Swedish producer, DJ, and artist GALANTIS (the creative moniker of Christian “Bloodshy” Karlsson) has spent the last two decades defining the sound of modern dance-pop. In his relentless pursuit of a fresh challenge, he is now revealing the next chapter of his career with his most daring effort yet: The Devil’s Tax Return. As part of this ambitious project, he looks back to the 1960s to reimagine Frankie Valli’s timeless classic, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Volume 1 of The Devil’s Tax Return—set for release on October 16 via the Ninja Tune imprint Counter Records—encompasses reworks of six songs. This collection includes previously released singles “Do You Mind” and “Stay Alive,” both of which soundtracked Karlsson’s era during the inception of Miike Snow. Each track represents a newfound freedom of expression, serving as a direct challenge to the formulaic song structures that defined his previous pop radio hits.
Subverting the iconic chorus into a chaotic synth explosion, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” stands out as a centerpiece of the upcoming EP. Reflecting on the creative process, Christian Karlsson noted, “’Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ isn’t from the same era as the other songs on the EP, but it felt right to include because it’s so timeless, and where it ended up sonically just seemed to fit. From a songwriting perspective, I’d always found that song so interesting and unique. I wanted to take it apart and put it back together to understand what made it so special.”
This new project marks a significant shift for the artist, moving beyond his established sound to explore works from a diverse range of artists, including The Killers, Feist, and War On Drugs. Alongside the music, Galantis has been busy with a string of high-profile festival appearances, including sets at Electric Forest and VELD, as well as his own MIDSOMMAR event series.