The Rise of Ambient and Experimental music in 2023

Modern atmospheric music continues to rise higher than ever before

Ambient Music Defined

Ambient music is a type of modern music that is intended to create an atmosphere, or evoke an emotion from it’s listener. Either with instrumental only or with a more faint vocal, it has many applications.

Ambient music is a genre of music typically designed to put the listener at ease. Unlike many other genres of music, ambient music is not designed to be listened to with full attention, but rather background sounds that allow the listener to concentrate on another task. This is the reason this style of music is used for multi-sensory branding and events. Artists will often use this kind of music to accompany events and parties as to create a mood.

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The rise in popularity of ambient music can be attributed to several factors incuding the worlds increased focus on health and wellness.

The first is the rise in popularity of meditation and yoga. As people began to focus more on their health and wellness, they also started looking for ways to relax. Ambient music is perfect for this purpose because it can be played at low volumes without being distracting.

Multi-sensory branding

Another reason why ambient music has risen in popularity is due to the rise of multi-sensory branding events and experiences. Multi-sensory branding refers to the incorporation of multiple senses when designing an experience or event such as sound, sight, taste, touch and smell — all of which play a role in how someone feels about that experience or event. By adding the sense of sound to the mix, brands can create a more immersive experience for their customers.

The Music Community

It also helps to create a sense of community and belonging. When people feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves — like the music being played in the background — it encourages them to interact with one another in a positive way.

Ambient music is also great for creating a relaxing atmosphere. Studies have shown that ambient sounds can help to reduce stress and anxiety, making it an excellent way to unwind after a long day at work.

As a gateway to a more serene states of mind, ambient music is being incorporated in immersive virtual reality games. Its ability to distract users from the demands of everyday life is powerful. It’s no wonder people are turning to ambient music when they want to relax or engage their creativity like painting, or hobby related activities.

What’s in the Mix

Ambient music consists of a number of different styles that have been created by creating sounds that are intended to create an atmosphere or mood and not necessarily be listened to as separate pieces. Artists like Brian Eno and David Bowie were pioneers in ambient music, with many other artists finding success later on by applying their own take on it with electronic instruments, sampling and loops.

Robert Rich: In the 1980s, Robert Rich was one of the first artists to release ambient music. His first album called “Structures from Silence” came out in 1984 and is still considered one of the best recordings in ambient music history. The album consists of soundscapes that are both relaxing and engaging at the same time, with synthesizers used as a way to create textures instead of melodic lines. It’s easy to see why this record has been so influential on other artists as well as fans who listen for its calming effects. Listen <here>

Moby: Singer songwriter and producer Moby was on of the most important electronic dance music figures of the 90’s whose cross over success helped bring the sound to mainstream music. He established himself as a pioneer that cropped a succession of superstar DJ’s in the wave of electronic pop of that time. Fast forward into the 2020’s when he expanded into developing expansive ambient collections. His latest album is called “Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt”, and it includes a series of instrumentals that evoke feelings of relaxation, peace, and well being. Moby’s latest album ‘ Ambient 23’ is an ambient masterpiece, and it’s one of the best albums of the year in this genre. It sounds like a dream but it’s not. It’s a reality, and you can listen to it on our playlist <here>:

Here are some new creators on the rise in Ambient music.

Omar Raafat is a Composer and multi-instrumentalist from Cairo, Egypt. Omar currently resides in Victoria, BC in Canada writing music for Film/TV while also working on his own solo work which mixes electronic elements with piano, strings and classical instrumentation. His new release ‘Closer’ A melodic track featuring piano, string quartet and a synth. The artist breaths life into this composition through carefully adding layers of synth that appear to come closer and then pull back giving you that feeling of space. The track feels ethereal and uplifting like your floating through the air. Featured on our playlist <here>

Mare Insularum Pier
Inspired by the wild and peaceful nature of Sardinia, his works express in a metaphysical sense a hypothetical pier overlooking the lunar Mare Insularum, from which it is possible to reach out towards the Earth and observe its apparent quietness in peaceful solitude. ‘Thoughts on Glass’ is about the emotional loop after a failure from which one cannot get out. Featured on our playlist <here>

Experimental music

As opposed to ambient music, experimental music is focused on doing things in new and unique ways. The goal is to create music that is unlike anything else, and the artist can often be seen as a pioneer in their field. Experimental music often features improvisation and unusual musical instruments or sound sources. Artists like John Cage and Frank Zappa were pioneers of experimental music, with many other artists finding success later on by applying their own take on it with electronic instruments, sampling and loops.

An indie artist on the rise this past year in Experimental Music is Njordlyd.

Njordlyd

Njordlyd is an experimental creator that has been making waves on the internet for their unique sound and style. Njordlyd is known for mixing experimental sounds with industrial, noise, post-rock and ambient music. Njordlyd has an interesting take on experimental music, and his music is definitely worth checking out.

He rose significantly in 2022 with the launch of two introductory projects ‘Clouds’ & ‘Interlaced’ closely followed by the launch of the album ‘Getting Closer’.

Njordlyd’s Album with New Ambient Release ‘Repressed’ is becoming known for its suspense and dissonance.
Located in: Den Haag, The Netherlands

Listen to the album <here>

Lofi Music

Lofi music trends on the internet has exploded over this past decade. The genre has become popular among many indie artists and music fans.

Lofi music is a type of music that is created using lo-fi recording techniques, which are often used in DIY projects. The term itself comes from “low fidelity”, which means poor quality sound reproduction. With lofi music, you get a very raw and vintage feel that allows you to listen closely to each instrument being played.

If you’re looking for something new and exciting to listen to, then lofi experimental music should be just what you need. The genre is perfect for anyone who loves ambient sounds mixed with electronic beats, as well as those who enjoy glitchy sounds and samples.

Here’s a Lofi playlist filled with mood music.

Lofi Nights is a playlist for creatives who need to be inspired by mood music.