by Judah Jernigan
I recently read about loneliness in America. One study found that about 25% of people don’t have a close friend. Another study discovered that when compared to people with poor or insufficient social relationships, people “with adequate social relationships have a 50% greater likelihood of survival”. “The magnitude of this effect is comparable with quitting smoking and it exceeds many well-known risk factors for mortality (e.g., obesity, physical inactivity)”. It's safe to say most of us can relate one way or another. Who hasn’t felt alone, especially lately? I try to imagine and empathize with what others are feeling, and I wish I had the perfect solution to it all. I want to help in any way possible, a lot of people do. Music is one of the most dynamic tools we have available to do that.
Music is powerful.
Sometimes it's deeply moving, to the point of tears. Sometimes it’s funny. It can be motivating and freeing. It’s so simple, you just have to listen to it. Listening to music is a small, yet complex thing that helps us humans stay, well...human. But it’s easy to blast your favorite happy song as loud as possible to get you through the hard times. It’s helpful to hear one of your favorite and familiar songs from that album you love. It’s good to avoid the feelings of being sad or alone but I think it’s also good to embrace the feelings that aren’t welcome, if only for a moment. Music can be a helpful tool when you are feeling down. Happy and uplifting songs can bring you out of some dark places, there is no doubt about that. But there is something beneficial to giving the more subtle and emotional dance music a listen. If you don’t give yourself a chance to feel, you could be missing out on some personal growth opportunities. Consider giving some electronic music without lyrics as the focal point a chance.
I find great pleasure in taking a break from music with lyrics as the focal point. I find myself soaking in the melodies, enjoying the intricate changes, and noticing little hints presented throughout a quality instrumental song. Vocals can take away from a song at points, specifically the lyrics. Lyrics can make a song feel a bit constrained, almost like a tour guide in a museum. Tour guides are knowledgeable, helpful, and guide you along your journey as you go on your museum tour, or in this case, your listening journey. They point out certain things and provide potent detail. These are all great and welcome things, and without them, you’d be missing out on a great addition to any museum. But sometimes you miss something on a guided tour. You don’t have that sense of freedom when exploring on your own. You don’t get to navigate the museum in a unique way and you may miss the hidden areas you didn’t even know existed. Instrumental music can allow you to feel more free. Without the lyrics there as a distraction you take away something from the song that is unique to yourself.
Let’s explore some artists that represent a different side to electronic music. These songs are a helpful tool for when you are feeling down. The following songs sound hopeful and somber at the same time and don’t have any lyrics to get lost in. These songs can help you navigate those feelings of loneliness that we all experience, especially these days.
Tom VR
The keys and synths build slowly.
The steady drums act as your tour guide.
The ambient quirks and pops expertly sprinkled around.
This song is a great example of that sad, yet hopeful feeling I described before.
Drew Dapps
This song is packed with dreamy synths, groovy drums, and an addictive bassline.
The steady rhythm is there to give you a little boost of energy and keep you intrigued.
The song title says it all, makes me feel.
Rory No-Mates
The funky bass.
The catchy piano riffs fading in and out of existence.
This song is powerful in its ability to get you into that motivated feeling.
That feeling you get when you're ready to dive headfirst into a new project.
This song is very good.