So I'm super stoked about this week - we're trying something a little different - instead of just one track - we're presenting an entire writing mix - a playlist within a playlist - 1 hour of music lovingly stitched together to create the perfect sonic environment for all you out there who need to get the words down!
One of the challenges of using Spotify to create a playlist is that the default listening action is to shuffle. Sure most people will listen to the first track on a playlist but after that it pretty much leaps around and you as the playlist curator have little control over that. We learned this pretty early on and to some of us it was disappointing as we have been known to spend hours working on the perfect segue from track to track.
The music to write an essay to playlist is not built around a specific track list - every track is a stand a lone entity and is selected for its ability to be put on repeat and just loop as you get lost in it - which is cool and keeps the list fresh - but - the idea of defining an hour's worth of listening - and the order in which you hear it - means we have to go to Soundcloud.
I met Nils on Instagram in the time honored digital way - he had posted something interesting or maybe I had - we liked each other's content - eventually passed a comment or two and then moved to email - I love how that process works and now here we are.
Nils does a lot of longer form - what he calls - Mixtapes - I had a listen and thought he'd be ideal to ask for a writing Mixtape. After a bit of back and forth I found myself writing away to this version of Essay 3 and found it perfect - when you make it to the final track you'll laugh and indeed - get up and stretch your legs. I've added nils comments below - if you dig this you should def check his Soundcloud mixes out:
“Track List:
1. Jssst - Schier II 00:00
2. ECLEKTTIK - Sky Holder 3:49
3. Zakir - Ruhi (Just Emma Remix) 9:46
4. X Brazas - Getting There 15:11
5. Vladimir Belyaev - Lika’n’tropy 19:17
6. Joe Jog - Celtic Drama 24:57
7. Giuliano Rodrigues - Connecting Minds (Nadja Lind Lucid Moment Remix) 29:51
8. Gidge - Huldra 36:05
9. Lorde Of The Isles - NG 9098 2006 41:07
10. Didacte - Echose of Kodamas 44:55
11. Visa Seppänen - Escape 47:39
12. Aaron McCelland - Deep Adagio (Touch & Go Laidback Mix) 53:03
13. Hybrid - I Choose Noise (Orchestral Version) 57:03
Through the magic of the internet I got into a discussion with @essayplaylist (www.instagram.com/essayplaylist/) on Instagram about music for studying or writing essays. What kind of music helps you focus, and what works well as background music while studying?
This set is my attempt at creating a continuous one-hour mix of study music. It finds itself somewhere in the borderland between deep house and chillout, but without really committing to either. There’s a steady rhythm to keep you awake, and a soundscape filled with quirky little sounds that make themselves known without being too intrusive. Melodies come and go, pushing the set on towards the next track without getting lost in the monotonous for too long.
The first half of the set is the most energetic. It’s followed by a deeper section, after which it picks up and gets a little brighter. The last track is (comparatively) bombastic, to remind you it’s time for a break and a cup of tea. Get up and stretch.
Compiled and tweaked using MixMeister Express - not recorded live.”
Perfect Essay Writing Music: Clarity by Ellipsis
The Music to Write An Essay playlist is sponsored this month by Clarity from Ellipsis.
Enter the Jungle and #FindYourClarity; fresh Chillstep from Ellipsis to help you focus and get writing. Stream it now:
You can learn more about Nils Ödlund here:
About the Curator: Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the dark forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top. They would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
Although I've always played, I haven't always been a musician. Most of my twenties were spent working with people, buying and selling and learning how the world works. It was in my thirties that I came to America and focused on music and began to develop music2work2.
Latest Posts
Lonely Dream – Drunken Kong Remix – The Archer, Drunken Kong
24 November 2021
But as I’ve moved from ideation to manifestation, the energy of the playlist needed to change – solo piano is good for thinking – but 8 minutes of 130 bpm edm is great for getting things down
Out Of Reach – Cristoph, Yotto, Sansa
8 November 2021
So if you’ve been listening to the playlist recently you know what’s coming. Last week’s track was all about setting the intent for change – away from the more relaxing ideation space of solo instrumentation to this week’s electronic track from Cristoph, Yotto and Sansa.
Mr. Clay – Johnny Klimek, Tom Tykwer
31 October 2021
I’ve known for a while that the feel of the list was going to change – while piano instrumentals are perfect for reflection and ideation – at some point you need some energetic input to get your fingers moving.
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.