Dance music can be defined by trends. Dating back to dance music’s inception in the 70s, the rise of one genre often resulted in the fall of another, and this ebb and flow in dance music can be traced throughout its short history, and it can even be seen today. In 2012, dance music reached a major turning point, as it was finally accepted as a form of pop music for an entire generation of millennials, and to many people’s surprise, it was electro and progressive house that were the most popular sounds. As the page turned from 2012 to 2013, electro and progressive house paved the way for trap, future bass, and future house to emerge as frontrunners in dance music. In 2013 and 2014, alongside the rise of these bass-centric genres, tropical house began to make waves, as it delivered an element of melody and live instrumentation that few other sub-genres possessed.
Artists like Kygo and Thomas Jack stood at the forefront of the tropical house movement, which brought a dose of summer vibes in every note and in every beat. As tropical house continued to grow and evolve, a new sub-genre dubbed “melodic house,” featuring many of the same sounds but a deeper groove, began to surface, led by German wunderkind, Felix Jaehn. In a little under a year, Jaehn has quickly cemented himself as a flag-bearer for tropical house and melodic house, as he’s garnered nearly 100 million plays on SoundCloud spread across his 15 releases.
Jaehn’s music makes you feel like you’re skating down the Venice Boardwalk with the sun shining brightly overhead and waves crashing in, so we figured that there is no better time to feature our five favorite Felix Jaehn tracks than now, as we’re in the thick of the winter. Check out the list below and warm your soul with Felix Jaehn.
Felix Jaehn – Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) (feat. Jasmine Thompson)
“Ain’t Nobody” featured a house backbone more than a tropical style, as it showcased Jaehn’s immense musical talent. The track can be characterized with its uplifting melodies, bright synth work, and groovy bassline.
Felix Jaehn – Book of Love (feat. Polina)
“Book of Love” was one of our favorite Felix Jaehn tracks, as he lays down a stunning guitar riff alongside Polina’s stand-out vocals for a tropical-influenced track that dominated the summer.
Alina Baraz & Galimatias – Fantasy (Felix Jaehn Remix)
Alina Baraz and Galimatias teamed up for one of the biggest EPs in 2015 with Urban Flora, and Jaehn delivered an absolutely stellar remix of “Fantasy.” Featuring bright xylophone melodies and a soft, rolling bass line, Jaehn’s remix was one of the best on the remix pack.
Photograph (Felix Jaehn Remix)
While tropical house was a star in 2014 and 2015, Ed Sheeran shined just as brightly. The immensely talented singer-songwriter is at the top of the music industry, and his indie-influenced croons with Jaehn’s production was the perfect recipe for success.
OMI – Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)
There’s no doubt that you’ve heard Felix Jaehn’s remix of “Cheerleader,” as it charted in the top spot on iTunes in over 10 countries on its way to garnering over 50 million plays on SoundCloud. The iconic horns and smooth percussions make this one of the best tropical house tracks out there.
