GALIMATIAS

Biography

Galimatias, born Matias Saabye Køedt, is a Danish electronic music producer and artist who grew up in the small town of Fredericia, Denmark, before relocating to Los Angeles, USA.[1] He began making music as a teenager, producing tracks for Danish hip-hop acts such as Fokus Clique, Klaes, and M.I.L.O around the turn of the 2010s.[4] Galimatias first gained widespread recognition in 2015 with the collaborative EP Urban Flora, created with American singer-songwriter Alina Baraz, which they developed after meeting through SoundCloud in 2013.[1][2] The project's success established him as a boundary-pushing producer known for lush soundscapes and genre-blending production.

Following Urban Flora, Galimatias entered a period of creative introspection, releasing a slow drip of singles over five years while working privately on his craft.[2] He took a deliberate break from social media and explained that he never wanted to create the same sound twice, spending considerable time experimenting with new musical directions.[1] In 2020, he released his debut solo album Renaissance Boy, marking the first time he featured himself as a singer on his own production.[2] The album showcases his evolution as an artist, blending electronic sketches with heartfelt vocal deliveries and demonstrating his meticulous approach to production and atmospheric storytelling.[3] Today, Galimatias is recognized as a defining voice in electronic soul and modern electronic artistry, known for his immersive live performances and continued exploration of fresh, expressive territory in electronic and R&B music.[3]

Fun Facts

• Galimatias took a one-year break from social media to focus on his craft, during which he continued making music privately despite not releasing new material publicly for two years before his 2017 single 'Let Me Know'.[1]
• Renaissance Boy (2020) was Galimatias's first album where he sang on his own production, marking a significant milestone in his artistic evolution after years of working primarily as a producer.[2]
• Galimatias identifies himself as a 'Renaissance Boy' because he views music creation as an endless pursuit where he will never master all the skills involved, embracing continuous learning and experimentation.[2]
• He discovered music through his parents' living room, where as a seven-year-old he would choreograph and perform dance routines to Michael Jackson for his parents, forcing them to sit down and watch.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Frank Ocean - Primary literary and musical influence; Galimatias cited him as his number one influence for his ability at world creation and how his music makes listeners feel physically present in a space (Frank Ocean's discography (general influence on songwriting and production philosophy)) [Ongoing influence throughout Galimatias's career]
• Michael Jackson - Early musical inspiration; Galimatias has an early childhood memory of dancing to Michael Jackson in his parents' living room, suggesting formative influence on his musical sensibility (Michael Jackson's catalog (general early influence)) [Childhood]

Key Collaborators

• Alina Baraz - Primary collaborator; met through SoundCloud in 2013 and created the breakthrough collaborative EP together (Urban Flora EP, Urban Flora (Remixes)) [2013-2015]
• Zeauxi - Collaborative partner on recent EP project (The Island of Peach Bellini) [2024]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #chillstep