Electronic dance music is typically created from percussive electronic instruments and editing software. The sound has often been called “robotic” by critics of the genre. Recently, a few EDM artists, such as Daft Punk, have begun to add more soul into their music by using real instruments.
Swedish-based EDM duo Galantis incorporates a lot of horns and a depth of lyricism that can’t be found by most of the genre’s artists. Galantis took the Le Plur stage at Voodoo Music and Arts Experience for its first performance in New Orleans and to prove how it’s separate from the pack.
The members of Galantis are far from new to the music industry. Christian Karlsson is one half of the Grammy award-winning production duo Bloodshy and Avant who have produced for artists such as Madonna, Britney Spears and Katy Perry. Linus Eklow, the other member of Galantis, co-wrote and produced Icona Pop’s no. 1 hit, “I Don’t Care.”
After sending music back and forth for years and remixing each other’s songs, the two decided to form Galantis and signed to a record label.
Galantis said its unsure where the name originated from, but it has embraced a mantra that the member believe defines the act.
“It’s about challenging, not following,” Karlsson said.
The two agreed that their process of song making is a little backwards from most. Instead of building from a base beat or sample sound, Galantis will often write lyrics first and then try to create the instrumental backing around the lyrics.
“I think a lot of EDM guys just make tracks and then give it to someone to write lyrics to,” Karlsson said. “Nothing wrong with that but it’s not the way we do things.”
Galantis calls itself a hybrid EDM act because of its use of real instruments when creating a song. The duo often incorporates a grand piano or trumpet sound in conjunction with synths and 808s. Eklow said piano the “third member” of Galantis.
Each song Galantis writes lyrics for holds a special meaning and tells a story of its members. However, these meanings will never be revealed to the public because the duo wants listeners to have their own interpretation.
“It’s important to us that people pull their own ideas from our songs,” Karlsson said. “It allows them to better connect with our music.”
Galantis brings a large part of its studio on stage to have the best possible sound on stage. While it doesn’t tote a grand piano or a brass section with it, much of the sounds are recorded and brought within a preprogrammed soundboard.
The duo said the best part about New Orleans is how quickly the culture gets into one’s system. While walking around the city, Galantis said it got a small piece of the culture but found it inspirational to its music.
“We love it here already,” Karlsson said. “A place that loves music like this gives us so many more ideas for songs and new sounds to incorporate.”