featuring @wearegalantis
Galantis, the dance music project led by Swedish producer and songwriter Christian Karlsson, returns with The Devil’s Tax Return, Volume 1, released October 16 via Counter Records, an imprint of Ninja Tune. The six-track EP sees Karlsson revisit some of the songs that have shaped his musical journey, reimagining beloved classics through his distinctive electronic production style.Rather than delivering conventional remixes or straightforward covers, Karlsson approaches each track as a creative challenge, deconstructing familiar melodies and rebuilding them with fresh sounds while preserving the essence of the original recordings.Leading the release is Galantis’ rework of The Killers’ iconic 2006 anthem “When You Were Young.” Retaining the song’s soaring melody and emotional intensity, Karlsson introduces garage-inspired basslines and rhythms, giving the indie-rock classic a fresh electronic edge.Reflecting on the track, Galantis shares his admiration for the original’s powerful songwriting and enduring appeal. “It’s wild to think it’s been 20 years since I first heard this tune. I’ve always been obsessed with the big arena melody and how The Killers lace that gritty Springsteen DNA into an indie masterpiece,” he says. “I wanted to celebrate this by looping my favorite parts while injecting it with a bit of garage-born bass and beat.”The EP brings together six reinterpretations selected from nearly 100 songs Karlsson explored during the creative process. Alongside “When You Were Young,” the collection features a reworking of Feist’s breakout hit “1234,” a fresh take on Frankie Valli’s timeless “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” a more melancholic interpretation of José González’s “Stay Alive,” a new spin on Paleface and Kyla’s UK bassline and R&B favorite “Do You Mind,” and a reimagining of The War on Drugs’ acclaimed track “Red Eyes.”While the selections span different genres and generations, many hold a personal significance for Karlsson. With the exception of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the songs are connected to a period when he stepped away from writing and producing for other artists to focus on his own creative direction, around the time he began working on Miike Snow. That personal history gives the project a nostalgic foundation, while its inventive production pushes each song into new territory.“I’d been cooking The Devil’s Tax Return for years before it really took shape,” Karlsson explains. “The biggest challenge was reworking someone else’s work. I’m a songwriter and producer, and I’d never really done this before. It’s difficult because you either have to beat the original or find a completely new angle that brings something to the song you haven’t heard before.”The EP’s title captures the creative tension behind the project. For years, Karlsson felt a certain stigma around reworking another artist’s music, particularly songs he already regarded as classics. However, that very challenge became the driving force behind the collection. Rather than simply reproducing familiar recordings, he set out to discover a new perspective for each track—one that could stand on its own while respecting the original.“I always called it The Devil’s Tax Return because, in a way, I’m the devil for messing with a classic,” he says. “The ‘return’ is what you get back from me loving the song enough to take that risk. So I judged myself before anyone else could.”The willingness to take creative risks has been a defining feature of Karlsson’s career. Under the Bloodshy moniker, alongside production partner Avant, also known as Pontus Winnberg, he co-wrote and produced Britney Spears’ GRAMMY-winning “Toxic,” which earned Best Dance Recording, as well as “Piece of Me” and “Radar.” His production credits also include work with major artists such as Madonna and Katy Perry.Karlsson later co-founded the indie-dance trio Miike Snow, whose platinum-certified singles “Animal” and “Genghis Khan” helped establish the group’s signature fusion of alternative songwriting and electronic production.With The Devil’s Tax Return, Volume 1, Karlsson explores a different side of his artistry. Instead of creating music from a blank slate, he begins with songs that already carry their own identities, challenging himself to discover where they can go next. The process encouraged experimentation, repeated revisions, and production approaches that might not otherwise have emerged. For “When You Were Young,” the final version came together only after numerous attempts, making the finished track particularly rewarding.Beyond the music itself, the project reflects Karlsson’s belief that great songs deserve to be rediscovered across generations. In a landscape flooded with new releases, he sees value in revisiting established works and introducing them to audiences who may be hearing them for the first time.“There’s such an ocean of new music coming out every day, and I don’t think everything we listen to has to be new,” he explains. “There’s so much beautiful music already here that deserves to keep traveling through generations.”Ultimately, The Devil’s Tax Return, Volume 1 celebrates the songs that have left a lasting impression on Karlsson while challenging him to step beyond his familiar creative process. Through six carefully selected reinterpretations, Galantis bridges nostalgia and innovation, giving iconic tracks a renewed identity without losing sight of what made them special in the first place.
Tracklist —The Devil’s Tax Return, Volume 1
Stay Alive
Do You Mind
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
When You Were Young
1234
Red Eyes
Leave a Reply