Classic Faithless hit ‘Insomnia’ turns 29 years old

With the remaining members of Faithless returning to the stage this year following the tragic passing of Maxi Jazz, the group’s iconic hit Insomnia is turning 29 years old. Explore the legacy and impact of the track across nearly three decades.

Serving as the group’s second single, Insomnia it became one of the most successful across the career of Faithless. First released on November 27th, 1995, the track struck a chord with audiences, reaching number 27 on the UK singles chart and topping the UK dance chart. When it was rereleased a year later, it rose even higher, peaking at number 3 in the UK, while reaching number one in Finland, Norway, and Switzerland. Featured on the group’s debut album, Reverence, it continued to resonate with participants of the UK dance scene thanks to its lyrical content discussing insomnia.

In a 2020 interview, Maxi Jazz reflected on how the lyrics reflected the scene, stating “Suddenly the song was being played to crowds who had arguably taken 50 quid’s worth of high-powered drugs and weren’t thinking of getting much sleep for days… If I had a quid for every time someone’s come up going, ‘I can’t get no sleep’, I’d be living on the space station.” The iconic bassline and music were developed in Rollo’s recording studio, with the group hoping to build tension and gaining inspiration from Underworld for the production style.

Revisit this legendary anthem 29 years later.