The electronic music world holds its breath as one of its most influential duos, Tale of Us, appears to be at a crossroads. As 2025 begins, mounting evidence suggests that Carmine Conte and Matteo Milleri, the masterminds behind both Tale of Us and the revolutionary Afterlife brand, might be heading in separate directions.
The new year opened with Tale of Us performing back-to-back nights at Afterlife Tulum, but these performances have only intensified speculation about the duo’s future. Observers noted an unusual coldness between Conte and Milleri, with their typically synchronized energy notably absent. This tension, also apparent during their recent Abu Dhabi show, has not gone unnoticed by their devoted fanbase.
Perhaps more telling than what’s happening on stage is what’s missing from the calendar. The Afterlife website, typically bustling with upcoming events, shows nothing beyond Tulum 2025. The conspicuous absence of their traditional Afterlife Barcelona event during Sonar week, a cornerstone of their summer schedule, has raised eyebrows throughout the industry. Their long-standing Ibiza residency, a summer ritual for countless electronic music pilgrims, appears uncertain for 2025.
As the Tale of Us calendar grows sparse, both artists have been carving out increasingly distinct individual paths. Matteo Milleri’s Anyma project has soared to new heights, recently concluding a groundbreaking residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas. His latest releases, including a collaboration with Ellie Goulding, are now appearing on his own imprint, The End of Genesys, rather than the duo’s established Afterlife label. Meanwhile, Carmine Conte has been touring under his MRAK alias primarily at Afterlife shows with his October 2024 EP marking Afterlife’s most recent release.
Industry insiders suggest we’re witnessing not just the potential end of a partnership, but a fundamental transformation of the Afterlife brand itself. Sources close to Afterlife and Hï Ibiza reveal a deliberate shift away from the elaborate visual productions that became the brand’s hallmark. Recent shows have stripped back to simpler visuals, sometimes using only the iconic “Waiting for the Sign” tree, with extended periods focused purely on music—a return to the raw, pre-COVID essence of their sound.
This scaling back of visual elements might not be merely aesthetic choice. There are whispers that The End of Genesys could be the last Afterlife event featuring their signature large-scale visual production, marking the end of an era that redefined how electronic music could be presented.
Intriguingly, industry sources suggest Tale of Us might be planning a return to Circoloco at DC10 in October—a symbolic homecoming to where much of their story began. This potential move, combined with their recent stripped-back performances, hints at a desire to reconnect with their earlier, more underground roots. Also rumors portray a possible move from Hi Ibiza to the reinvented Privilege Ibiza now called Unvrs.
The most deafening aspect of this situation is the silence from the artists themselves. Tale of Us’s social media presence has been dormant since July 2024, following their Tomorrowland recap. Neither Conte nor Milleri has addressed the speculation publicly, leaving fans to parse meaning from their actions rather than their words.
While the future of Tale of Us remains uncertain, both artists continue to forge ahead with their individual projects. Anyma’s innovative fusion of music and technology pushes boundaries in new directions, while MRAK maintains a steady presence in the underground scene. Whether this represents a permanent separation or merely a transformation of their collaborative format remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that we’re witnessing a pivotal moment in electronic music history. Tale of Us and Afterlife have been instrumental in shaping the melodic techno landscape since 2016, creating a movement that transcended mere music to become a cultural phenomenon. Whatever form their future takes, their impact on electronic music culture is indelibly marked.
As we await any official announcement, the 2025 season may well mark the end of an era—or perhaps the beginning of a new chapter in the Tale of Us story. Until then, fans can only watch as this transformative period in electronic music history unfolds.
*Note: This analysis includes information through early 2025, including recent events at Afterlife Tulum and insider reports. Given the evolving nature of the situation, some details should be treated with appropriate caution.*
