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
Hurt – Nine Inch Nails
19 February 2017
Seduced by the Johnny Cash version – I started listening to the original.
It’s really good.
You think the sparseness of the Cash version was novel – but listen to the vocal delivery here – it’s honest – at least that how it comes across –
02 Ghosts I – Nine Inch Nails
19 February 2017
The first time I really listened to Trent Reznor was the soundtrack of The Social Network – oh sure I was aware of him – I had studied his marketing methods but had never really listened to his music.
Sand And Water – Beth Nielsen Chapman
18 February 2017
I love the serendipity of curating a playlist – not least because you come across new wonderful music – but the way certain tracks come to your attention is fascinating.
Sun Will Set – Zoë Keating
17 February 2017
Zöe Keating isn’t just a killer musician, she’s also a pretty cool human being – which is why she came to mind when seeding this playlist. A consummate musician sure – but she’s carved her own way – with a cello – which when you consider the lack of sharp edges on those things – is pretty impressive!
Hope in Front of Me – Danny Gokey
17 February 2017
Strength for Parents of Missing Children offers hope in the dark moments of having a missing child. It is a guidebook to help parents get their thought-life, spiritual life, physical well-being and mental well-being in line, to continue waiting or fighting for the return of their child.
Your Hand In Mine – Explosions In The Sky
16 February 2017
You can’t have an essay writing playlist without an Explosions In The Sky track somewhere on there. Often time writing music can be soft and low energy but every now and then you want some driving, loud, energetic piece of music that builds and grows and picks you up with it’s movement so your hands are dancing and fingers flying on the keyboard…at least – that’s what the track did for me while I was writing this!
Blessings – Laura Story
16 February 2017
Throughout the experience of life, adversity, change, and loss effect us all, and all differently. One of the biggest concerns of these experiences that people will try to avoid them, hide from them, or turn away from them.
Don’t Get Any Closer – Eluvium
15 February 2017
I don’t remember how I came across this track but it’s such an easy one to fall in love with.
Obviously instrumental but it has this drone effect in the background – which is really essential for essay writing music as it creates this consistent aural environment that – in my pop psych world anyway – enables you to safely shut out the world and focus in on what you are writing.
Stay – Tina Angotti
15 February 2017
Recommended by Christy Garavetto – Fine Art Photography. Here’s how Christy sees art helping those who are grieving:
“What suddenly occurred to me is that we have all of these people who are unable to deal with their own sense of loss, grief or feeling that they don’t belong anywhere – so many people are searching for where they fit in and how they fit in due to life changes or circumstances beyond their control, it spans all age groups, ethnic groups, etc.
I Can Only Imagine – mercyme
14 February 2017
Another submission from the Grief Directory this time from Deborah Chapman Newell, author of Memories in a Daughter’s Heart. In her own words:
“I offer my own story of how I dealt with that grief, put into real perspective. My thoughts and feelings as I planned a funeral and survived that funeral…
The Sound of Silence – Disturbed
14 February 2017
This track arrived by a fairly circuitous route – which is why I love music! The seed for the track came from the wonderful people over at Love Lives On – more about them below. They had compiled an amazing list of 150+ songs that you can use for Funerals – broken down by category.
Autumn Leaves – Ed Sheeran
13 February 2017
Another submission from the Grief Directory – this time from the team behind The Life Chest. The Life Chest with BeRemembered.com is a comprehensive storytelling product that saves important tangible keepsakes along with written accounts and digital files to share with family and friends.