The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - I'm From Barcelona

I’m From Barcelona's Violins (Feb’15) is quite similar to Great Lake Swimmer’s Zero In The City; an indie pop tune with folk and orchestral flourishes. The singer has a pleading/sick-puppy sound and the song deals with heartache and existential thoughts.

Violins is more of a straight up indie pop tune despite it's quirks though. Hand-claps, acoustic guitar and a multitude of vocals keep the tune zipping along providing a tasty juxtaposition with the maudlin tone and lyrics. Everyone needs a pause between the hard pumping happy-as-fuck indie tunes, and this little number has enough strange on the side to be both that and one of the best indie songs of 2015.

“Old heartaches come crashing down

I need the violins, oh violins”

Violins is the first song off the Swedish bands fifth album Growing Up Is For Trees (March’15). I'm From Barcelona are an indie pop collective whose numbers have fluctuated from sixteen up to twenty nine members and are led by singer and songwriter Emanuel Lundgren. They started the grand experiment in 2005.

Shit you need to know:

I'm From Barcelona describe Violins as “a pure melodic pop song”.Violins and Growing Up Is For Trees were recorded 'live' instead of separately recording peoples parts.

This reviewer felt I'm From Barcelona's later albums "combine the euphoria with melancholy in a way."

Emanuel Lundgren was inspired by American rock of the late 50's and early 60's like Fats Domino and Little Richard.

I'm From Barcelona have been compared to The Polyphonic Spree and Hidden Camera and their music described as "glorious indie-pop symphonies".

Emanuel Lindgren was into Heavy Metal as a youngster and feels that influences his strong choruses.

Jacob Sollenberg, the clarinet player in the band, is a fireman.

If you want some more kooky, bubbly pop, try the brilliant Sirens or Always Spring.

I'm From Barcelona have mentioned being influenced by the indie pop band The Chills who are from Dunedin, New Zealand (as am I). Here is The Chills eponymous track I Love My Leather Jacket (1986).

The jacket was given to the singer Martin Phillips by his drummer who died of cancer. Martin unfortunately died in 2024 and he once taught me guitar at my school (Otago Boys High School). We played his song Doldrums. Thank you Martin.

“I wear my leather jacket like a great big hug
Radiating charm - a living cloak of luck
It's the only concrete link with an absent friend”