Music for the groupmind
Musings on using music for (positively) manipulating the minds of the many
I was just listening to the podchat I recorded earlier this week with Nirish Shakya and Josie Downey. As I was listening I was reminded of our discussion about music in work settings.
It was in response to the use of music that both Josie and Nirish used throughout the workshop. Streamed via Zoom, we had a mix of calming, wide emotional range music, and silly upbeat Benny Hill music.
We talked about how music may be more acceptable in a yoga session, but less so in the workplace.
It made me reflect on the different ways I have experienced and used music within professional work group sessions.
I should say that I’m a frustrated ex DJ and amateur music producer. And would say that I am extra sensitive to music.
And though many people are sensitive to music, it turns out that some people just aren’t as much. And even their genetics can determine whether or not they like more complex music like jazz etc. Not just their exposure to it.
Music in the office
Through most of my career working in agencies and consultancies there have been some really big tensions about music in the workplace.
There was no way music was going to be played in the main areas of PA Consulting, the management consultancy I joined after graduating. But there was definitely more acceptance in the ‘New Media Group’ room. The ‘creatives’.
When I joined Flow Interactive, it was super rare to have music on in the backroom where I sat. It was bizarrely quiet. Like a library. And was very uncomfortable to me. Especially if you wanted to converse around something. Tippety tappety on the keyboards, and then someone would say something and you could hear it. We tested the boundaries later with this. I would get in early and crank up the tunes. And I wish I’d been exposed to some more of Claire’s techno as an education.
At LBi (and Framfab, and Oyster before it), there was definitely a music vibe in the different areas. It definitely caused some arguments. Music tends to. Some things ‘too cool’ or ‘leftfield’, some things just way too ‘cheesy’. But in the most part, the creative agencies I worked in accepted music was an important backdrop to the broad, pressured, creative report. We even had Radio Ben, which was a group effort to play some sets of curated music across the agency on a Friday. It was a great bonding exercise before the pub.
At The Team, there was probably more acceptance in certain rooms and definitely in the ‘digital’ area. ‘It’s those cool kids again’ kinda comments. There we were lucky to be blessed with Stephen Waller’s great range of music. Some incredibly dark. We nicknamed it the ‘Wallerbox’.
Plan had a great big B&O speaker which was great to play music through, especially first thing in the morning when noone was about. Like with many of the more ‘creative’ and design-oriented organisations, music was just more accepted. And you’d put on your own headphones if you didn’t like what was played out loud. In fact, wearing headphones was an important signal to others that you were going ‘into the zone’ as Kevin often did.
Infamously, Jony Ive used to play music in the design studio. Mostly minimal techno and progressive house. I always wonder how good it actually was. And what music might have been playing when the iPhone, iPod, or various iconic iMacs were being conceived.
It’s quite sad that music was only really tolerated in the more overtly ‘creative’ teams areas in my experience. When shared music could benefit many people despite their specialism.
Music in workshops
I’m not sure when I first used music in workshops, or when I first experienced it. It could have been at one of Jon Hughes’ epic workshops at PA Consulting. But I have regularly used music in different types of sessions.
I even made a quite annoying 10 min remix of Countdown, the famous UK TV series. It really worked in one of my prioritisation workshops, to create a sense of urgency. With little samples at key points to subtly remind me of how much time was left.
Often I’ll use some music without vocals at various points where there is some solo work. It helps to fill in the space, without affecting too much of the verbal thinking necessary when playing with ideas.
Music features heavily in my Shaping Design workshops. Using the same playlist helps me to get a sense of where I am, and settles me as much as the attendees. There is a deliberate arc to the music, and it usually works out fairly well. Although there is a little too much Four Tet from an album that was recently released when I started using it.
Others use music to change the tempo, or mindset. For Nirish and Josie’s workshop, the use of Benny Hill was a suitable contrast to the ethereal, and appropriate for generating silly bad ideas.
Usually the music I use is pretty unobtrusive, more ambient, and electronic. To some extent more plinky plonk. Usually people want to get hold of my playlists. However, I do remember one of my colleagues getting quite irate at the ‘plinky plonk elevator music’.
Music can unite but it can also divide.
Music in meetings
Earlier this week, Greg Petroff posted about using music at the start of certain meetings. He shared his playlist that covered a range of different styles. Some of the stuff I’d use, but there was a bit more song-oriented guitar music.
This could be because of taste, but I hypothesise that there is more of an electronic instrumental bias in UK creative teams.
Possibly related to an affinity to clubbing and rave culture that many designers and creatives may have been part of in the UK.
I can imagine it working fine at certain points as a welcoming or ending, but I wonder how the more vocal oriented music works through thinking exercises.
Music at conferences and events
Music is regularly used at conferences and events. Usually to hype up the crowd before the talks, and maybe to reduce embarrassment and discerning of chatter.
I have certainly used it that way at IxDA London. It’s always awkward when I arrive somewhere and it’s quiet. Especially at the earliest stages. Music can fill in the space that bit more.
On the podchat I referenced a great conference I went to last year where the host encourage the whole room to get into it to MC Hammer.
This was just too awkward for me. Especially as there was an ex-colleague behind me, and a bunch of people filming. Plus, this just wasn’t the sort of music I let loose to in public without a few drinks in me. And more of a piss-take. I would feel like I was trying too hard, or something like that, and I like to pretend I’m a bit more discerning.
Music for co-working
For the past year or so I have been hosting regular Write Club sessions. An hour of people checking in, and then writing (or other creation activities) with videos on or off while we listen to the same playlist.
Most of the time, I use versions of my wife’s yoga playlists because they’re so good. Although, sometimes there are vocals in them too. And so I have created some of my own too.
Some of the attendees have brought their own into the mix too. And that eases some of the pressure.
The weird thing is that playing the music in this situation does make me feel self-conscious. Is it too ambient? Too leftfield? Too complex? Too repetitive and housey? Am I affecting what attendees write about?
I’m sure I am. But I reckon it’s not in bad way.
Whatever ways you use music in different work situations, I wonder how things could change for the better to use it more, and a little more intentionally.
To relax people. To help them feel at ease as they enter a room.
To keep them focused on a solo activity.
To bring some shared fun and joy together.
To encourage greater divergence in thinking. Maybe more silly.
To create an urgency.
Or just to bond over some shared interests.
Just beware how music tastes can differ. Some preferring more popular. Some full on coffee or olive-like acquired tastes. And some incredibly invasive.
And be careful of introducing your thrash metal, hardcore jungle or gabba techno to a bunch of people that may prefer a bit of pop music.
This post is part of an advent calendar challenge I have set for myself. Writing and publishing one piece a day. Whatever emerges. Although sometimes I may work on an idea sparked on another day. An exercise in getting back into the writing groove. But also re-finding my voice. Lowering the barriers of my ego getting in the way of what might be valuable for others, or at least me.
You can check the other pieces here on the ‘Eclectical’ Medium publication.
I am a coach, a product-service strategy consultant, a community connector and so many other things. You can find out more about me, my many interests and how to connect them with yours here.
