Establishing with a reverberating, meditative melody and textured, almost industrial percussion, intertwined with nature sounds, Mike Galvin opens Riding Giants with dimensionality and a multi-sensory approach to song creation.
An almost static synth becomes the protagonist, leading us to ethereal vocal ad libs with a tribal, ancestral, and psychedelic feel. The opus feels cosmic and grounded at the same time – dynamic in its design and intricate in its essence.
There is a cinematic allure that manifests with the piece – perfect for the second Avatar movie, or a montage in a romantic film set at the beach. We also appreciate the gated synth that appears mid-way through the composition, tapping into an Eastern nuance.
The finale feels meditative with brooding bassline fused with the atmospheric vocal detailing, this naturally evokes a respite as the composition deconstructs peacefully, leaving us feeling at one with the universe, inviting introspection and warmth.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the release, Mike confesses, “I wanted to evoke the power and overwhelming force of the ocean with this song and tried to sculpt the sonic elements and dynamics to fit this theme. As I was writing it I could picture people big wave surfing with this song as the soundtrack so I hope this comes across when you listen to it.” This explains the expansive nature of the piece, and the idea that water surrounds us as the primary element of our physical world.
Mike adds, “I was listening to Bonobo a lot at the time of writing this song so I think that influence has been the most prominent here, trying to channel the downtempo aesthetic. I love his sound design and organic samples that he uses, and he always has impressive vocalist collaborations that suit the vibes he is going for perfectly.”
We learn that Mike Galvin is an Irish-born electronic artist and producer fusing his classical roots with the energy of underground club culture. After early classical training and a stint in indie bands, he was drawn into Dublin’s rave scene in the 2000s. His influences span jazz, film scores, and the pulsing rhythms of Berlin and Detroit techno. Since moving to Toronto in 2015, he has played session guitar for Canadian artists like Sophia Danai and composed for film, including the award-winning Irish short A Silence Between. He has released music through G-Mafia and LVLD Music/LFTD Global, continuing to refine a style that blends human warmth with cinematic depth.
We love what Mike Galvin is creating, and have added Riding Giants to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream his wider discography, including Cocoa Butter, and Empty Spaces.