GALANTIS returns with “Stay Alive,” a contemplative and emotionally rich release that marks a bold new creative direction for the globally renowned electronic artist. Balancing melancholy with optimism, the track leans into deeply personal songwriting while delivering the cinematic, melodic production that has long defined Christian Karlsson’s work.
As the lyrics drift through themes of longing and imagined alternate lives, the production provides a powerful sense of emotional release and hopefulness. With “Stay Alive,” GALANTIS strips things back to something more intimate and reflective, transforming familiar electronic textures into something raw, intricate, and unmistakably personal.
The single arrives alongside a music video featuring Karlsson and his longtime companion Piiper wandering through an after-hours parking lot. Capturing the hazy beauty of youthful ennui, the visual turns a seemingly ordinary late-night shoot into something nostalgic and cinematic, perfectly complementing the emotional tone of the record.
Speaking on the release and his next chapter, Karlsson shared:
“Signing with Ninja Tune imprint Counter Records feels incredibly special to me… Ninja Tune is a label I’ve admired since the ‘90s and to be part of that family with Galantis feels like coming home to music that shaped me.
This is also the first time in my career that I’m not signed to a major label, and it’s completely changed the way I create music. I feel a freedom and inspiration I haven’t felt in a long time, it reminds me why I fell in love with making music in the first place.
It’s a new era for Galantis, and The Devil’sTax Return marks the opening of this next chapter – serving as an ode to the music that always inspired me. Honestly, I couldn’t be more fired up!”
The release signals a major shift for GALANTIS, both creatively and professionally. By joining Counter Records, the influential Ninja Tune imprint, Karlsson enters an independent chapter that appears to prioritize experimentation, emotion, and artistic freedom over mainstream expectations.
Alongside the new music, GALANTIS is preparing for Midsommar, a new event concept centered around friendship, renewal, and celebration, with upcoming editions planned for San Francisco and Chicago this summer. Additional performances include appearances at Electric Forest, Veld, and headline shows in Charleston, Philadelphia, Miami, Portland, and more upcoming Midsommar dates still to be announced.
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