Darkside

"Darkside" explores themes of escapism, finding belonging, and creating a personal sanctuary. The song is not about embracing evil, but rather about finding freedom and solace in a place away from the harsh realities and expectations of the conventional world, referred to as the “light”. It tells the story of two people who don't share a traditional romantic bond but are connected by a mutual understanding and a desire to escape. The “dark side” symbolizes a shared, private universe where they can be fearless and authentic, unburdened by societal norms or painful truths. The lyrics, “We don't need the light, we'll live on the dark side,” suggest that this alternative existence is self-sufficient and preferable. The song is also a key part of Alan Walker's larger narrative, the “World of Walker” saga, where it represents a phase of rebuilding and hope in a post-apocalyptic setting, with characters using technology to forge a new future.

The song's narrative voice begins with an admission of a relationship that isn't based on conventional love or shared history, but on a silent, profound understanding seen in the other's eyes. It’s an invitation to leave the known world behind, directed at someone who understands the allure of the shadows. The speaker, familiar and comfortable with this obscurity, urges their companion to not be afraid.

The central plea, the chorus, is a recurring call to be taken “through the night” and to “fall into the dark side.” This “dark side” is not a place of evil, but a realm of freedom where conventional necessities like light are irrelevant. It's a space where they can truly live, guided by their youthful fearlessness. The lyrics champion the idea of seizing this feeling and experience, letting go of the familiar “light” to embrace this alternative existence. The repetition of “fall into the dark side” and “give into the dark side” acts as a hypnotic chant, reinforcing the commitment to this choice.

The second verse introduces a sense of urgency, set beneath a sky “as black as diamonds.” Time is portrayed as a finite resource, creating pressure to act. There's a conscious decision to reject the “truth” that might blind them, preferring instead to “believe their lies.” This suggests that the world they are leaving is built on harsh realities or deceptive truths, and their new world is a willed illusion, a beautiful fiction they choose to inhabit together. This choice is deliberate; the speaker asks to be fooled as if in a dream, highlighting a desire for escapism over reality. The line “no secrets worth keeping” further suggests a shedding of past burdens and complexities in favor of this new, simplified existence. The combined voices in the chorus amplify this shared yearning, a duet of two souls finding solace and adventure in a world of their own making, away from the constraints and disappointments of the one they left.

"Darkside" was released on July 27, 2018, as the second installment in Alan Walker's "World of Walker" music video trilogy, following "All Falls Down" and preceding "Diamond Heart". The track features vocals from German singer-songwriter Au/Ra (Jamie Aura Stenzel) and Norwegian singer Tomine Harket. The song was written by a large team including Alan Walker, Anders Froen, Atle Pettersen, Fredrik Borch Olsen, Gunnar Greve, James Njie, Jamie Stenzel, Jesper Borgen, and several others. Production was handled by Walker himself, alongside Mood Melodies, Mere Music, and Olsen. The song's creation is deeply integrated into the futuristic, post-apocalyptic narrative that ties many of Walker's music videos together, showing a more hopeful chapter in the story. The music video was filmed at several monumental locations in the former Yugoslavia, including the Monument to the Revolution in Podgarić, Croatia, and the Valley of Heroes in Tjentište, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which provide a dramatic, sci-fi backdrop.

The rhyme scheme in "Darkside" is relatively simple, primarily using couplets (AABB) within its verses, such as "eyes/behind" and "stories/me" (a slant rhyme). This straightforward structure makes the lyrics direct and memorable. The chorus shifts slightly but maintains a clear, patterned rhyme that emphasizes the key phrases: "night/light" and "side/side". The rhythm is built on a mid-tempo four-on-the-floor dance beat, characteristic of the electro house genre. This steady, propulsive rhythm creates a feeling of forward motion, mirroring the lyrical theme of journeying and escaping. The vocal melody often uses syncopation, playing against the main beat, which adds a layer of rhythmic complexity and contributes to the song's catchy, hypnotic quality. The pacing builds from a more subdued verse into an energetic, anthemic chorus, mirroring the emotional arc from contemplation to fearless action.

Musically, "Darkside" showcases Alan Walker's signature style of electronic pop with a cinematic and atmospheric quality. It employs a driving electro house beat, layered with ethereal synth melodies and a prominent, melancholic chord progression. A notable musical element is the subtle sampling of the melody from Two Steps from Hell's epic track "Heart of Courage" in the chorus, which enhances its anthemic and fearless feel. The vocal arrangement is a key stylistic feature, creating a duet between Tomine Harket's clear, hopeful delivery in the first verse and chorus, and Au/Ra's slightly edgier, more vulnerable tone in the second verse. This interplay mirrors the song's theme of two individuals coming together. The production uses techniques like vocal processing and dynamic builds, starting intimately and swelling to a powerful, rhythm-heavy chorus, creating a sense of journey and emotional climax.

"Darkside" was a significant commercial success, charting in numerous countries, including reaching number one in Norway. As a key piece of the "World of Walker" trilogy, its music video has garnered hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and is crucial to Alan Walker's expansive, cross-media narrative. This narrative has fostered a dedicated global fan community, known as "Walkers," who actively decode the lore and symbolism within the videos. The song solidified Walker's reputation as a major name in electronic pop music, following up on the success of hits like "Faded" and "All Falls Down". Its blend of dystopian sci-fi themes with an accessible, emotional pop structure has influenced other artists in the electronic music scene. The song remains a staple in Walker's live sets and is one of the most recognized tracks from his debut album, "Different World".

The central metaphor of "Darkside" is the concept of the 'dark side' itself. Unlike its typical negative connotation, here it symbolizes a sanctuary, a private world of freedom, and an escape from a burdensome reality. It's a place of self-acceptance and empowerment. The line “Let go of the light” is a call to abandon societal expectations and the often harsh “truth” of the conventional world. The “light” represents the known, the mainstream, and perhaps a reality that is disappointing or restrictive. The imagery of a sky “as black as diamonds” in the second verse subverts the usual association of darkness with emptiness, instead portraying it as something precious and beautiful. This suggests the world they are escaping to is not just a void, but a rich and valuable alternative reality they create for themselves.

The most prominent recurring phrase is the hook, “Fall into the dark side,” which acts as the song's central thesis and an insistent invitation. Its repetition, along with variations like “Give into the dark side” and “We'll live on the dark side,” drills the core message of surrender and liberation into the listener's mind. This phrase becomes a mantra for the characters in the song. Musically, the song is built around a recurring synth-led chord progression that is both melancholic and hopeful, establishing the song's emotional tone from the start. This melodic motif, present throughout the verses and powerfully reinforced in the chorus, is the musical anchor of the track. In the context of the "World of Walker" music videos, the Alan Walker logo itself serves as a recurring visual motif, seen on drones and flags, symbolizing the unified community.