FlinterFile: Jeff Lynne’s ELO- When I Was A Boy

In 2015, Jeff Lynne’s ELO made a comeback on the music scene with an oldfashioned good ELO record. The single, When I Was A Boy, was inspired by the history of Jeff Lynne: as he was a boy, he listened to a radio under his bed, and got interested in music. In the video, we can see his whole life passing by, from the fifties to the ELO-spaceship to the Traveling Wilburys and further… Enjoy

Jeff Lynne’s ELO- When I Was A Boy

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FlinterFile: Lost Frequencies- Are You With Me

In 2015, the Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies had a hit with a remix. The original song dates back to 2012, when Easton Corbin recorded the song as a country song. However, that’s not what it was after Lost Frequencies was done with it: he used the music and refrain of the song, made it a lot faster and put the whole thing together as a deep house song. Not a bad idea, since the song made it to number 1 in the UK (and it was the shortest number 1, as it topped the charts in the week the publishing of the charts changed from Sunday to Friday…). Enjoy

Lost Frequencies- Are You With Me

R.I.P. 2015

Not only are we saying goodbye to the old year, but also to all those great musicians who have left us. In this (by far not complete) list of persons we lost this year, we stop to remember them and their contribution to music. It would not have been the same without them.

FlinterFile: Years & Years- King

In 2015, a band called Years & Years popped up. With an intoxicating song called King, written by the singer Olly Alexander, they went up in the charts. The song itself is about a relationship, which can be very addicting, and about the decline of a relationship, where you would want the other to end it. As it was written from his experiences, it was very close to him. However, there’s no pain to be heard in the song: it’s uptempo and, as said, very intoxicating. No wonder it made number 1 in the UK! Enjoy

Years & Years- King

FlinterFile: Kygo featuring Parson James- Stole The Show

In 2015, Kygo, a Norwegian DJ, had a hit with Stole The Show. After some remixes (for example of Ed Sheeran’s I See Fire) it was time to make a song of his own, now with singer Parson James. In the UK, it was a number 24 hit, and in the US dance chart it made number 11! Enjoy

Kygo featuring Parson James- Stole The Show

FlinterFile: Anna Of The North- The Dreamer

In 2015, Anna Lotterud (better known as Anna Of The North) made her debut with the single Sway. And as that was in summer, there had to be a winter song, too. She managed to make such a song, fitting December perfectly, and without doing a lot, it got a million Spotify plays in no-time! A perfect song to play this Christmas, and mind you: it’s probably not the last we’ve heard of her! Enjoy

Anna Of The North- The Dreamer

FlinterFile: Alvaro Soler- El Mismo Sol

In 2015, Alvaro Soler claimed the summer hit of the year. He was inspired by his own past, which was spend in quite some countries: when he was 10 years old, he moved from Spain to Barcelone, lived seven years there, going to a German school, and then he returned to Spain. He released an album with a band he established, and then decided to go solo and went to Germany. The song was inspired by the fact that diversity on his school was not a bad thing: it was a lot of fun. In Italy it was a number 1 hit, and there is another version with Jennifer Lopez around for the US market. Enjoy

Alvaro Soler- El Mismo Sol

FlinterFile: Jodie Abacus- I’ll Be That Friend

In 2015, Jodie Abacus made his debut on the pop scene. He wrote this song after he had a lung infection. In the time he had this infection, there was a friend who was always ready to help him. It gave him such a good feeling, that he wrote a song about it. It did not yet his the charts, but it’s only been around for some weeks now, so there is still time! Enjoy

Jodie Abacus- I’ll Be That Friend

FlinterFile- Jonathan Jeremiah- Rosario

In 2015, Jonathan Jeremiah released his second solo-album, Oh Desire. After his first hits in 2010, he went around the world, and now he has come home to record his second album. With his band he went to the Konk Studio, which is owned by Ray Davies (from the Kinks) and developed his country/soul/jazz sound more. That he succeeded, is clear if you listen to

Jonathan Jeremiah- Rosario

FlinterFile: Ben Liebrand- Dancer

In 2015, Ben Liebrand released his new album Iconic Groove, 25 years after his first album, Styles. One of the iconic grooves that is on the album, is the groove of the song Dancer. The song was originally played by Gino Soccio, who started his career in the disco playing keyboards on an album for producer Pat Deserio. For Soccio, it was the only hit (number 1 in the US disco chart) before disappearing in 1982. That’s one of the reasons Ben Liebrand also made a Where’s Gino Soccio mix of the song. Enjoy

Ben Liebrand- Dancer

FlinterFile: James Bay- Hold Back The River

In 2014, James Bay already released the song Hold Back The River. In 2013, he played before the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park, and that was one of the boosts his career got. It was written after a show he did, and he wanted to say to all his dear ones that he was very busy, but that they already could stay in touch. The song would be the last song to be added on the album, as he had a small gap on the album. It would be a number 2 hit in the UK. Enjoy

James Bay- Hold Back The River

FlinterFile: Christine And The Queens- Christine

In 2014, Christine and the Queens already released their first album. From this album, the single Christine was a big hit. Christine (Héloïse Letissier) met three women on the street in London and they convinced her to start with singing. They are the Queens. The style of Christine and the Queens is simple, minimalistic, and therefore a great way for Christine to express her feelings. The song was a number 3 hit in France, and even number 1 in Belgium. Enjoy

Christine & the Queens- Christine

FlinterFile: Josh Ritter- Where The Night Goes

In 2015, Josh Ritter released his new album, Sermon on the Rocks. He has been recording albums since 1999, and for this album, he worked with producer Trina Shoemaker, who worked with Emmylou Harris and Queens of the Stoneage before. Together they recorded the album in two weeks, and the result is (hopefully) as Josh wanted: it swings, is grand, and very good. Enjoy

Josh Ritter- Where The Night Goes

FlinterFile: The Weeknd- Can’t Feel My Face

In 2015, The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) scored a big hit with a dance track. The song, about a man who is in love with a woman who is absolutely no good for him, was musically written by Max Martin, who previously worked with famous artists like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. There are some rumours the song is about cocaine, since the title comes from a movie, when it is said after taking cocaine. However, it really is about love. Number 3 in the UK, number 1 in the US. Enjoy

The Weeknd- Can’t Feel My Face

FlinterFile: Bryan Adams- Brand New Day

In 2015, Bryan Adams released his brand new album. The album was written with Jim Vallance, with whom he has worked a long time already. Jeff Lynne produced the album, which brought out the magic of the album: sometimes a track was completely changed, but in a good way. It took a few years, and it was mostly made over the internet. Though the techniques are modern, the sound is as we know it from the eighties. Enjoy

Bryan Adams- Brand New Day

FlinterFile: Leon Bridges- Better Man

In 2015, Leon Bridges made his debut. From his album, ‘Coming Home’, it was the first single. As he liked to get the real sound of the fifties and sixties in the soul he makes, he really used the old equipment. After making the song ‘Coming Home’, which was the start of his career, he made the song ‘Better Man’, which gave a real boost to his popularity. Enjoy

Leon Bridges- Better Man

FlinterFile: C Duncan- Here To There

In 2015, C Duncan tried to answer a question which has been around for some time. What if you cross classical music with pop? Of course, you could refer to the jazz improvisations of Ekseption, but C Duncan answers the question differently: he started with playing piano and violin, but quickly learned to play drums, bass and guitar, too. This year, he made his debut album: Architect. It is full of arrangements where we find ourselves confronted with both classical elements as well as the modern pop music. Great music to listen to, and though it has not charted yet, it probably is one of the most outstanding records made this year. Enjoy

C Duncan- Here To There

FlinterFile: Sigala- Easy Love

In 2015, the DJ Bruce Fielder released his debut single under the name of Sigala. He wrote the song after drinken some beers on Sunday. He took a part of the song ABC by the Jacksons, put a house beat under it and then played it to Tito Jackson… who absolutely loved it. Of course this is no guarantee for having a hit, but he debuted on number 1 in the UK, higher than the original by the Jacksons, who made it to number 8. Enjoy

Sigala- Easy Love

FlinterFile: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats- S.O.B.

In 2015, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats made their debut. The group was formed in 2013, after two solo records from Nathaniel Rateliff, which were more Americana based. With his group, he plays more a sort of R&B, and they made their debut this year. It is about alcohol, and more specific: about a man who wastes his life drinking. It was more a joke than a real song, but luckily decided to record it after positive feedback from others. In the US, it had made the Top 5 of several charts, even number 1 on the Adult Alternative chart! Enjoy

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats- S.O.B.

FlinterFile: Lianne La Havas- What You Don’t Do

In 2015, Lianne La Havas released her new album Blood. The album was based on the renewed connection with her roots on Jamaica. This meant new inspiration, and a lot of styles which combined together. This song is a mixture of jazz, doowop, R&B, but also has horns and even a gospel choir. The song is about the relationship of La Havas with her boyfriend, in which they know what they want without saying it. A very good song and probably one of the finest made this year! It charted number 29 in the US R&B chart. Enjoy

Lianne La Havas- What You Don’t Do