Andrew
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 write creatively 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 believe that music can make the world better.
What I'm doing nowPlaylists
Let Her Go – Passenger
4 July 2018
We started the Music to Grieve to list based around the idea of sad music being good for you. We researched and wrote a long article breaking down how sad music actually helps you grieve, and the original idea for the list was that it was going to be populated by sad songs. The thing is – as my countryman Robert Burns once said “The best laid plans o’ mice and men gang aft a gley!”
Jon Ewing – Music to Curator Interview
28 June 2018
“Music to Fight Evil is collection of songs by and about people whose rights – and in some cases lives – are under threat. It’s for anyone who needs inspiration to fight back against injustice…“
Let You Go – Cathal Flaherty
27 June 2018
It’s a double header this week – back to back Cathal Flaherty tracks and this one isn’t even released yet but oh my god – it’s a stunner! If we were bending the rules of the list a bit last week by having Two Hearts – we’re back with a direct examination of lost love and the agony it induces…
Baby Bluebird – Little Sailboat
26 June 2018
Amara, the artist behind Little Sailboat asked me what it was about this track that caught my ear and I remember laughing thinking – you know what – I have absolutely no idea – but if I’m going to add it to the list – I’d at least better try and explain. ;-)…
The Moon Illusion – Ben Hippen
19 June 2018
Evocative!
That’s the word of the week!
The thing about music to write to is that some times you want a general piece – something to sit in the background that you don’t really connect with – it just creates the environment where you can get your head down and get something done. Other times…
Two Hearts – Cathal Flaherty
18 June 2018
This week’s track is a little different in that it isn’t what you would typically call a sad song – but then not every track on the Music to Grieve To playlist is going to be morose or downbeat. Tracks make this list because they’re great at evoking emotion – the songs on Cathal Flaherty’s recent EP The Head & Heart are brilliant at this.
Ashlee Villaseñor – Music to Curator Interview
10 June 2018
My name is Ashlee Villaseñor. I live in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas in the US. I just graduated from college so I’m just trying to figure out my life, honestly.
2/ Is This Something You Always Wanted To Do? What Do You Enjoy About It?
I love sharing music. I love making my friends playlists. I love finding new music, so being able to be in charge of a playlist and share it to the world is awesome!
Variations on an Epitaph – Chloé Charody
10 June 2018
Suicide. It’s in the air. If you’re reading this in the future this was the week where Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain took their own lives and we all became familiar with the phrase suicide contagion. And it’s shit – it’s shit for us who remain – who watch the tributes pour in as the tears pour out – and it’s the same damn question every time – Why!? Why?! Why?!
Luminous – Rachel LaFond
10 June 2018
One week i’m totally adding Gene Autry’s “Back In The Saddle Again” to the list – oh sure it would defeat the purpose of having instrumental music to help you writers out there but i bet you’re all familiar with the idea of returning to something after a break – it’s a weird thing!
Sleep Tonight Feat. The Ulster String Quartet – Robb Murphy
30 May 2018
It seems that Mental Health is very much in the fore front of the list at the moment – not surprising as May is Mental Health Awareness month but particularly with Scott Hutchison’s death a few weeks ago – we’ve been very focused on raising awareness of mental health issues…
It Was Something That Had To Be Said – Ben Hippen
30 May 2018
Every now and then you get a track submission which is truly perfect for the list and this week I think nails it! Writer, Composer, Pianist and general all round creative, Ben Hippen recently produced an album – Scenarios that was commissioned specifically to provide the perfect sonic environment for writing. Check out Ben’s initial submission notes:
Light As Air – Richard P John
24 May 2018
I’ve been living with this track for a while – it’s beautiful – and a really good fit for the Music to Fly With Confidence playlist too! It’s one of those tracks that quietly seeps into your consciousness and has you going back to listen again and again.