Andrew

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 now 

Playlists

The Day You Went Away – Wendy Matthews

14 March 2017

The awkwardness and silence of miscarriage – especially in that first trimester. Women are told not to tell anyone they are pregnant, and when the pregnancy fails they silently grieve their loss.

What music to study for when taking a test

What Music to Listen to when Studying for or Taking a Test?

10 March 2017

If you’re reading this chances are you’re probably in school of some kind and looking for help!  If you’re in the library or some common area like a coffee shop, have a look around and see how many people are wearing headphones…

Lord, I’m Discouraged – The Hold Steady

10 March 2017

Sad music doesn’t have to bring you down – sometimes a sad song punches you in the gut and leaves you staggering but strangely energized.  When you have a lyricist like Craig Finn and a guitar player like Tad Kubler, you get pummeled on many different levels.

Trozo – Tristan Eckerson

8 March 2017

Some tracks just have a way of bringing you into a specific state of mind – I wasn’t thinking of the music to grieve to playlist when I heard this but I couldn’t stop thinking about it afterwards.

Spirits – Jamie Woon

8 March 2017

Not all music to grieve to has to be downtempo and sad sounding.  You never know what track is going to be associated with certain events in your life and while much of the music on this playlist tugs at the heartstrings, tracks like this one are more up-lifting.

Tubular Bells – Pt. I – Mike Oldfield

8 March 2017

While many people associate the music with the Exorcist and Halloween soundtracks, I associate it with lying on my back in Singapore, looking up at the sky and playing along with every instrument as the mad Master of Ceremonies Vivian Stanshall announced them.

L’alternativa – bzur

8 March 2017

I’ve composed this one keeping in mind an idea of consolation after loss, just follow its flow and let it take care of you 🙂

When I’m Gone – Joey + Rory

8 March 2017

My husband and I decided life was too short to wait for retirement to have fun so we went out to buy a travel trailer. While standing in the fourth one, he had a heart attack and died. Two weeks after the funeral, I carried on with our dream, bought a 16 foot camper, and spent three months in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado…alone. 

Summer Fog - The Album Leaf

Summer Fog – The Album Leaf

7 March 2017

I’ve received a lot of e-mails asking me how I write. The simple answer is, I write late at night, with my headphones on, listening to music. These are some songs I really like, especially for writing. They frequently find a place on my midnight playlist. I hope you like them, too.

Mad World – Tears For Fears

7 March 2017

Submitted by the team at Solace Club – here’s what they do:

We offer people who are dealing with grief a care package designed by a psychologist to help make their journey in grief a little less painful. For example, our triage box has many items to help with the physical symptoms of grief in the early stages such as nausea, difficulties with sleep, forgetfulness. 

Night Call – London Grammer

24 February 2017

If I had to choose between this and Kavinsky’s original version – 9 times out of 10 I’d go with his Daft Punk inspired 80’s overdose of synths and vocoders – but that’s because I’m a generally happy dude.  But – when I’m hurting and everything’s shit – I’m choosing this stripped down haunting female vocal and I’m going to drink to it!

Purity – Konzentration Akademie

24 February 2017

I don’t know about you but I’m super suspicious of all the Massage / New Age / plinky plunky “Spa” music that’s out there – I tend to find most of it blandly put together samples with the odd bit of nature sound thrown in for fun.  This track isn’t like that.