cover image source: KCLOGG
This week, I want us to try and share our favorite instrumentals and/or focus music. Last Friday, I stumbled upon @lit_mgwebi's How do you focus?? and heard a few folks talking about how they like to tune into J Dilla and lofi hip hop when trying to focus. That resonated with me and got me interested in what types of instrumental music other folks use when they need to concentrate. So, let's hear it!
How we do
In this weekly series, folks can chime in and drop links to whatever it is they've been listening to recently + browse others suggestions.
If you like talking about music, consider following the org #music discussions for more conversations about music!
So, how about sharing some instrumentals or whatever the focus music of your choice might be? Note: you can embed a link to your song using the following syntax {% embed https://... %}. This should work for most common platforms!
I look forward to listening to y'all's suggestions! 👂 🎶
Top comments (21)
Plini!
Not even sure which song to share because they're all great, but here are a couple of my current favourites:
Wow, this is incredible!! I'd not heard Plini prior to this but am loving these 2 songs... really appreciate ya including the video of 'em playing, too.
Gonna have to explore around Plini + the prog metal genre a bit more. Thinking I'll check out the suggestions in @dendihandian's response to ya.
I think a band that I listen to who is most like this would probs be Battles. Familiar? Here's a tune of theirs called The Yabba:
What genre is this song called? It's sound like psychedelic genre a bit.
It does indeed, doesn't it? I'm seeing the word "experimental" thrown around their wikipedia page quite a bit lol. Also, they get referred to as "math metal", which might be the aspect of 'em that tickled my prog senses. Do ya like'em though?!
On an unrelated note, I'm tuning into your suggestions here now. Really digging Yppah! 🤘
ahh Math-Metal is around progressive metal music as well.
Yppah's music genres are ambient music and intelligent dance music, somewhat close to chill tune but with electro. Another artist similar is Tycho, an he's great too.
Yppah also come with a vocalist in some of their songs, Film Burn might be your next round on Yppah.
Wow!!! This is really really dope. I'm listening to the live on KEXP version now and really digging it.
Yess! progressive metal instrumental was my favorite day to day study music when in college.
Plini, Intervals, Polyphia, Jason Richardson, Animals as Leader, CHON, Sithu Aye
Instrumental? Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh I've got this music !
Yes ODESZA again 😆
And a chill playlist
Haha! Hey man, nothing wrong with ODESZA... y'know what ya like! 😀
And ooooo how I love me some lofi beats. 😌
Classical violinists such as Esther Abrami, Sarah Chang, and Midori, among others.
Sometimes more modern violin like Lindsey Stirling.
Modern cellists like Tina Guo. She has a lot of movie stuff. And a whole album of video game music.
Very chill! 🎻
I get the vibes that you play a stringed instrument, is that right? Also, I'm sorry if we may have talked about this before... 😅
I never played any string instruments, but I played the trumpet from when I was 6 years old to around 18, and someplace in the middle also briefly played the french horn. I just find myself listening to strings a lot, especially the violin.
Oooo, trumpet is a fantastic instrument! French horn is super cool as well. I enjoy ska (from time to time) and love funk... nothing like a great horn section in those genres.
I also love strings! Of course, I'm partial to guitar because I play it... and well, because I love to rock, haha. 🎸 BUT, I do really dig the violin. I really love it in the bluegrass, folksy, old time Americana music setting.
I'm tuning into Lindsey Stirling right now though and this is dope! I just played through Ice Storm and was super impressed... gonna pop that back on around Christmas, haha.
Good suggestions!
Something about the sound of the violin that attracts me regardless of genre. Whether classical. Or bluegrass/folk--I grew up in Philadelphia, known for the annual Mummers parade, with its string bands who are influenced by bluegrass, folk, etc and heavily use violins and banjos.
And whatever genre Lindsey Stirling is considered.
Some of my all-time favorites instrumental music
But these are not for study focus
I absolutely love that you include Vulfpek in here. Pretty sure they are the tightest funk group on the planet right now and they are goofy as hell, haha!
I'm glad there are some great band that born in this decade like Vulfpeck and Parcels, and many more.
Hey Michael👋🏾 firstly I just wanted to say thank you for what you're doing here. Music is such a fundamental part of our psyche and it's cool that you've made a hub for music to thrive.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Y2POaXjVlic446Jir7ZX2?si=LaZsWDiBTZ-D2hr8ClELrg&utm_source=copy-link
This playlist is the culmination of some of my favorite random lofi beats that I stumble upon when listening to a Spotify mix. It's really soothing and I hope you guys enjoy it👍🏾😌
Thanks a bunch, Lithi. 🙌
Music is so essential to me, glad you're feeling the same!
And, I'll definitely poke around in your Spotify playlist. I'm already lovin' the title, haha. Also, I see Flying Lotus in there which is a good sign. 😀
I'll be coming back here to drop more, but one of my all-time favorite instrumental songs is John Butler's "Ocean"... check it out:
And if you haven't listened to John Butler yet, then ya should! He's a seriously excellent guitar player and can sing really well too.
My current favourites: