I’m a big fan of playing low key background music on my PC or laptop when I’m working. One of the easiest ways to do this is to play something from one of the many continuous livestreams on YouTube. This is especially true when I don’t want to hassle with waiting for iTunes to update again so I can access the library there. And before another irritating Spotify ad takes me out of my flow again.
One of the live streams that I’ve regularly gone back to (well, technically there were two) are those that Lofi Girl has had running for over 2 years.
“beats to relax/study to” was live for 20 843 hours, while “beats to sleep/chill to” had racked up 20 772 hours. I say “was live” because both of them were taken down within minutes of each other by YouTube after a false DMCA copyright claim.
Fortunately, YouTube have subsequently acknowledged that the takedown requests were abusive and have promised to reinstate the videos.
They haven’t yet though, and the Lofi Girl channel has not started a new stream yet either, so I’ve been looking for something new to play in the background in the meanwhile. I have found a couple of things, but thought it might be interesting to hear from others as well.
Do you listen to music when you’re working? (And I specifically mean working at a desk, doing admin type, computer-based type work.) If you do, what do you listen to? Share your playlists and links.
I do use spotify from time to time still, even with the ads, but I’ll buy a sub when they do the 3 months for the price of 1 thing.
For some reason, psytrance jives with my brain in such a way I can really focus on programming and such while I work. DJ Electric Samurai on youtube has some good 1+ hour streams for that, but it’s not for everyone.
Great thread! I have some form of background music going for all occasions. I do not like silence, unless I’m sleeping. I don’t often have a “go-to” playlist, instead often just look for something that vibes with my current mindset or mood. Often I will get a song or a few minutes into a playlist or stream and change it cos it didn’t “feel” right.
Work
Focus work - I will often have some techno, melodic techno, or even some trance or subgenre. I could also have some synthwave or DOOM-like music. I find anything that lacks vocals helps me to concentrate and really hone in on problem-solving (I’ve posted much of this in the What are you listening to thread).
Try some gaming music from Work Geek Out
Eg. My personal Techno Jamalams and Banging Tjunes playlists.
General work - This could literally be anything but again, I often listen to anything that matches my current mindset and mood. I find I often listen to faith-based hip-hop like Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, NF, Lecrae, KB, etc.
Eg. Andy Mineo, Lecrae - Been About It (Official Video) - YouTube
Meetings - Whether I am hosting or in a meeting where I need to maintain a level of focus and concentration I will often have something that supports this, and tone down the volume enough to maintain a level where you can hear each other. So examples much like you’ve posted I would use as a go-to. Things that I find support this, or musical vibes that hit those notes and frequencies will include typical lofi beats but also isochronic tones, frequencies and tempos that speak to the left and right brain.
Try Chill Music Lab and Jason Lewis - Mind Amend
Personal
Sundays - I will often have Christian music playing, typically some form of worship or praise while we’re busy doing household chores, cooking, cleaning etc. Sometimes I will just pick a track or playlist from YouTube or I have a running playlist for this that I continually add to.
Dinner times - while at the table and not having something on TV but to break the silence I will often play something that the family likes, this could come in the form of TobyMac or my Fly Christian playlist
Family time and Chill - My family loves Jeremy Loops, Matthew Mole, Xavier Rudd, along with Hollow Coves and the like. Sometimes we’ll have Katie Melua or Norah Jones going too, or some lekker SA favourites, or even the aforementioned Lofi Girl streams.
Sexy Time - No! Get your mind out of the gutter. I just mean romantic time or personal one-on-one time with my wife whether that’s over coffee or just talking we like to listen to some songs that we built together in the form of our Wedding playlist.
Currently Playing
Just before making the post I started the new Jeremy Loops album, Heard You Got Love.
So there you have it, all of the links should work, I don’t think any of them are private or locked. I hope it helps you in finding something new to listen to and explore. My apologies if this came out as a bit much but I love sharing and talking about musical interests and enjoy finding new music.
Other channels and videos I often go to for background and focus music are BeyondSkys, sadly they don’t have many videos but it is quality what they do have.
More and more of these started showing up in my recommendations and I have been loving them. They’re perfect for that quiet or down time in the house as it give you something to look at while it plays and creates discussions and conversations too.
Oh! oh! oh! I don’t see any more royalty free type notification on their channels, and I’ve had two or three muted portions using the lofi beats on stream, but I might have to switch over.
Been using these videos for meetings and focus times. I must say, I love these mixes and really find I can hyperfocus when having this playing in the background while I graft.
