Post: #1

When I need to sit down and write, I enjoy the ritual as much as the process itself. Comfortable clothes, pot of green tea, mapacho, and some music…

I have had the same playlist for quite sometime: it includes bands such as Mogwai, Explosions in the sky, Do Make Say Think, Dirty Three, Air, Boards of Canada, Nicolas Jarr…

Mostly bands that don’t use or have very minimal vocals, are technically proficient but not annoyingly so, and are overall aides in concentration (listening to Explosions in the Sky makes everything you are doing seem fucking epic).

Any suggestions for other music that helps your mind focus? Classical composers welcome as well.

Post: #2

Music puts you in a different mind space. If listening to music makes you happy then it makes whatever you're doing less torturous and more fun. That's why I hate the corporate world. 8 hours in a cubicle dealing with bullshit in dead silence.

Post: #3

(03-06-2014 06:12 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  Music puts you in a different mind space.

Exactly. So I'm looking for music that puts you in a place of high mental clarity.

Post: #4

when I'm studying I like calm music with minimal vocals too, some of my favourites from my revision playlists are, The xx, Bonobo, caveman, flying lotus...
But my ultimate fav is a chillwave/chillstep mix by Fluidified called 'Ethereal Dreams'. I put it on for about an hour and let my mind flow, I HIGHly recommend it aha.

Post: #5

Agreed that, in general, less vocals = better for writing music.

In addition to helping block the outside world and getting a good creative state, many of these files run about an hour or more in length - so there's no fussing with new selections to break concentration.

To that end, I really dig House music - specifically Rony Seikaly's Sugar Free Radio (hat-tip, Danger and Play).

https://soundcloud.com/ronyseikaly

He seems to have stopped updating the above, but this has a lot of good, downloadable mixes.

It appears that his newer Sugar Free radio mixes are available at the iTunes store.

I have it on my iPod, but I can't seem to find a good link for Sharam's BBC Radio One Essential Mix from 2006. There are some back channel ways to get it but I'm not sure about the quality or authenticity. Sharam's 06 essential mix was/is two hours of writing inspiration and worth checking out.

For classical, I'm partial to Beethoven Symphony #9:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCqOHFvO3po

Mozart's Requiem in D minor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPlhKP0nZII

I stay away from Bach while writing because I find his music too moving.

After trial and error, I've found that you can listen to lyric-heavy music so long as it's music you've listened to many times. So Led Zep (specifically II and IV), Exile on Main St. (or a home-made playlist) by The Stones, and Stadium Arcadium by the Chili Peppers all work well for me. Of course, this varies based on the individual.

Post: #6

If you like Explosions in the Sky you'll probably enjoy Pelican. They're a bit heavier, but similar, all instrumental. My favorite album of theirs is The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw. One of the few albums I can consistently listen to all the way through.

Post: #7

The Segovia Collection, five albums worth of old classical guitar recordings. Had that on shuffle all through college.

Post: #8

I've heard music that promote Alpha waves in the brain help with learning and concentration.
I personally use Canon D

Post: #9

Great topic. I was going to start a thread about music and sounds that help one concentrate. Bach's Goldberg Variations on Harpsichord put me into a state of deep concentration, or flow.

There's a wide range of sounds on YouTube. I've been trying out sounds such as celestial white noise, flowing streams and rain falling on a roof. The loud neighbors and barking dog fade away and I can focus on a project.

This dude has a whole channel full of brain enhancing sounds. Check 'em out: http://www.youtube.com/user/MindAmend?feature=watch

Post: #10

(03-06-2014 06:12 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  Music puts you in a different mind space. If listening to music makes you happy then it makes whatever you're doing less torturous and more fun. That's why I hate the corporate world. 8 hours in a cubicle dealing with bullshit in dead silence.

That's why I use my headphones on the job (it's permissible where I work). It's the only way I can get through the day and remain focused.

Post: #11

Terrible pop music on loop. Not joking.

(I think Ryan Holiday has an article about doing the same thing somewhere. Can't find it now.)

Post: #12

(03-06-2014 10:36 PM)runsonmagic Wrote:  Terrible pop music on loop. Not joking.

(I think Ryan Holiday has an article about doing the same thing somewhere. Can't find it now.)

The problem is that you can't get the fucking awful lyrics out of your head for the next day or two!

Post: #13

Classical music is best for me when I'm writing.

Hip hop is best when I'm doing something quantitative. e.g. Immortal Technique, Wu Tang, Dead Prez

Post: #14

I've been listening to Jon Hopkin's 'Collider'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XtqUOegCv8&feature=kp

Post: #15

I don't listen to music while I work, but I do listen to Rammstein when I lift weights. It is really amazing how aggressive I get and how I can use that to give an extra effort.

Post: #16

I get a lot done while my roommates play house music, but that's in spite of the music.

Post: #17

I can't have music of any sort on if I'm trying to focus because I'm HIGHLY distractable and ADDish. If I have music on, I will lose focus and start concentrating on the music. Doesn't matter what type of music it is. And all music is interesting to me on some level. Boards of Canada was mentioned in the OP post. Like I can't have that on while trying to concentrate because I'll hear some loop that's dope and I'll want to hear it again and hit rewind and before I know it I'm paying more attention to the music then whatever it is I'm trying to do. If I need to get shit down I have to turn off EVERYTHING.

Also kind of depends what I'm doing. If it's something cognitively rigorous like learning programming that takes all my brainpower, I can't have anything on. But if I'm doing something that isn't too focus-intensive like painting, then I'll put something on.

Post: #18

(03-06-2014 10:36 PM)runsonmagic Wrote:  Terrible pop music on loop. Not joking.

(I think Ryan Holiday has an article about doing the same thing somewhere. Can't find it now.)

Ryan Holiday Pop Music

Gonna try today. That dude gets a lot of stuff done.

Post: #19

I can't have any music in the background when I'm trying to concentrate. I'm too much of a musician to just let it flow in one ear and out the other. Then again, I'm one of those weird people that will sit and listen to an entire record in the same fashion as someone would watch a movie.

However, Owen (Mike Kinsella) has some pretty peaceful jams.

Post: #20

Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Handel...those put me in the zone if I need to get work done.

Post: #21

(03-07-2014 06:31 PM)Remington Wrote:  Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Handel...those put me in the zone if I need to get work done.

Classical music for me as well.

This youtube channel has a number of 'best of xyz composer' soundtracks, each of which is 1.5-2hrs, so you can just click play and not have to mess with it frequently.

Post: #22

Bach - Brandenburg concertos
Vivaldi - Four Seasons
Beethoven's fifth

All of these will get you some mileage (reasonably long, as opposed to listening to Canon in D or Moolight Sonata on repeat)

Try Strauss, Tchaikovsky as well. Check out Waggoner (you can even workout to Ride of the Valkyries)

And, don't pass up John Williams. Although mostly soundtracks, probably best composer of modern times.

Post: #23

Any classical or NPR (when it's just music).

Even some of the more mellow Cocteau Twins stuff.

Brian Eno's Ambient albums are pretty chill.

Post: #24

Music kills my concentration. Silence lets my mind wander too much.

This is my perfect background noise when trying to read or write: http://coffitivity.com

Post: #25

I was recently recommended the site: http://www.focusatwill.com

I've only done the 60 minute free trial so far but it's a collection of radio stations (classical, acoustic, baroque piano, alpha chill, ambient, cinematic, and a few others) with music supposedly chosen by neuroscientists to engage the brain in a way that helps with concentration.

I'm not sure how legit the science behind it is but the music I heard during the trial was actually pretty good. It's only $5 a month for unlimited listening and you can play with different settings once you're a paid member, like adjusting the "energy level" of the station.