Music is weird. You can have a track that everyone knows, a certified indie-pop classic, and yet, somehow, the remixes manage to take on a completely different life of their own. We’re talking about the Walking on a Dream remix phenomenon. Specifically, the versions of Empire of the Sun’s 2008 breakout hit that refused to die, resurfacing in clubs, TikTok transitions, and festival sets nearly two decades after Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore first donned those iconic, futuristic headdresses.
It hits different. That’s the simplest way to put it. While the original has that shimmering, 80s-inspired synth-pop glow, the various remixes—ranging from the legendary Sam La More cuts to the more recent Kaskade edits—strip away the whimsy and replace it with pure, unadulterated adrenaline.
Why the Walking on a Dream Remix Matters Now
Trends cycle. It’s a fact of the industry. But "Walking on a Dream" didn't just cycle; it stayed. It’s a "sticky" song. When the track first dropped, it was a breath of fresh air in a landscape dominated by gritty electro-clash and indie rock. It was hopeful. Then, the remixes happened.
The most famous of the bunch is arguably the Sam La More Remix. If you were in a club between 2009 and 2012, you heard this. It’s inescapable. Sam La More took the ethereal quality of Steele’s vocals and grounded them with a driving, side-chained bassline that made it a staple for DJs globally. It wasn't just a club track; it became the sound of Australian summer exports.
Honestly, the longevity is staggering. You’ve got Gen Z discovering these remixes on social media, completely unaware that the song is older than their favorite influencers. They just hear that soaring hook—"Walking on a dream / How can I explain?"—and it works. It just works.
The Kaskade Effect and the Revival
Flash forward to the mid-2010s. The song gets a second (or third) life thanks to a Honda Civic commercial of all things. Seriously. But more importantly, the Kaskade Remix (or his frequent live mashups) brought it to the main stage of Ultra and EDC.
Kaskade has a way of taking legacy vocals and making them feel massive. His version leans into the "Big Room" energy while keeping the soul of the original intact. It’s a delicate balance. If you mess with the vocals too much, you lose the magic. If you don't mess with the beat enough, why bother? Kaskade found the sweet spot.
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The Anatomy of a Perfect Remix
What makes a Walking on a Dream remix actually good? It’s not just about adding a 4/4 beat.
- The Vocal Preservation: Luke Steele’s voice is high, airy, and distinct. The best remixes, like the Van She Tech version, play with the phrasing without distorting the pitch into oblivion.
- The Synth Contrast: The original uses very specific Juno-60 style sounds. A great remix often replaces these with sharper, more modern digital synths to bridge the gap between 2008 and today.
- Atmospheric Tension: There’s a certain "spacey" vibe to the track. Good producers keep that reverb-heavy atmosphere but tighten up the low end so it doesn't get muddy on a big sound system.
I’ve seen DJs try to flip this into a tech-house heater recently, and while it's hit-or-miss, the foundational melody is so strong it can survive almost any genre shift.
Lost in the Mix: The Versions You Forgot
Everyone talks about the big names, but the RAC Remix is a masterclass in subtlety. It’s more of a "re-interpretation." It strips back the glitz for something more organic, almost like a late-night drive through a neon-lit city. It’s less "strobe lights" and more "staring out a window."
Then there’s the Treasure Fingers Remix. It brings a bit of that French House / Nu-Disco funk to the table. If the Sam La More version is for the peak-hour main room, Treasure Fingers is for the poolside lounge at 3:00 PM.
The Technical Brilliance of the Original Stems
To understand why every producer wants to touch this song, you have to look at the stems. The vocal track is remarkably clean. Steele’s delivery has this built-in rhythmic cadence that acts like a percussion instrument.
"We wanted to make something that felt like a dream you didn't want to wake up from," Nick Littlemore once mentioned in an interview regarding the album's production. That sentiment is exactly what remixers latch onto. They take that "dream" state and try to translate it for different environments.
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The track sits at roughly 127 BPM. That is the "Golden Ratio" of dance music. It’s fast enough to dance to but slow enough to feel groovy. It’s the perfect tempo for transitions, making it a "DJ weapon." You can mix it into house, out of pop, or even slow it down for a chill-hop edit.
Why We Can't Stop Listening
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. But it’s more than that. The Walking on a Dream remix offers a sense of escapism that feels rare in modern music. A lot of today's hits are moody, dark, or hyper-cynical. Empire of the Sun represents a time of pure maximalism and neon-colored optimism.
When a producer remixes it today, they aren't just updating the drums. They are tapping into that collective memory of a brighter, weirder time in pop culture.
It’s interesting to note that even after the band’s later hits like "Alive" or "High and Low," the remixes for "Walking on a Dream" remain the most requested. It’s their "Mr. Brightside." It’s the song that defines an era while somehow existing outside of it.
Modern TikTok Flips
We have to talk about the "Sped Up" and "Slowed + Reverb" versions. Purists might hate them. I get it. But these unofficial remixes are where the song lives now for a huge portion of the audience. The "Sped Up" version turns it into a frantic, hyper-pop anthem that fits a 15-second clip perfectly. The "Slowed + Reverb" version leans into the "vaporwave" aesthetic, making the song feel like a ghostly transmission from a shopping mall in 1985.
Both versions, while technically simple, prove the song’s versatility. You can stretch it, shrink it, and it still holds its shape.
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Actionable Insights for Music Lovers and Creators
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this sound or even try your hand at a flip, here is how to approach the world of the Walking on a Dream remix.
For the Listeners:
Go beyond the Spotify Top 5. Seek out the 2009 "Walking on a Dream" Remix EP. It features names like Schmidt & Krivitzky and Danger, offering a much wider palette of sounds than the radio edits. If you’re building a summer mix, use the Sam La More version as a transition between indie-dance and heavier house—it bridges that gap perfectly every single time.
For the Producers:
If you’re attempting a bootleg, focus on the vocal isolation. Steele’s vocals have a lot of high-end frequency content. Use a dynamic EQ to keep the "shhh" and "ttt" sounds from becoming piercing when you boost the volume. Also, don't over-process the hook. The "How can I explain?" line is iconic because of its clarity; if you drench it in too much modern distortion, you lose the emotional payoff.
For the Curators:
When placing a remix of this track in a set or playlist, timing is everything. It is a "sunset song." Whether it’s the original or a heavy remix, it works best when the energy is shifting. It’s a celebratory track. Use it to signal a change in mood or to bring a wandering crowd back to the dance floor with a familiar melody.
The legacy of the song isn't just in the gold records on the wall. It’s in the thousands of variations spinning in bedrooms and clubs tonight. Empire of the Sun created a world; the remixers are just the ones keeping the lights on.
Check your favorite streaming platform for the "Walking on a Dream (10th Anniversary Edition)"—it contains several of the definitive remixes in high fidelity, which are much better than the ripped versions you’ll find on YouTube. Start with the Sam La More remix and let the algorithm take you from there. You'll find that some dreams really do last forever.