Unless you’ve been living under a rock like Patrick Star most of your life, chances are this quarantine situation is affecting you. During this unfortunate crisis, I think there is one thing that typically outgoing people can agree on… we are BORED. While having more downtime on our hands can be a good thing, it can be difficult to be stagnant if you’re used to partying as a relief from the everyday bullshit. The days have been seemingly longer and go by slower than ever. In times like this, I’m learning it’s best to keep things simple and chill.
One thing that I’ve found helps a party animal like myself, is listen to more Downtempo and Ambient music. I’m a Techno and Trance lover at heart, but bouncing off the walls without being able to get out much doesn’t seem ideal for me. While I usually reserve chill music for winding down after events or doing tedious tasks, it’s become a huge part of my daily regime since being on lockdown.
When I first got into the Electronic Dance Music scene, I didn’t care much for anything under 128 BPM. After finding myself to be overstimulated most of the time, I decided to give more chill stuff a try. Downtempo is an umbrella term for numerous styles of slow-paced Electronic Dance Music. Ambient music is similar in BPM, but follows no structured melody or rhythm. I find downtempo stuff to be great while doing tasks, and I love ambient music for meditation mode or as a bedtime aid.
The first song that would start my journey into the world of Ambient music was “Little Fluffy Clouds” by The Orb. The song is equally groovy and humorous like no other song I’ve heard before. I love to throw it on randomly when getting trippy with friends, just to see the scattered reactions. “Little Fluffy Clouds” is not your typical Ambient track, however, as it is specifically Ambient House, a sub-genre of House music with Ambient influence. It is a good start to get familiar with the style of Ambient music. It is also worth mentioning that they have released a new album in March of 2020, labeled “Abolition of the Royal Familia“. A more strict example of Ambient music I’d give would be “Terrapin” by Bonobo, which is one of my favorites.
Mark Farina was the first to steer me in the direction of Downtempo with his well-known collections of “Mushroom Jazz“, in which Farina combines elements of various genres to create some amazing, unique sounds. I’d best describe “Mushroom Jazz” as Trip-Hop with jazz elements, although, be assured to hear some surprises along the way. Tycho is also an exceptional presence in the realm of chill music, ranging from pure Ambient to euphoric Downtempo. His style is quite unique as well, so it’s hard to tie him down to a single genre.
It now seems logical to me, that sometimes slow tunes suit a slow lifestyle better than some thrashing Techno. I mean, a movie director wouldn’t choose a Hardcore song for a proposal scene in a Romance movie… right? I hope this article is helpful to those struggling to keep sane while being trapped in our homes. Whether you need some chill music while doing chores, or need assistance in reaching astral projection, I’ve got you covered. Here is a list of some of my favorite chill tracks.
*Featured Image Via Freepik*
