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Music can move you, stimulate you, and even relax you. That’s because music has a unique link to our emotions. Listening to relaxing music can even have a beneficial effect on your body’s functions by slowing your pulse and heart rate as well as lowering blood pressure and stress hormones.
Whether you listen to relaxing piano music or lofi hip hop beats, you can ease your mind simply by putting on a good playlist. So when you want to sit back and invite calming vibes, push play on this relaxing music for the perfect playlist to soothe and relax.
Aqueous Transmission - Incubus
Taken from the band’s fourth studio album, Morning View, “Aqueous Transmission” is over 7 minutes of pure relaxation. Chinese instruments like the pipa accompany a Japanese orchestra, and the song ends with a full minute of frog sounds. This relaxing sleep music can help quiet your mind and soothe you. The band recorded the album in Malibu, so you’ll catch those Cali vibes where you can almost hear the ocean waves. Lead singer, Brandon Boyd jokingly said in a Baruch College blog that they wrote the song to make “the listener pee in his/her pants [from relaxation].”
Within In Without You - The Beatles
Taken from the iconic album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, this relaxing Beatles’ track is the perfect addition to any yoga or chill-out playlist. George Harrison wrote “Within In Without” You, drawing inspiration from his travels throughout India. You can hear it in the use of the sitar and ragas, as well as the philosophical lyrics. “Within You Without You” speaks of transcendence; looking inwards can release the ego to find your true nature of oneness with the universe.
Now We Are Free - Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer, & Klaus Badelt
You’ll recognize this emotive song from the award-winning 2000 epic film, Gladiator. The classical piece features Lisa Gerrard, an Australian musician, singer, and composer. German composers, Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt also collaborated. Gerrard composed the lyrics “Now We Are Free” in idioglossia, an invented language, and only she knows the true meaning of the lyrics. Close your eyes and create your own interpretation!
Satyam Shivam Sundaram - Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation is an American electronic music duo consisting of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton. Their musical style mixes elements of reggae, Indian classical, Middle Eastern, hip hop, and electronic, as perfectly exemplified in this relaxing music. Beloved Indian singer, Lata Mangeshkar, recorded the original song, featured in the 1978 Indian Hindi-language film Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Truth-Godliness-Beauty).
At the River - Groove Armada
If the lyrics alone don’t put you at ease, then the sleepy beat and mellow trumpet certainly will. This track by English electronic music duo, Groove Armada, feels like a quiet day sitting by the coast. Sit back and picture surf swells and sandy coves as you groove into relaxation. “ At the River” is a must on any chill-out playlist.
Destiny - Zero 7
Before you knew her as SIA, this well-known pop singer was a member of the downtempo electronica group, Zero 7. Released in 2001, their song “Destiny” is an easygoing love song described by Katy Stephan in Radio & Records as feeling “more comfortable than a sofa.”
Texas Sun - Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
Roll the windows down and lay back with this perfect collaboration. Psychedelic funk trio Khruangbin teamed up with soul singer Leon Bridges. Bridges croons to the loop of an irresistible guitar riff in “Texas Sun”, making this song ideal music for relaxing.
I’m God - Clams Casino and Imogen Heap
Glitchy, serene melodies pair with lo-fi hip-hop beats in this relaxing music to round out any laid-back, lounge playlist. English singer-songwriter, Imogen Heap, sings beautifully on this track produced by Clams Casino. Turn up the volume of “I’m God” and feel expansive!
Can I Kick It - A Tribe Called Quest
Take it up a notch after you have de-stressed with this classic hip hop track from A Tribe Called Quest's debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. “Can I Kick It” includes an array of familiar samples, including the use of Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” as well as “What a Waste” by Ian Dury and the Blockheads.
