Bossa nova, fado, Britpop, French chanson... In short: anything with a nostalgic undertone.

Gino Paoli · Il cielo in una stanza I first heard this song through my sister, who learned it from one of her best friends—someone who sadly passed away. Whenever I listen to it, I’m reminded of the beauty of life and find myself dreaming of faraway places still left to explore.

Cornelis Vreeswijk · Somliga går med trasiga skar I spent a year studying in Stockholm, and on my very first day I heard this song being played by a street musician. It quickly became the soundtrack to that chapter of my life. Even now, it brings me back to wandering through the streets of Södermalm.

The Kooks · Seaside This one’s been with me for as long as I can remember. I got the band’s debut album as a gift from my godfather and wore it out completely. In recent years, I’ve had the chance to perform in England now and then—and whenever I find myself near Brighton Pier, this is the song I press play on.

Charles Trenet · La Mer simply had to be on this list, this is my all-time favourite holiday song. My dad used to belt it out in the car during family trips, and I’ve happily kept the tradition alive.

Tarkan · Simarik A guilty pleasure for some, perhaps—but for me, this Turkish banger was the perfect road trip anthem during our travels through Turkey last year. It gave us just the right energy to brave Turkish traffic with confidence!

Saint Levant · Wazira This track plunges you straight into sultry Middle Eastern atmospheres—traditional folk melodies with a contemporary twist. Saint Levant delivers a hypnotic sound and a powerful message for the Palestinian people. A voice that deserves to be heard, now more than ever.

Eddie Daniels · Awakening Bach Meets Jazz! Jazz clarinettist Eddie Daniels performs a quote from Bach’s Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme with such feeling it nearly brings me to tears. I used to listen to it on long metro rides, where it brought a touch of poetry to the grey tunnels of the city.

Louis Neefs · Aan het strand van Oostende The nostalgic in me can’t resist this one. My dad had a habit of playing a best-of Louis Neefs compilation over and over again in the car—Flanders’ golden voice of the ‘60s. This song instantly takes me back to those endless family drives heading south. And now that both my parents and sister live in Ostend… I suppose it made an impression after all.

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