Interstate Island is back with their first release of 2025, and it’s a memorable one. ‘Farewell Mr. Lynne‘ is a warm, string-filled tribute to Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. It’s got a vintage vibe, catchy rhythm, and a dreamy feel that fans of classic ELO will appreciate.
The song was inspired by the news of ELO’s final tour. “I was on a long drive somewhere about the time Jeff Lynne announced the Electric Light Orchestra’s final tour, and felt compelled to come up with something to mark the event.” “Everyone knows “Mr. Blue Sky”, but I wanted to pay homage to some of the deeper cuts in their catalogue that would resonate with the more ardent fans of ELO.”
The song should indeed resonate with fans of ELO and their prolific musical approach. Built with violins, cello, and warm vocals, the track pulls from ELO’s mid-’70s sound. The early verses were shaped after the song ‘Shangri-La’, and there are little nods to other ELO songs tucked throughout the lyrics. It’s part tribute, part farewell, and all heart.
For fans who’ve spent years loving ELO’s spacey, emotional pop-rock, this song feels like a thank-you letter—wrapped in strings and soaked in nostalgia. And while the song connects with fans of ELO, the song is for everyone. Listen to ‘Farewell Mr. Lynne’, out now and join the mailing list from the band here, where they’ll be announcing some more news and music surrounding this release: https://go.interstateisland.com/community
