2015 was a turning point—not just because it marked the halfway point of the 2010s, but also because it signaled a major shift in the global music landscape. This was the year when the last remnants of mainstream pop with electronic influences coexisted with the rising dominance of rap in the charts, a shift felt across multiple countries.
Many of today’s biggest names were just beginning to make their mark, introducing their unique styles to the world. Travis Scott, for instance, made waves with Antidote, a track that would go on to define his early sound. In France, PNL reshaped the country’s rap scene with Le Monde Chico, an album that cemented their inimitable aesthetic and changed the game forever.
2015 was also the golden era of electronic, EDM, and tropical house sounds. Artists like Calvin Harris, Kygo, Major Lazer, and Flo Rida dominated the airwaves, delivering tracks that now trigger instant nostalgia for those who lived through the era.
The year also boasted an eclectic mix of genres. Future icons like Twenty One Pilots, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Adele, and The Weeknd stood alongside artists who truly embodied the moment—Meghan Trainor, Fetty Wap, Alessia Cara, and even the French duo Fréro Delavega.
Dive into this playlist—I’ve tried to curate as broad a selection as possible, spanning different styles and regions to capture the full essence of this transformative year in music.
