosphere recalls the gothic mystique of the 1980s and the melancholic character of 1990s gothic rock and metal, while embracing the alternative energy associated with Placebo and Thirty Seconds to Mars. His appreciation for expressive, technically demanding guitar work, with Steve Vai among his influences, shapes the guitar-driven core. Miconi’s voice and piano complement that vision with a further emotional layer. Production, mixing, mastering and bass were handled by Carlos Llamosas Neshamá at Laboratorio de Neshama in Madrid, and drummer Manu Mosk completes the rhythm section. Rather than relying on a single genre, the result connects gothic aesthetics with contemporary rock production.
Why listeners should pay attention
“The Lighthouse” matters because its emotion is rooted in a real story. The collaboration between a Spanish guitarist-composer and the voice of an established Berlin gothic rock band brings two artistic worlds together around one shared purpose: preserving feelings that words alone cannot always express. Its chapter-based framing also makes this an ideal moment to follow a solo project still building its wider narrative.
Conclusion
With “The Lighthouse”, Rüben Sykes turns personal loss into a beacon of hope. Gothic atmosphere, cinematic arrangements and Christian Miconi’s contribution combine into an intimate, carefully crafted release that honours memory without surrendering to darkness. The single is available now on major digital streaming platforms.
Recommended for fans of
Vlad in Tears, Placebo, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Steve Vai; 1980s gothic atmosphere, 1990s gothic rock and metal, and emotionally driven cinematic rock.
Follow the artist
Watch “The Lighthouse” using the YouTube player above.
* Official release: https://emubands.ffm.to/thelighthousefeatchristianmiconi
* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/05sYoaPrzdI9VBWgqdI98m
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rubensykesguitar/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruben_sykes/
Credits: Rüben Sykes – Guitars, composition; Christian Miconi – Vocals, piano; Carlos Llamosas Neshamá – Bass, production, mixing, mastering (Laboratorio de Neshama, Madrid); Manu Mosk – Drums.
Source: Artist and song information supplied for this review. Artwork and photo supplied with the submission.
© Tomi Perrakoski / Metal Madness Weekly
