Clean Bandit is one of the most genre-defying musical acts to emerge from the UK in recent years. The Cambridge-formed group masterfully blends classical strings with electronic dance music and pop, creating a signature sound that has won them fans across the globe. If you love discovering the greatest songs across all genres, exploring their discography is an experience that rewards you at every turn — much like browsing through the best songs on GlobalMusicVibe to find your next obsession.
Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne)
“Rather Be” is the track that catapulted Clean Bandit into international stardom and remains one of the most celebrated British pop-electronic songs of the decade. Released from their debut album “New Eyes,” the song features the powerful vocals of Jess Glynne against a backdrop of sweeping string arrangements and pulsing electronic beats. It won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2015, cementing the group’s place among the elite of modern music and proving that classical-electronic fusion could dominate mainstream charts.
Rockabye (feat. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie)
“Rockabye” became one of the best-selling singles in UK chart history, spending nine consecutive weeks at number one and selling millions of copies worldwide. The song tells an emotionally resonant story about a single mother raising her child on her own, with Anne-Marie delivering a heartfelt vocal performance perfectly complemented by Sean Paul’s reggae-infused verses. Its production is a masterclass in blending dancehall rhythms with orchestral elements, making it one of the most distinctive-sounding pop hits of its era.
Symphony (feat. Zara Larsson)
“Symphony” is a soaring, anthemic collaboration with Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson that reached number one in the UK for six weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of its release year. The track uses the metaphor of a symphony to describe the transformative power of love, and Larsson’s luminous voice brings an emotional depth that few pop songs achieve. With over a billion streams on Spotify, “Symphony” stands as one of the most beloved tracks in Clean Bandit’s entire catalog and remains a defining pop moment of the mid-2010s.
Solo (feat. Demi Lovato)
“Solo” pairs Clean Bandit’s lush production style with Demi Lovato’s powerhouse vocals in a post-breakup anthem that speaks to millions of listeners who have navigated heartbreak. Released as part of their second studio album “What Is Love?”, the track showcases Lovato at her most emotive, channeling raw vulnerability over a luxuriant, strings-driven electronic backdrop. The music video further elevated the song’s impact, earning widespread praise for its visual storytelling and emotional authenticity.
Tears (feat. Louisa Johnson)
“Tears” is a gospel-tinged emotional powerhouse that features Louisa Johnson delivering one of the most passionately raw vocal performances ever recorded over a Clean Bandit production. The song builds with incredible dramatic tension, layering strings, piano, and percussion beneath Johnson’s voice until the whole track becomes an overwhelming cathartic release. It remains one of the most viscerally affecting pieces of music the group has ever made, and continues to move listeners with its sheer emotional force.
Baby (feat. Marina and Luis Fonsi)
“Baby” is a vivid and sun-drenched slice of pop that sees Clean Bandit team up with Marina (of Marina and the Diamonds fame) and global superstar Luis Fonsi of “Despacito” fame. The multilingual elements of the track give it a richly cosmopolitan feel, blending English and Spanish lyrics over a tropical production that nods to the Latin pop boom of the late 2010s. It’s a testament to Clean Bandit’s ability to collaborate across genres and languages, creating music that transcends cultural boundaries with effortless grace — the kind of layered track that truly shines through quality audio gear like the best headphones for music listening.
Tick Tock (feat. 24kGoldn)
“Tick Tock” brought a new youthful energy to Clean Bandit’s sound by featuring the emerging American rapper and singer 24kGoldn. The song captures a restless, hedonistic spirit — that feeling of living for the moment and refusing to waste time — wrapped in an infectious pop-dance production. It introduced Clean Bandit to an entirely new generation of listeners while retaining the melodic sophistication that defines their best work.
I Miss You (feat. Julia Michaels)
“I Miss You” is one of the more stripped-back and emotionally raw tracks in Clean Bandit’s discography, built around Julia Michaels’ confessional songwriting style that made her one of the most in-demand collaborators in pop. The production deliberately leaves more space than many of Clean Bandit’s bigger club tracks, allowing Michaels’ nuanced vocal delivery to take center stage in a way that feels intimate and unguarded. The result is a deeply affecting listen that demonstrates the group’s willingness to pull back from bombast in favor of genuine emotional resonance.
Mama (feat. Ellie Goulding)
“Mama” is one of the most underrated gems on the “What Is Love?” album, bringing together Clean Bandit’s signature string-laced production and the crystalline voice of Ellie Goulding in a track that balances heartbreak and empowerment. Goulding’s voice has always been particularly suited to orchestral pop, and here it soars above the arrangement with the kind of effortless beauty that makes the track endlessly replayable. The song speaks to themes of longing and self-reliance, making it an emotional standout in an already strong album.
Dust Clears (feat. Noonie Bao)
“Dust Clears” was one of the earlier tracks that showed the world exactly what Clean Bandit were capable of when they leaned fully into their classical-electronic hybrid sound. Swedish singer-songwriter Noonie Bao contributes a dreamy, atmospheric vocal that floats above cascading strings and precise electronic beats, creating a sound that felt genuinely unlike anything else in pop at the time. The song helped define the aesthetic of the “New Eyes” album and remains a fan favorite for those who discovered the group in those early, exciting years.
Come Over (feat. Stylo G)
“Come Over” is a dancehall-influenced banger that showed Clean Bandit could embrace Caribbean rhythms without sacrificing their musical identity. Stylo G’s patois-inflected performance injects the track with a kinetic energy that contrasts beautifully with the group’s more chamber-pop tendencies, creating something genuinely unique in their catalog. The song remains a testament to the group’s fearlessness in exploring diverse musical traditions and incorporating them seamlessly into their evolving sound.
Mozart’s House
“Mozart’s House” is the track where Clean Bandit’s identity truly crystallized — a piece that quite literally brings the spirit of classical music into a modern club context with wit, skill, and infectious joy. Built around a sample of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, the song sounds like nothing else and announced the group as a genuinely original creative force in contemporary music. It remains a sheer pleasure to experience through quality audio equipment, whether you’re testing the best earbuds for detailed sound or simply enjoying it through speakers at home.
Disconnect (feat. Marina)
“Disconnect” is a sleek, futuristic-sounding track that reflects on the emotional numbness of modern life and the paradox of being more connected digitally while feeling more isolated personally. Marina’s cool, detached vocal performance perfectly embodies the song’s themes, threading together lyrics about social media and emotional distance with an eerie precision. The production is among Clean Bandit’s most sonically adventurous, incorporating elements of art-pop and synth-wave to create a listening experience that feels deeply contemporary and conceptually rich.
Drive (feat. Romy)
“Drive” marked a welcome chapter in Clean Bandit’s discography with a track that leans into hypnotic, late-night electronic vibes rather than their usual orchestral grandeur. Featuring Romy of The xx, the song is a coolly minimal dance-pop gem that prioritizes mood and atmosphere over melodic maximalism. It signaled an evolution in the group’s sound, demonstrating their willingness to adapt to the shifting landscape of electronic music while maintaining the emotional intelligence that characterizes their finest work.
Higher (feat. iann dior)
“Higher” sees Clean Bandit collaborating with American rapper and singer iann dior, whose lo-fi pop sensibility adds an interesting textural contrast to the group’s pristine production aesthetic. The song channels feelings of longing and desire, with iann dior’s breathy, conversational vocal style bringing a contemporary edge to Clean Bandit’s otherwise classically influenced approach. It’s a forward-looking track that demonstrates the group’s consistent ability to find exciting new collaborators across the Atlantic.
Everything but You
“Everything but You” is one of Clean Bandit’s more recent works and proves that the group continues to evolve artistically without losing sight of what makes them special. The track is a melancholic exploration of absence and longing, with a production style that feels more restrained and introspective than some of their bigger pop anthems. It’s a mature, thoughtful piece of music-making that rewards careful listening and fits naturally alongside their very best compositional work.
How Will I Know (feat. Jasmine Thompson)
Released as part of the “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” soundtrack, Clean Bandit’s rendition of the classic Whitney Houston song brings their orchestral-electronic sensibility to one of pop’s most beloved songs. Jasmine Thompson’s voice is delicate yet powerful, honoring the spirit of the original while bringing a fresh emotional perspective that makes this version feel distinct and meaningful rather than merely imitative. It’s a beautiful showcase of how thoroughly Clean Bandit have mastered the art of arrangement and how effortlessly they can elevate material written by others.
Lambo Sport (feat. Darell)
“Lambo Sport” with Puerto Rican urban artist Darell is one of Clean Bandit’s most exciting recent explorations into Latin trap and reggaeton territory, proving that after more than a decade in music, they show no signs of creative stagnation. The track is energetic and bass-heavy, leaning into the rhythmic urgency of contemporary Latin music while retaining the melodic polish that Clean Bandit bring to everything they touch. It signals a fresh creative chapter for the group as they continue to expand their global reach with bold, genre-crossing collaborations.
Mar Azul
“Mar Azul” continues Clean Bandit’s recent exploration of Spanish-language and Latin-influenced music, offering a breezy, summery sound that contrasts with the more brooding introspection of some of their earlier work. The song has a lightness and joy to it that feels liberating, suggesting a group that is enjoying the freedom to experiment and follow their musical instincts wherever they lead. It stands as further proof that Clean Bandit remain one of the most adventurous and restless acts in modern popular music.
Beautiful (feat. Stylo G and Tirzah)
“Beautiful” is a sprawling, joyous celebration of identity and self-love that brings together Stylo G and Tirzah for a track that pulses with warmth and community spirit. The production layers the group’s trademark strings over a dancehall-influenced rhythm section, creating something that feels both timeless and urgently present. As the final entry on this list, “Beautiful” encapsulates what has always made Clean Bandit special: their belief that music can be intelligent, emotional, celebratory, and accessible all at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clean Bandit’s most famous song?
Clean Bandit’s most famous song is widely considered to be Rockabye featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the best-selling digital singles in UK chart history. Rather Be and Symphony are also frequently cited as among their most recognized and beloved tracks globally.
Where is Clean Bandit from?
Clean Bandit was formed in Cambridge, England, while several of the founding members were students at the University of Cambridge. The group is made up of siblings Jack and Luke Patterson along with Grace Chatto, and they have since become one of the most internationally successful musical acts to emerge from the UK.
What genre is Clean Bandit?
Clean Bandit’s music blends classical music — particularly strings and piano — with electronic dance music, pop, dancehall, and R&B. This genre-fluid approach has become their defining artistic signature, setting them apart from most of their contemporaries in contemporary pop music.
Has Clean Bandit won any major awards?
Yes, Clean Bandit has won several major awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2015 for Rather Be. They have also received multiple BRIT Award nominations and have accumulated a large number of international chart certifications for their singles and albums.
Are Clean Bandit still making music?
Yes, Clean Bandit continues to release new music. Their recent releases including Lambo Sport with Darell and Mar Azul demonstrate that the group remains actively engaged in creating and putting out new material, exploring fresh sonic territories and collaborating with artists from around the world.
What is Clean Bandit’s best album?
Clean Bandit’s debut album New Eyes is often praised for introducing their unique sound, while their second album What Is Love? is celebrated for its breadth of collaborators and polished pop craftsmanship. Both albums have strong cases for being considered their best work depending on listener preference.