The Galantis Breakup Mystery
First, Some Back Story on How I Came to be a huge Galantis Fan and about the entity that is a 'Galantis Set.'
As of the date of this blog post, the Galantis website 'About' section says: "GALANTIS IS CHRISTIAN KARLSSON and LINUS EKLÖW". This is fascinating considering no press release or statement was ever made about where Linus 'Style of Eye' Eklöw is.
Every time Meet & Greet tickets are available for Galantis - I get them. If there are 2 shows back-to-back, I am at both shows and both Meet & Greets. In 2019, I saw Galantis 7 times. I don't have a SeaFox tattoo...yet lol.
What is my point? WhenI saw Galantis for the first time at Life is Beautiful Music Festival in September 2018 my girlfriend took me to see their set. In the hotel room, she played their music and to be honest I said I didn't get it. I said it sounded cheesy. I will be straight-up honest and can own my own stupidity because by casting that pre-judgement on the music - it set me up to have my entire mind blown. So perhaps if there is a fun formula for EDM, make judgements about music you normally do not listen to and then go see their set at a major festival - it's one hell of a rush when your brain is force flooded with this type of dopamine. The "I don't like them or that" and then you become the biggest fan ever afterwards.
During the middle of the set inside the Fremont Stage, I turned to her and said I am going to pass out from this. What I was witnessing eclipsed anything that I had ever seen or heard or felt in my entire life. The closest thing had been my falling in love with Odesza that same year at Coachella Music Festival, and then we followed Odesza on their 'A Moment Apart Tour' seeing them 7 times over 11 months around the U.S. What Odesza did and does to me is different than Galantis. Galantis, I'm sorry to say to all the Odesza fans out there, Galantis sets are happiness on a scale that is one level up. One last tier up of more dopamine. This tier is the tier where the best progressive trance tracks live and where Armin Van Buuren sits next to Tiësto, Martin Garrix, DJ SNAKE, and Seven Lions.
Go witness a Galantis set and get deep into the crowd at a festival. Its happiness' vibration at the most purified form and the quantum physics of the energy should be studied. This is the level that children experience joy at - this frequency. When adults experience it together at Galantis - this group of thousands of people are in fact hovering off the ground and virtually blasting off from this planet into space. Space is where progressive trance takes you - it is no coincidence that all the visuals are about Space and that Armin points to the sky looking up during one or two of his tracks. This is the happiness level that makes you hover. Are you with me?
It is ok if you stop reading from here. Perhaps, for you it is your favorite dubstep artist or tech house DJ that takes you to this place. To that I say, I love it. To each is own but I will note - 'Runaway' by Galantis is easily without question one of the most famous EDM tracks of all time and in 2022, Jesse aka Subtronics, released his remix of 'Runaway' - cementing his arrival as one of the best producers across all genres of EDM. He knew this and he also understands what 'Runaway' does to people; what Galantis does to people aka ravers.
As a raver, you either run away from it or you accept that the depression that often comes after experiencing this level of happiness can be very intense and requires determination to coup with and learn how to work through it. Being a raver, means you have to live with the flashbacks. They are tears of joy because you are so grateful and happy for more these new best days of your life. The "but"is - it becomes an addiction and you want it all the time.
I am an addict of raves and concerts. From September 2021 to December 2022, I went to 15 festivals and 40 concerts and/or single day mega events like A State of Trance 1000 and Above & Beyond Group Therapy 500 in Los Angeles. This addiction led me to create the best aromatherapy inhalers and a rave brand that is built on PLUR and giving back to the community. No other rave brand has an ongoing festival giveaway for two tickets to a multi-day festie.
The Timeline Leading up to the mysterious Galantis breakup between Christian and Linus.
The last show that Linus Eklöw and Christian Karlson performed was on February 29, 2020 at Exchange L.A. It was presumed that upon their return for theNew Year's Eve performance on December 31, 2021 that Linus and Christian would be together in San Francisco for the Galantis NYE Show. Sadly, this did not happen. Linus was not hitting the drum next to Christian for their famous show opening.
I had tickets to this show but last minute my friends backed out in San Francisco so I took a big loss on the package. I swallowed it and bought a ticket to go to Countdown at NOS solo which was an eye-opening experience unto itself that I will write a blog post about: Going to a FestivalSolo (no meetup's, just you and whatever happens organically).
At the NYE San Francisco show, Christian said to the crowd: "I am Galantis" instead of the usual "We are Galantis". This was the first clue that Galantis as the duo we all loved so dearly and knew them as, had come to a 'Gold Dust' era ending. Everyone held out hope that Linus was merely sick or perhaps on a family leave. Nothing was said or shared on social media. The real test - the true test - would be if Linus would be at the 2 years in the making Galantis at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado on April 19, 2022.
As it would turn out, Galantis' social media had started to give potential clues that something was different but only for the seriously discerning Galantis fan. Something seemed off. People began asking in the comments where is Linus but not many asking "What is going on and why won't you make a statement on where Linus?"
At this point in the blog, I could either jump ahead to my April 19, 2022 Red Rocks Galantis Meet & Greet story and share what happened or you can simply go read that entire blog on 'My First Red Rocks' which shares how intense the lead up was for Christian performing at Red Rocks without Linus.
But instead, this is where I will share my scenarios as to what happened with their mysterious breakup. The EDM duo that no one ever wanted to see breakup - as bad if Louis the Child, Slander, or The Chainsmokers broke up.
Hypothetical Scenarios (we are only left to guess):
A) During the pandemic, they both had time to rethink their priorities with the time off and away from each other 24/7.
B) The pandemic nullified some kind of contract they were under together; leading to exits.
C) They had creative differences about the music. Perhaps, Linus wanted to experiment or move away from their "formula" and Christian wanted to continue making and seeking the next huge hit like 'Bones' with Ryan Tedder. Hard to believe it had to do with the music but it is possible.
D) Linus did not want to travel as much anymore with their crazy schedule. He was burned out and even with the time off from the pandemic it was not going to change how he was looking at his future.
E) Linus and Christian always had some beef with each other and something happened and it was the breaking point. Linus wanted nothing to do with Galantis ever again and quit. Basically, something dramatic happened. Hence, why he disappeared without a word and was never to be referenced ever again nor contractually was he allowed to speak about it, ie. he signed a non-disclosure agreement at his exit.
F) Christian always owned Galantis outright and Linus was under some kind of long-term contract and Christian decided not to renew it or bought him out of his ownership stake of Galantis once the pandemic shut the World down.
G) Linus wanted to start a solo project, an alias, and Christian said, absolutely not - "you are either 100% in Galantis or you are out." Linus said, "fuck that. I'm done." Hypothetical conversation.
H) Linus wanted to work more on the music in the studio and tour less but they could not agree on studio time, touring, and personal life balance.
I) Sony or management had something to do with the breakup and facilitated this for some monetary reason. Linus was forced out by some cliche music industry nightmare story. They told Christian that "You are Galantis" and you "Don't need Linus". It was about money or someone's ego believed that the producing genius behind Galantis is Christian.
J) A mixture of every single one above.
Conclusion.
As of the date of this blog post, the Galantis website 'About' section says: "GALANTIS IS CHRISTIAN KARLSSON and LINUS EKLÖW". The mystery will continue on for all Galantis fans around the World. The fact that the website has not been updated is very strange considering how they have handled this situation. Keep in mind, the Galantis Instagram profile picture and Spotify artist banner has been updated to show Christian's back and front.
Bottomline, there should have been a press release even if it was generic at this point. This was not handled professionally nor was it fair to the fans. At the end of the day, it is always about the music and the epic sets but when they would end the show with waving flags and a banner that says,"We Love You Sea Fox Nation." - it sure would have been nice for us to say goodbye to Linus.
I still love Galantis and will look forward to seeingChristian at the Meet & Greet they still owe me from the Red Rocks cancellation in April 2022. I knew it was going to be canceled (besides all the pressure he was under he was also recovering from an ear injury) and I made a funny joke about it because I saw Christian before anyone as we stood 20 feet from the "barn doors" of the stage. And when we took the group picture, Christian walked about and stood right next to and in front of me. He recognized me - the familiar face in the crowd.
I can't wait to spread it like peanut butter jelly because.....
CHRISTIAN ON STAGE WITH MIC IN HAND:
"Beautiful people of ___________ (fill in the blank)"
"I just have one - last - question for Yooooooou"
"ARE YOU READY TO RUNAWAY!!!!!!"
THINK I CAN FLY....
I love you Galantis. You are and will always be my Gold Dust. Your music and sets showed me joy that I did not know can exist on Planet Earth. You changed my life over those 7 shows from Life Is Beautiful 2018, to Escape Halloween 2018, right into NYE 2019 in Chicago at Aragon Ballroom, and the rest of the 6 times we saw you in 2019 on the Galantis 'Spaceship'. Now cue the kids vocal from your tracks saying: "HEY!"
To be continued...
