Post Random Music-Related Thoughts You Have

[Kevin Davis]

Or Enya's A Day Without Rain.

I'd have guessed that Enya would have been exactly the kind of thing MH was looking for an alternative to?

[Ello Sailor]

I've no idea what that ethereal queen is saying half the time so it's all calming to me. My bad if I butchered the task.

[Ms Harmless]

I love Enya because it (mostly) fulfils what I want; I will definitely check out the others

KD - I do like jazz, big band, swing etc because they often fulfil the criteria too; I need to check Thelonius Monk out

[Ms Harmless]

also Irish trad. folk music, I listen to so much of it; it makes me feel both relaxed and good

[Kevin Davis]

I was wrong, Sailor! Who can say where the road goes?!

Ms H, Monk is one of the few artists I find it almost impossible to be sad while listening to; it's not "happy" music, it just has the exact right mix of smarts, weirdness, and bounce. I hope you like it!

[Ms Harmless]

the one Enya song that is almost too melancholy for me (even though it might be her best) is "Watermark"

[Ms Harmless]

I feel like you're describing either Christian Contemporary Music or the U2 album All That You Can't Leave Behind

I don't like U2 at all so never listened further, but if you mean "music that feels calming and emotionally cosy while also putting me in a bad emotional place", then CCM is a good shout

[Ello Sailor]

also Irish trad. folk music, I listen to so much of it; it makes me feel both relaxed and good

Would love to hear some of your picks. Hook us up!

[Ms Harmless]

I was wrong, Sailor! Who can say where the road goes?!

a big reason why her music makes me calm and happy is that I'm an Irish pagan / witch and she draws heavily from that

[Ms Harmless]

also Irish trad. folk music, I listen to so much of it; it makes me feel both relaxed and good

Would love to hear some of your picks. Hook us up!

in terms of contemporary stuff, you can never go wrong with Flook, Brian Finnegan, Fay Hield, Lankum, Talisk, De Danann or Lúnasa

I've been spending months trying to nail this piece on my bodhrán; I'm almost there:

[Jorge]

I feel like you're describing either Christian Contemporary Music or the U2 album All That You Can't Leave Behind

I don't like U2 at all so never listened further, but if you mean "music that feels calming and emotionally cosy while also putting me in a bad emotional place", then CCM is a good shout

Well, reading your description of "calm but softly uplifting" what came immediately to mind is that "backing vocal for Kickstarter pitch videos" sort of sound, which I associate with both CCM and 20th century U2. So nevermind!

[Ms Harmless]

I feel like you're describing either Christian Contemporary Music or the U2 album All That You Can't Leave Behind

I don't like U2 at all so never listened further, but if you mean "music that feels calming and emotionally cosy while also putting me in a bad emotional place", then CCM is a good shout

Well, reading your description of "calm but softly uplifting" what came immediately to mind is that "backing vocal for Kickstarter pitch videos" sort of sound, which I associate with both CCM and 20th century U2. So nevermind!

TBF I did think of this post when searching for shit like this, which is gonna not only put me to sleep, but have me crying myself to sleep:

[oasisfan35]

I'm often looking for calming, relaxing, serene music to have on in the background that isn't distracting but calms my anxiety, racing thoughts, or whatever other mental health nonsense is going on

and it's not a new thought, but it occurred to me again the other day that a lot of music *sold* as "relaxing", "calming" and "meditative" is also deeply sad, and puts my mind into some unpleasant emotional memory places

and so I thought, what if someone went out of their way to create music that addressed that problem? what if they created music that was not distractingly "upbeat" but was still uplifting in good ways? what would that sound like, and has anyone ever truly achieved it?

part of the problem is that emotional spaces, and the triggers that cause us to return to them, are completely subjective; I might be having a crying fit to a piece of music that someone else is dancing to, or vice versa

and yet, still, I find it generally true that "calming" and "sad" are often bedfellows

what gives?

I definitely feel there could be a few playlists made from some Sigur Rós and Buckethead selections along with some Angelo Badalementi as well.

[Ms Harmless]

I'm often looking for calming, relaxing, serene music to have on in the background that isn't distracting but calms my anxiety, racing thoughts, or whatever other mental health nonsense is going on

and it's not a new thought, but it occurred to me again the other day that a lot of music *sold* as "relaxing", "calming" and "meditative" is also deeply sad, and puts my mind into some unpleasant emotional memory places

and so I thought, what if someone went out of their way to create music that addressed that problem? what if they created music that was not distractingly "upbeat" but was still uplifting in good ways? what would that sound like, and has anyone ever truly achieved it?

part of the problem is that emotional spaces, and the triggers that cause us to return to them, are completely subjective; I might be having a crying fit to a piece of music that someone else is dancing to, or vice versa

and yet, still, I find it generally true that "calming" and "sad" are often bedfellows

what gives?

I definitely feel there could be a few playlists made from some Sigur Rós and Buckethead selections along with some Angelo Badalementi as well.

I love Sigur Ros but a lot of it makes me sad because of memories attached, though I appreciate that's subjective

[oasisfan35]

I'm often looking for calming, relaxing, serene music to have on in the background that isn't distracting but calms my anxiety, racing thoughts, or whatever other mental health nonsense is going on

and it's not a new thought, but it occurred to me again the other day that a lot of music *sold* as "relaxing", "calming" and "meditative" is also deeply sad, and puts my mind into some unpleasant emotional memory places

and so I thought, what if someone went out of their way to create music that addressed that problem? what if they created music that was not distractingly "upbeat" but was still uplifting in good ways? what would that sound like, and has anyone ever truly achieved it?

part of the problem is that emotional spaces, and the triggers that cause us to return to them, are completely subjective; I might be having a crying fit to a piece of music that someone else is dancing to, or vice versa

and yet, still, I find it generally true that "calming" and "sad" are often bedfellows

what gives?

I definitely feel there could be a few playlists made from some Sigur Rós and Buckethead selections along with some Angelo Badalementi as well.

I love Sigur Ros but a lot of it makes me sad because of memories attached, though I appreciate that's subjective

I thought you were a fan but wasn't positive, foiled by life again!

[Ms Harmless]

I'm often looking for calming, relaxing, serene music to have on in the background that isn't distracting but calms my anxiety, racing thoughts, or whatever other mental health nonsense is going on

and it's not a new thought, but it occurred to me again the other day that a lot of music *sold* as "relaxing", "calming" and "meditative" is also deeply sad, and puts my mind into some unpleasant emotional memory places

and so I thought, what if someone went out of their way to create music that addressed that problem? what if they created music that was not distractingly "upbeat" but was still uplifting in good ways? what would that sound like, and has anyone ever truly achieved it?

part of the problem is that emotional spaces, and the triggers that cause us to return to them, are completely subjective; I might be having a crying fit to a piece of music that someone else is dancing to, or vice versa

and yet, still, I find it generally true that "calming" and "sad" are often bedfellows

what gives?

I definitely feel there could be a few playlists made from some Sigur Rós and Buckethead selections along with some Angelo Badalementi as well.

I love Sigur Ros but a lot of it makes me sad because of memories attached, though I appreciate that's subjective

I thought you were a fan but wasn't positive, foiled by life again!

oh I'm definitely a fan

[bodysnatcher]

Lou Reed “metal machine music”

[liebzz]

I listened to Black Pumas’ Capitol Cuts and immediately ordered that and the deluxe version of their debut album.

[Birds in Hell]

Eno's Ambient 4: On Land always makes me feel good

I love this album but I would definitely class parts of it as feeling vaguely anxious and unsettling.

[washing machine]

The title track from Discreet Music comes to mind.