Toronto-based producer and composer Mike Galvin has unveiled “Riding Giants”, a lush and cinematic downtempo single that washes over listeners like a slow-moving wave at sunset. Released on September 24, 2025, the track is an evocative blend of organic textures, atmospheric synths, and dynamic rhythms that feels as vast and immersive as the ocean it was inspired by. With his latest release, Galvin continues to solidify his reputation as a sonic storyteller—one who crafts electronic music that’s not just heard, but deeply felt.
Written and produced entirely by Galvin, “Riding Giants” marks a creative milestone in his evolving catalogue of emotionally rich, organic electronic compositions. Though a solo project, he credits Julien at Matte Black Records in Toronto for helping refine the mix in a professional studio setting. The result is a polished yet deeply human production that captures both the raw energy and meditative calm of the sea. Each sonic element—the warm, booming Moog Sub 37 bass, crisp percussive details, and the ethereal female vocal line—works in perfect balance to build a feeling of vastness and wonder.
At its core, “Riding Giants” is a sonic depiction of nature’s most humbling force—the ocean. The track moves like water, flowing seamlessly between tranquil passages and surging crescendos. “I wanted to evoke the power and overwhelming force of the ocean,” Galvin explains, “and 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.” The result is a soundscape that feels both cinematic and deeply personal, inviting listeners to drift through its tides of emotion.
The song’s inspiration came at a time of physical and emotional constraint. Galvin began sketching “Riding Giants” in a cramped, dimly lit basement apartment in Toronto—a space he jokingly refers to as “the dungeon.” The room was stifling in the summer, poorly insulated, and anything but conducive to creativity. Yet, out of that claustrophobic environment came a track that feels boundless and free. “I had a basic laptop and MIDI keyboard setup,” he recalls, “and couldn’t record anything live because the insulation was so bad I could hear my neighbors’ conversations all day. So the song was built from within that limitation.”
Years later, when he revisited the project with access to better mixing tools and a more comfortable space, “Riding Giants” found new life. The transformation came through a meticulous reworking of the sound design—especially in the bass. Galvin replaced the original thin digital bassline with a Moog Sub 37, giving the song a lush, analog depth that truly anchors the track’s oceanic theme. The end result is a dynamic mix of electronic precision and organic warmth—a hallmark of Galvin’s evolving sound.
Musically, “Riding Giants” sits at the intersection of downtempo electronica, ambient sound design, and subtle orchestral textures. Its atmospheric layers and rhythmic flow evoke the likes of Bonobo, one of Galvin’s key influences during the writing process. “I was listening to a lot of Bonobo at the time,” he shares. “I’ve always admired his ability to blend electronic production with organic samples and emotional depth. That downtempo aesthetic definitely found its way into this track.” Like Bonobo, Galvin crafts music that feels tactile—built for both introspection and motion.
But Galvin’s artistry doesn’t stop with influences—it’s rooted in a diverse musical past. Classically trained in his youth, he later dove headfirst into Dublin’s underground rave scene in the 2000s after a stint playing in indie bands. His journey from live instrumentation to electronic production was shaped by his fascination with improvisation, jazz, and the rhythmic energy of Berlin and Detroit’s house and techno movements. Since relocating to Toronto in 2015, Galvin has become a versatile creative force—collaborating as a session guitarist with Canadian artists like Sophia Danai, composing scores for film (including the award-winning short “A Silence Between”), and releasing tracks under G-Mafia and LVLD Music/LFTD Global.
Through all of these experiences, Galvin’s music has taken on a signature tone—one that straddles the line between euphoria and melancholy. His compositions feel like the quiet moments after the dance floor clears, when emotions swell and memories linger. “Riding Giants” captures that feeling perfectly. It’s cinematic yet intimate, expansive yet grounded. The shimmering percussion and orchestral flourishes in the midsection give the piece a sense of motion—like waves breaking, receding, and returning with new force—before the gentle fade-out carries listeners back to shore.
Following a string of acclaimed releases such as “Shadows,” “Empty Spaces,” and “Monsoon Sunrise,” Galvin continues to refine his downtempo sound while hinting at a future creative shift. “My next few releases will carry a similar vibe,” he notes, “before I pivot to a harder, more energetic sound in 2026.”
For now, “Riding Giants” stands as both a personal triumph and a meditation on nature’s beauty and power. It’s the sound of a musician channeling the ocean’s rhythm, turning solitude into something expansive, and transforming limitation into art. As each note ripples outward, Mike Galvin reminds us that even from the smallest, darkest spaces, vast worlds of sound can emerge.
