Category: Relax

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“Welcome” by Harmonia & Eno ’76

"Welcome" by Harmonia & Eno '76
"Welcome" by Harmonia & Eno '76

Artist: Harmonia & Eno ’76

Song: Welcome

Genres: #chillout #ambient

Location: Forst, Germany

Release date: November, 1997.

Comment: Today’s song played during the end credits of the 5th episode of the second season of The Bear, and I was absolutely mesmerised by it. A quick Google search told me that it was called “Welcome”, and the artist was Harmonia & Eno ’76. I found this curious, as the track had indeed reminded me of legendary music product Brian Eno, and I wondered if he had been involved with the track. (Narrator: He was).

Harmonia was a German supergroup formed in 1973 as a collaboration between members of two prominent krautrock bands. Brian Eno was a fan and described them in the mid-1970s as “the world’s most important rock group.” The band dissolved in 1976 after releasing two albums, but reformed briefly for 11 days in September 1976 to record some tracks with Mr. Eno himself. These tunes became the “Tracks & Traces” album, which remained unreleased until November 1997 due to lost tapes. In 2009, the album was reissued with additional tracks and credited to Harmonia & Eno ’76.

“Welcome” is the opening track of the album, and it has a minimalist and meditative quality. If you appreciate the art of soundscaping and the beauty of simplicity, you will find “Welcome” to be a captivating and rewarding listen. I can’t get enough of it.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Chill Out
  • Relax

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“Aquamarine” by Kirsten Agresta Copely

"Aquamarine" by Kirsten Agresta Copely

Artist: Kirsten Agresta Copely

Song: Aquamarine

Genres: #Instrumental, #relaxing, #harp

Location: Brooklyn, United States

Release date: July, 2023

Comment: Kirsten Agresta Copely is no stranger to this blog. I have featured her stunning harp music before, in Sweet Disposition and Tableaux, and I’m happy to report that she has a new album, Aquamarine, released in July.

Aquamarine is a deeply personal and emotional album, dedicated to Kirsten’s late mother, who shared her love of the ocean and music. Each of the nine tracks has a water theme and a special meaning for Kirsten, reflecting her memories of her mother and her own artistic vision. The album is a beautiful tribute to the woman who inspired and supported Kirsten’s musical journey from an early age.

 The title track, “Aquamarine”, is a perfect introduction to the album. It starts with a gentle harp melody that evokes the calmness and clarity of the sea. The song gradually builds up with layers of sounds created by the mixing engineer, Kirsten’s husband: Marc Copely, creating a rich and dynamic soundscape that captures the power and mystery of the ocean. The song is both soothing and uplifting, inviting the listener to dive into Kirsten’s deep blue world.  If you are looking for a song that will soothe your soul and inspire you, here it is:

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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“Lilium” by Gav Moran

"Lilium" by Gav Moran

Artist: Gav Moran

Song: Lilium

Genres: #Instrumental, #Neoclassical, #Piano

Influences: Max Richter, Philip Glass

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Release date: May, 2023

Comment: Allow me to introduce you to the mesmerizing instrumental piece, “Lilium,” composed by the talented artist Gav Moran and featured on his excellent debut album, “Broken Pieces”. “Lilium” is a musical journey that effortlessly blends simplicity and elegance. The piano melody, at its core, is delicate yet profound, guiding the listener through a cascade of emotions that gradually intensify, culminating in a powerful crescendo accompanied by lush violins and cellos. This piece possesses a captivating quality that lingers long after its last note fades away.

The significance of the song’s title, “Lilium,” holds deeper meaning within its Latin origins, translating to “lily.” The lily, renowned as a symbol of purity and innocence, serves as a fitting representation for Moran’s composition. “Broken Pieces”, which was recorded in Gav’s home studio in Ireland, is full of hauntingly beautiful tracks. I highly recommend that you listen to the entire album in addition to “Lilium”. You will not regret it.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Juliano – Torn

Juliano - Torn

Artist: Juliano

Song: Torn

Genres: #Instrumental, #Neoclassical, #Piano

Influences: Hania Rani, Max Richter, Ludovico Einaudi

Location: Giessen, Germany

Release date: August, 2022.

Comment: Happy New Year! Let’s begin 2023 with an enchanting tune from Juliano, a neoclassical composer from Germany. Inspired by an array of related topics such as loss, grief, loneliness and inner conflict, the artist created Torn hoping it would mesmerize the listener with its beautiful melody. It is indeed a captivating piece.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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A Tree On A Hill – Blue Dahlia

Artist: A Tree On A Hill

Song: Blue Dahlia

Genres: #Instrumental, #Neoclassical

Location: Fribourg, Switzerland

Release date: August, 2022.

Comment: There’s no much I can tell you about A Tree On A Hill. I don’t even know the artist’s real name. What I can tell you, though, is that this Swiss artist feels a deep connection with nature, which inspires him to compose moving pieces such as Blue Dahlia. The track represents the lifecycle of that beautiful flower, from the moment it is planted to the moment it gives way to a new cycle. In a way, listening to Blue Dhalia makes this interconnected world feel alive.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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The Aquaerials – Cemetery Walk

Artist: The Aquaerials

Song: Cemetery Walk

Genres: #Instrumental, #Neoclassical, #Piano

Location: Grand Rapids, United States

Release date: August, 2022.

Influences: Ólafur Arnalds, Max Richter, Sigur Rós

Comment: I used to live next to a small cemetery. It was one of those green areas that happened to have some old graves in them. You would think it was a creepy experience, but, actually, taking walks there was extremely peaceful and serene, no matter what your mood was. I felt something similar when I listened to Cemetery Walk, the second track in The Aquaerials’ hauntingly beautiful new EP: After the Apocalypse. If you’ve been paying attention, you may remember then that The Aquaerials is the moniker of multi-instrumentalist Mark Swanson. who keeps composing gorgeous neoclassical melodies, just as the five tracks that make this record.

With all that is happening in the world nowadays, from the war in Ukraine to Twitter’s implosion, it comes in handy to have the soundtrack for what comes after the end of times.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Simon Pipe – Leave The Light On

Artist: Simon Pipe

Song: Leave The Light On

Genres: #indie #relaxingmusic

Location: Worthing, Barbados

Influences: Cigarettes After Sex, Deftones, Cocteau Twins

Release date: July, 2022

Comment: Simon Pipe is a musician, songwriter, producer, and overall artist from Barbados, who has built a career out of writing and producing music for other artists, including the famous reggae act Shaggy. However, that did not fill Simon’s needs as an artist, which is why he decided to make and share his own music as well, hoping someone could relate to it.

Over the last three years, Simon has struggled with his mental health and addiction multiple times. His survival mechanism and the way he prefers to deal with his issues is making music, and Leave The Light On, in particular, is an example of that. It is a song about true love and how small gestures, such as leaving the light on for your partner when they’re late, can mean so much to them, What I enjoy the most about this lovely track is its soothing vibe, helped by Simon’s extremely appealing voice. I honestly feel I could listen to Leave The Light On all day. I hope you can enjoy it too.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Relax

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Pablo Suárez – Shiver

Artist: Pablo Suárez

Song: Shiver

Genres: #Instrumental, #Neoclassical, #Piano

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Release date: May, 2021.

Influences: Olafur Árnalds, Max Richter, Ludovico Einaudi

Comment: With composers such as the ones mentioned above as his influences, it’s no wonder that Mexican composer and pianist Pablo Suárez‘s music sounds so enchanting. It is the type of minimalist neoclassical compositions they excel at. Take for example Shiver –part of Pablo’s latest album Retrospect–, with its delicate piano melody and hypnotic strings (played by Luis Cardoso): you won’t want the song to end.

The artist’s goal with this album was to capture the intimate aspects of each instrument, minor flaws included, to produce nostalgic melodies in piano and violin. I guess each one of us will experience the record differently, but we will all find it nothing short of magical.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Hatsü – Be Conscious

Artist: Hatsü

Song: Be Conscious

Genres: #relaxing #ambient

Location: London, United Kingdom

Release date: May, 2022.

Comment: Today, middle of the week, let’s switch gears to something extremely relaxing. Be Conscious is a hypnotic track from London-based music producer Bobby Turner, aka Hatsü, which is a Japanese name meaning Beginning. One problem I’ve found with most ambient tracks is that they tend to sound very similar to each other but, luckily, Be Conscious does not suffer from that issue. Instead, Hatsü introduces subtle changes with layer after layer of textures and tones, resulting in a gentle soundscape that will certainly help you to focus, sleep or meditate.

I hope you enjoy this ethereal piece as much as I did.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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MIRRORS – Heading Home

MIRRORS - Heading Home

Artist: MIRRORS

Song: Heading Home

Genres: #chillout #ambient

Location: Indianapolis, United States

Release date: April, 2022.

Comment: Here’s another chill-out gem. At one point or another in our lives, we have all had to leave the place we considered home in order to start a new life somewhere else, whether it’s going away to college or moving to a new city or country because life happens. In the process, we feel homesick for the place we’re leaving behind and, at the same time, excited in anticipation of the environment that will become our new home. How will it be? Will we get used to it? That’s the feeling that young and extremely talented music producer Joe Morgan, aka MIRRORS, wanted to convey with the fascinating “Heading Home“. This spellbinding track is simply gorgeous.

The scary part – in a good way – is that MIRRORS, a name chosen based on the project’s main catchphrase, “We reflect what we surround ourselves with,” is just getting started.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Chill Out
  • Relax