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
#3 – Selected Ambient Works Volume II – Aphex Twin
1 November 2017
Sometimes all you need is the calming influence of a ridiculously slow, chilled out ambient track and if you’re lucky, everything quietens down and you’re able to hack through the to do list – or even – start that first paragraph.
Memories – music2work2
31 October 2017
This is a track about loss – specifically about the loss of one’s father – a father that was truly and deeply loved. It is relatively short for a music2work2 track but it stands out for its simplicity and sweetness.
Heavy Goat – Seepeoples
24 October 2017
One of the reasons Musicto playlists are different from the soulless things that get delivered to your phone several times a week – is the writing. Think about it – when you interact with a playlist on Spotify or Apple there’s no context, there’s no reason as to why you should listen or what to listen for – it’s just served up, track after track like a great big smorgasbord!
A Little Bit Of Everything – Dawes
24 October 2017
Have you ever had a track that quite literally – stopped you in your tracks? While the opening piano is short and sweet and shows us where the melody is – it’s the opening line, 26 seconds in, that just grabs you and pulls you along for the ride.
Outside – Helen Jane Long
18 October 2017
So this appeared on one of my Spotify “Discover Weekly” playlists – which was cool considering it was sandwiched between an alt country track and an EDM remix. So yeah – Spotify for the win! (with human curation added as a top level!)
Million Dollar Bill – Dawes
17 October 2017
I’m so stoked for this track – it’s from one of my favorite bands – Dawes – I try to see them every time they play Los Angeles – they’re just a great band with a great vibe and the most incredible songwriting.
Flight-Time – Donald Byrd
11 October 2017
I’m being totally cheeky this week and “borrowing / stealing” a track from one of my fellow curators. We have a fabulous new list called “Music to Satisfy Your Inner Jellyfish” and it is as groovily eclectic as the name sounds!
Leavin’ – Shelby Lynne
10 October 2017
I remember hearing this song for the first time – I was in the midst of post break-up depression and oh man did it hit the sweet spot! You know it’s going to be kind of “Torchy” from the opening beat but then Shelby’s incredibly sexy spoken word delivery comes in and it floors you.
Build – music2work2
5 October 2017
There’s something about metronomic repetition that just conveys the idea of “Come on – let’s go…” The opening of the track sounds as though it’s written in 2/4 time – the classic marching beat – and that was intentional – the entire first minute is designed to have you thinking about getting started – getting moving – getting to flow.
Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
3 October 2017
Oh god – where to start with this one. It’s been a shitty week in America – a shitty week in many places on the planet. Aside from the insanity of the Las Vegas mass shooting, Tom Petty died. The minute I heard, I knew what this week’s track would be.
March into the Sea – Pelican
27 September 2017
If you’re looking for a sad song this week I’m sorry but you’re shit out of luck. If however you’re looking to get to grips with your grief, maybe take it out and show it what you think of it – this might be the perfect track.
Fastlane – Rozza Slow Motion Remix – Jorn Van Deynhoven
27 September 2017
So I’m hungover as fuck and my brain is working at – like – 2 miles an hour and yet I have soooooo much to do! I could berate myself and slump into self hatred procrastination but screw that – today I’m subscribing to the 7 second rule and moving on. So what do you do when you’ve got to get your shit together – you have words to write – a to do list to polish off and no desire to do anything?
You put this fucking track on – that’s what you do!