Where to Start with Clean Bandit

The three-track route

Play "Rather Be", then "Rockabye", then "Symphony" in that order. Three songs, three different guest vocalists, and you'll have heard exactly what makes Clean Bandit tick. Strings doing the heavy lifting, a beat that never gets in the way, and a big voice riding on top. No lectures needed. The songs do all the explaining.

The entry point: Rather Be

This 2014 track is the entry point for a reason. It broke Clean Bandit into the mainstream, becoming the fastest-selling January single since 1996 and finishing that year as the UK's second best-selling song. Jess Glynne's vocal is the hook, but listen underneath and you'll hear the piano and strings doing just as much work. That's the whole Clean Bandit idea, right there in one track. The classical elements aren't background texture. They're carrying the song.

The next step: Rockabye

Once "Rather Be" has you hooked, jump to "Rockabye" from 2016. It's a different mood entirely. Sean Paul's verse, Anne-Marie's vocal, a proper story running through it. It was the Christmas number one and held the UK top spot for seven weeks. This is the moment you realise Clean Bandit aren't a one-trick act. The formula shifted, and it worked even bigger.

The depth: Symphony

Now go deeper into the classical side. "Symphony", with Zara Larsson, is where they lean hardest into the orchestral drama that sets them apart from other dance-pop acts. The title tells you exactly what to expect. The arrangement leans into that drama before the beat drops in.

Then branch out

"Real Love", the second Jess Glynne pairing, and "Tears", with Louisa Johnson, round out the picture nicely. The 2014 debut album New Eyes reached number three on the UK Albums Chart and is the natural next stop if you want the full album experience rather than just the singles.