Nearly two decades after Feist charmed listeners with her infectious hit “1234,” Swedish producer, DJ, and artist GALANTIS, aka Christian “Bloodshy” Karlsson, is giving the beloved song a new life. His driving synth-pop rework arrives today, September 9, as the latest single from his upcoming project, The Devil’s Tax Return: Vol. 1, due October 16 via Counter Records, the Ninja Tune imprint.
For Karlsson, Feist’s original was a natural choice for the project. While “1234” helped define an era, GALANTIS believes the track deserves to be rediscovered by a new generation. His version pushes the familiar melody into a more electronic direction, pairing its recognizable songwriting with driving synths and a modern synth-pop production style.
The Devil’s Tax Return: Vol. 1 features six reworks that revisit songs connected to a pivotal period in Karlsson’s creative life, including previously released singles “Do You Mind,” “Stay Alive,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The project reflects the freedom of expression he experienced while beginning Miike Snow, while also challenging the formulaic song structures associated with his long history of pop radio hits.
Rather than simply reproducing the originals, each rework gives Karlsson room to approach familiar material from a different angle. That approach has already been evident across the project’s first singles.
His remake of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” puts a new electronic spin on the timeless classic, while “Stay Alive” transforms José González’s song into something more melancholy and atmospheric. “Do You Mind” takes on Paleface featuring Kyla’s 2007 UK bassline and R&B classic, breathing new energy into the track while connecting it to GALANTIS’ modern production style.
With “1234,” the project continues to expand beyond its initial influences, drawing from a wide range of artists that also includes The Killers and The War On Drugs. Together, the tracks introduce a new chapter for GALANTIS, one built around reinterpretation, experimentation, and the freedom to step outside the expectations that have accompanied his pop career.
The new music arrives as GALANTIS continues a busy live schedule. The producer recently delivered festival sets at Electric Forest and VELD, along with performances at the San Francisco and Chicago editions of MIDSOMMAR. The event has become a celebration of friendship, new beginnings, and life in full bloom.
That celebration will continue this fall with upcoming appearances in New York City and Denver, followed by shows in New Orleans, Dallas, and Portland, with additional dates expected to be announced.
As The Devil’s Tax Return: Vol. 1 approaches, GALANTIS is using the project to revisit familiar songs while exploring the creative freedom that first emerged during an important chapter of his career. “1234” adds another recognizable piece to that story, turning a beloved indie-pop classic into a fresh synth-driven interpretation for a new era.
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