This post is part of Hard Refresh, a soothing weekly column where we try to cleanse your brain of whatever terrible thing you just witnessed on Twitter.
I’m the type of person who loves to have music playing in the background whenever I’m reading, writing, or doing something that requires mental energy. But I also get easily distracted. Songs that are too fast or have lyrics can make it hard to concentrate.
At the same time, ambient noise isn’t my favorite thing, so I was really happy when I discovered the YouTube channel ChilledCow, which broadcasts lo-fi hip-hop music 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The music itself always manages to relax and keep me focused. Most of the songs have a repetitive melody and a slow rhythm that work together to put my mind at ease.
With an ever-growing playlist, this channel has attracted the ears of almost two million listeners.
To get a better understanding of the relaxing power of this genre, check out “Flowers” by hip-hop producer The Deli. The song samples a piano melody from McCoy Tyner’s “When Sunny Get Blue,” and it plays throughout the entire song over a steady rhythm.
I first heard it on ChilledCow.
While most lo-fi hip-hop music is based around instrumentals, songs with vocals are pretty popular too. Sophie Meiers, an 18-year-old SoundCloud artist, adds her own blues-y vocals over lo-fi beats.
A song that pretty much captures the gorgeous, melancholy essence of Meiers is “Wish You Felt This Way,” in which she collaborated with producer 90sFlav. Take a listen:
If you’re also someone who’s nostalgic, a lot of tracks also sample sound files from classic video games from the ’90s, as well as lines from shows like 7th Heaven, Samurai Champloo, and Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.
Other channels on YouTube have created lo-fi hip-hop radio stations of their own, but personally, I have a major soft spot for ChilledCow. The playlist is updated fairly frequently, and there’s always a solid mix of old and new tracks.
Next time you’re trying to find the perfect kind of music to give your mind a much needed massage, give it a try.
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