Why Ambient Music Relaxes Us
Unsplash, Sergey Kvint/Unsplash
The Trend: Music can pump us up when we’re playing sports, make us feel festive at a party, or help us wallow when we’re feeling sad. The popularity of ambient music may be a clue that listeners are searching for music to help them de-stress and tune out so they can sleep, study, unwind, and work better.
What People Are Saying: Ambient music is moody and atmospheric and can include nature sounds, futuristic electronic compositions, and chillout trance music. If you’ve ever visited a spa or taken a yoga class, it’s likely you’ve heard some version of it. Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Max Richter, and William Basinski are well-known ambient acts (see a full list here). Spotify playlists titled “Ambient Relaxation” and “Deep Sleep” each have millions of followers, and hours-long ambient playlists on YouTube have racked up millions of views. Apple iOS also has a built-in Ambient Music feature.
What to Know: Ambient music reportedly creates calm by stimulating relaxing alpha, delta, and theta brain waves. Research has found it can improve sleep quality, anxiety, and depression. Even though you’re likely listening to it on your phone or laptop, ambient music may provide a welcome alternative to the barrage of pings, dings, and other stimuli most of us experience every day.
