MINDFUL MELODY
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • The Magazine
  • The Articles
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • The Magazine
  • The Articles
Search

LATEST POSTS

A selection of articles from all our issues - go to 'The Magazine' to read them all, including exclusive interviews from Aston Barrett Jr., Niko Moon, Serena Ryder, Canaan Smith and many more...

Top 10 Songs for Concentration

11/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture

When boredom sets in it's easy for our minds to wander. Here is a list of songs that can keep you entertained but also help you with the task at hand. David & Maxim

10. Center Point Road - Thomas Rhett ft. Kelsea Ballerini

Picture
This might not have the repetitive, focusing beat that some of my other choices have, but regardless, this song always helps me zero in on whatever it is I’m trying to work on. The chorus is so emphatic, with Rhett and Ballerini’s layered vocals twisting into the instrumentation to produce a euphoric euphony. It’s a full-blooded anthem, but the nostalgia and emotion that the Country duo bring gives ‘Center Point Road’ a vulnerability and tenderness that artists sometimes lose in their quest to create a ‘big sound’. When I listen to this song, I can’t help but feel a strange mix of being both wistful and energised, and I find this reflective mindset is always a good starting-point as I turn my concentration to the day’s assignments. ​

9. Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Picture
This song is the embodiment of chill. It’s simple melody, lyrics and texture make it the smoothest and easiest listen and I’d enjoy it under any circumstances. The reason it makes such a good song for concentration is that it sits at a great tempo – not being slow enough to bore you but not fast enough to heighten your stress levels. It sits back on a cool and easy andante and because of its simplicity never really presents you with enough to take you too far away from what it is that you’re doing. If you want to relax while you get your work done this has to be your jam.

8. Passionfruit - Drake

Picture
In typical Drake fashion, this song hits the sweet-spot between melancholic and chilled. The gentle vocals are laconic enough to stop your mind racing too far ahead of itself, while the repetitive beat helps you zone in on the task at hand. The lyrics are uncomplicated, and I’m not sure Drake ever actually says the word ‘Passionfruit’, but either way, they wash over you and blend seamlessly into the relaxed backing track. There’s also a humorous introduction from the rap superstar as he modestly advises, “Y’all get some more drinks goin’ on, I’ll sound a whole lot better”, which will bring a welcome dose of levity into both your work and head space. ​

7. Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers

Picture
This song is included for very similar reasons to ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’. Smooth vocals and cool as they come, funk/soul backing is just a match made in heaven. The song has a bit more lyrical content so watch out for getting caught out singing along! It’s another song perfect for helping you stay relaxed and concentrated, and at the same time by being at the absolute peak of easy listening.

6. Willow - Taylor Swift

Picture
While this isn’t necessarily a song I’ll turn up when it comes on in the car, it’s nonetheless well-suited for getting you in that elusive ‘zone’. The playful, rhythmic beat is energetic whilst not being so uptempo or irregular that it proves overly distracting. Taylor’s vocals are pointedly reserved, and this adds to the mellow ambience of the song. Perhaps it’s just the warm flannel jacket that Taylor’s wearing in the album artwork, or maybe it’s the imagery of a willow bending in the wind and shedding its leaves, but for some reason this track has an Autumnal feel to it. So as the days grow shorter and the temperature starts to drop, this will serve as the perfect soundtrack to help you ‘rise’ to the occasion this Fall (see what I did there?). ​

5. Electric Relaxation - A Tribe Called Quest ​

Picture
Despite it’s high lyrical content, Jazz Rap seems to be my go-to focus music at the moment. I think it’s a combination of the smooth beats and the smooth vocals. Even the harder hitting Jazz Rap tunes sound like velvet coming out of the speakers; this is especially true for the geniuses that are A Tribe Called Quest and I could have used this song or a few of their others. ‘Electric Relaxation’ is the perfect example for me though, as despite starting in a more agitated manner the beat settles down into a smooth and chilled vibe, whilst the tone of the vocals is a nice listen but won’t take you away from the task at hand.

4. The Great Divide - Luke Combs & Billy Strings ​

Picture
I love bluegrass, and I also love Luke Combs, so when he announced that he’d recorded an album’s worth of bluegrass music, it’s safe to say I was a tad excited. ‘The Great Divide’ doesn’t disappoint, and in a similar fashion to Taylor’s ‘Willow’, the light-hearted banjo acts as a steady pulse running invigoratingly throughout. Luke’s deep, raspy vocals bring gravitas, while the optimistic, motivational lyrics about bringing people together and loving one another cements ‘The Great Divide'’s status as a feel-good track. I like to think of this as a great ‘morning song’ - it’ll give you a gentle lift as you ease into your work for the day, without being so animated or in-your-face that it makes you feel like you’re forcing anything.

3. Treasured Soul - Michael Calfan

Picture
This song is one of those summer anthems that gives you a craving for a holiday. It is uplifting, catchy and chilled all at the same time. It’s actually at a slightly quicker tempo than some of the other songs I included, but sometimes you need a bit of a pick-me-up and this can provide it, whilst still not being so fast that smoke will start billowing from your pen. The lack of lyrics means that you can still enjoy the music without it pulling away too much from what you’re trying to do. The only problem is that you may find yourself booking plane tickets to somewhere warm! ​

2. Back of My Mind - H.E.R ft. Ty Dolla $ign

Picture
R&B is always a go-to for me when I’m trying to concentrate. There’s something about the hazy, sinuous vocals floating over you, coupled with a deep, muted beat, that continually refocuses your mind. H.E.R is a maestro at creating this kind of sound, and I’d listen to the whole Back of My Mind album on repeat whilst working on my coursework last term. Without doing a disservice to the project, because H.E.R produces this moody, laid-back atmosphere that glues all the tracks together, in a way, all the songs blur into one another. When you want some calming music in the background to help you focus, without it bursting onto centre-stage and eclipsing the task at hand, ‘Back of My Mind’ is ideal. But don’t mistake this cohesiveness for monotony or a lack of variety - this is a great project that is subtle in its flourishes. "It’s a vibe", as the cool kids say. ​

1. Heat Waves - Glass Animals

Picture
This song is just a great listen from start to finish and a showing of real productive talent. The way the song starts by almost sounding like it is in the background before bringing in a really solid drop is so effective. The song is a bit of an earworm and a toe tapper, but it’s also a really great listen and I find that it sits at the perfect intensity for focus. It’s got enough drive to keep you moving and a solid beat, but not so much so to ruin your work flow. This song is a great addition to any playlist but I recommend you add it to your focus one too!
0 Comments

    Buy print editions of Mindful Melody Issue 12 below!

    Buy now

      Subscribe below to get each issue straight to your inbox!

    Subscribe to Mindful Melody

    Articles List

    All
    3 Key Lifestyle Habits That Can Improve Your Mental Health
    Absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder-live-music
    Adam-douglas-on-his-middleaged-mental-health-awakening
    Adele-andy-find-perfect-harmony-on-where-i-belong-ep
    Ajeet-review-and-interview
    Album-review-mac-mcanallyrsquos-lsquoonce-in-a-lifetimersquo-is-both-a-soundtrack-and-an-antidote-for-our-times
    Am-i-right-to-be-optimistic-about-2021
    Amy-speace-interview
    And-a-little-help-from-the-forest
    And-being-born-for-the-stage
    And-do-we-need-to
    And-no-shoes-nation-how-fan-clubs-are-easing-lockdown-loneliness
    Andy Franks Interview - Music Support: Meet The Music Industry Veteran Working For Change
    A-new-way-forward-for-musical-theatre
    An-interview-with-mesita
    An-interview-with-thomas-corneill-from-young-martyrs-navigating-life-as-a-fulltime-musician
    An-interview-with-ziggy-alberts-bringing-unity-through-music
    Are Biopics Good For Fans?
    A-review-of-petrichor-ndash-jon-reynolds-the-aches-something-for-everyone
    A-talk-with-the-lead-wailer-aston-barrett-jr
    Bo Burnham's 'INSIDE' - Dark Comedy And Music Combine
    Bootleggers
    Breaking The Boundaries Of Genre And Mood An Interview With Jon Reynolds
    Breland Interview
    But I Think We Will Find A Common Ground": Finn Matthews Interview
    Can Music Be Your Coping Mechanism?
    Can We Seperate Artists From Their Music
    Carl Falk Interview: The Avicii Hitmaker On Friendship
    Channel Your Negativity Into Creativity
    Charlotte Young: Tackling Positivity And Negativity (Sometimes Simultaneously!)
    Christmas Music: The Marmite Of The Charts
    'Chris Tomlin & Friends': Joy That Transcends Religion
    Clipping. – Visions Of Bodies Being Burned Review
    'Come Home The Kids Miss You' - Did Expectations Ruin Harlow's Big Release?
    Denis Coleman - Pop Prodigy And Mental Health Ambassador
    Directioners
    Does Listening To Music Help Us Study?
    Don't Have Time To Create A Vision-board? Try This 'audio-board' Alternative
    “Don’t You Know That You’re Toxic?”: Why The Music Industry Really Is A 'poisoned Paradise' (Yingmin Khoo Guest Post)
    Drake White Interview
    Emma Moore Interview Finding Self-Love In Music And Society - Interview
    Escaping The Shuffle Society - How To Improve Mindfulness Through Music
    Everybody Dies Young
    Faith
    Faith Over Fear: Southern Gospel Artist Brent Cobb Talks To Maxim
    Fatherhood And Genre-fluidity
    Find Your Own Therapy
    From Bullied Teen To Chart-topper: Kelsey Bovey
    George Strait
    Gloria Anderson Interview: Cars
    Greetings From...The Marfa Tapes: Let Miranda Lambert
    Grief And The Songwriting Process
    Hardy On His Hopes For Hixtape Vol 2 And Being Country As Hell!
    "Hate Has Become The Default
    Headphone Holiday: Kenny Chesney
    How Can Music Affect Our Emotions
    How The Eagles Turned Back The Clock And Lit Up British Summer Time Festival 2022
    How Tik Tok Has Become The Industry's Hottest New Critic
    Humility And Heart
    Interview: Andreas Moe
    Interview: CalledOut Music
    Interview: Canaan Smith - How He Found Himself Through Fatherhood
    Interview: Essie Jain - Creating Healing Music For All Ages
    Interview: Haley & Michaels
    Interview: Kieran Lancini
    Interview: Kylie Morgan
    Interview: Morgan Wade
    Interview: Music Therapy With Tiziana Pozzo
    Interview: Tyler Braden On Small Towns
    Is The Music Industry Turning A New Leaf With Its Support Of Mental Health?
    "It's Time To Stop Living In My Head": Interview With Nashville's Olivia Lane
    Jack Ingram And Jon Randall Be Your Tour Guides On This Sonic Retreat
    JEEN-YUHS - WHY KANYE WOULD BE A BETTER LIFE COACH THAN YOU THINK
    Jhené Aiko's Chilombo: A Perfect Blend Of Peace And Passion
    Jhené Aiko's Chilombo: A Perfect Blend Of Peace And Passion
    Kenny Chesney
    Kezia Gill Interview
    Kristi Hoopes - Engagement
    Lathan Warlick Interview: How A Brush With Death Inspired His Music's Message Of 'God
    Live Music Is Changing
    Love And Unity'
    Low-Strung And Amped-Down: Unplug Your Mind By Going Acoustic
    Lyrical Life Lessons #2: 'Don't Blink'
    Lyrical Life Lessons #3 - 'Give Me More Time'
    Lyrical Life Lessons #5 Jake Owen
    Machine Gun Kelly Has Gifted Us The Realest Album Of 2020
    Mainstream Sellout - Did MGK Ignore The Critics?
    MAJE On Motivation
    Make Yourself A Musical Photo Album
    Man On The Moon III: Kid Cudi Finds Dawn After Years Of Darkness In This Modern Epic
    Maxim Speaks To Elliah Heifetz About Anxiety
    Meet The Man Determined To Bring More Positivity Into Country Music - An Interview With: Kyle Elliott
    Memories And Music
    Mental Health And Me #10-David: My Dream Band Line-Up
    Mental Health And Me #11-David: 'Sun Is Shining
    Mental Health And Me #12-David: 'The Drugs Don't Work'
    Mental Health And Me #2: Maxim
    Mental Health And Me #3: David Why 'How Are You?' Is My 2020 Kryptonite
    Mental Health And Me #3: Maxim - How Sad Songs Showed Me The Value Of Wholeness Over Happiness
    Mental Health And Me #4: Maxim - 'Pitch Perfectionism'
    Mental Health And Me #5: David
    Mental Health And Me #5: Maxim - Can You Dance Away The Lockdown Blues?
    Mental Health And Me #6: David - Meditation Memoirs
    Mental Health And Me #6: Maxim - How Country Music Showed Me The Power Of Gratitude
    Mental Health And Me #7: David - Was I Right To Be Optimistic About 2021? The Follow Up
    Mental Health And Me #7: Maxim - Can ‘mindful Listening' Help Ease Productivity-guilt?
    Mental Health And Me #8: David - Enjoying The Ride
    Mental Health And Me #9: David Was I Right To Be Optimistic About 2021 - The Trilogy
    Mental Health And Me: David
    Mental Health And Me; David #14: God's Plan - Why I'm Jealous Of Believers
    Mental Health And Me: David - How Running Made Me A Better Person
    Mental Health And Me: Maxim
    Mind Over Matter - Why Everything's Going To Be Alright (Even If It Isn't)
    Mitchell Kersley Challenges Toxic Masculinity On New Single
    Mod Sun's 'Internet Killed The Rockstar' - A Familiar Story
    More Than A Musician: Meet The Artist Making A Real Difference In The World Of Mental Health - An Interview With Serena Ryder
    Music
    Music And Grief By Ashley Broadhurst
    Music And Memory: The Healing Power Of Music (Yingmin Khoo Guest Post)
    My All-American Kenny Chesney Adventure
    My New 'Malibu Theory'
    National Identity - And Dad Jokes
    Nihilism In Rap Music: Misunderstood
    'Oh Man
    Our Top 10 Songs For...Peaceful Melancholy
    Our Top 10 Songs To Make You Laugh
    Our Top 10 Songs...to Relax To
    Our Top Ten...Slow Down And Simplify Songs
    Our Top Ten Songs...about Self-Love
    Our Top Ten Songs For...Peaceful Melancholy
    Our Top Ten Songs Of... Film/TV
    Our Top Ten Songs Of Nature
    Our Top Ten Songs Of... Summer Sun!
    Our Top Ten Songs To Hear Live
    Performance Anxiety: Friend Or Foe?
    Quadeca - I Don't Care Review
    Ray Fulcher Interview - "I Want People To Think
    Sampling - Creative Genius Or Cutting Corners?
    Sarah Louise: The UK Country Singer-songwriter That Just Wants You To Believe In Yourself
    Seafret Slow Down And Simplify With New Piano Sessions EP - Interview
    Self-Improvement And New 'Fly On The Wall' Project
    Should Your New Self-love Mantra Be A Rap Lyric?
    Songs That Get Me Through Lockdown - David
    Songs That Get Me Through Lockdown - Maxim
    Sounds That Heal And Relax: The Music Of Mindfulness
    Sound Therapy: A Vibe-check
    Spotify Recommended: Help Or Hindrance?
    Starz In Their Eyes – The Music Industry According To Just Jack
    Starz In Their Eyes – The Music Industry According To Just Jack
    Stereotypes And Saving Lives
    Sublime Simplicity - Quadeca's Atmospheric 'From Me To You' Album Reviewed
    Tamar Haviv: The Singer-songwriter Who's Making The World A Better Place
    Tebey Interview
    The 90% Gratitude Rule
    The 90’s Country Comeback: Why Cowboy Hats And Honky-tonks Are Striking A Chord With Gen-Z
    The 90’s Country Comeback: Why Cowboy Hats And Honky-tonks Are Striking A Chord With Gen-Z
    The Artist Making Iconic Songs Her Own - An Interview With: Lissie
    The Hot Girl Walk: Just Another Tik-Tok Fad - Or A Great Way To Boost Our Wellbeing?
    The Importance Of Being ERNEST - Flower Shops
    Then It's Okay If I Do Too.'"
    The Safety Of Familiarity
    The Sonic Ranch: Midland's Origin-story Digs Up Their Roots And Strikes Gold
    The Voice
    The Weather Is Sweet'
    Thomas Rhett Finds Happiness At Home On Country Again (Side A)
    Tick
    Tick… Boom! The Musical Of Honesty
    Tiera Kennedy Interview
    Tim Prottey-Jones - From Western To West End - And Back!
    Tom Cary - New Single 'Something In The Whiskey' Breaks Country Music's Heartbreak Streak
    Top 10 Motivational Masterpieces
    Top 10 Songs For Concentration
    Top 10 Songs For...Overcoming Heartbreak
    Toxic Or Positive?
    Vinyl Therapy
    Well If Ray's Got His Own Struggles
    Why 'Lonely' Confirms Justin Bieber's Move From Guilty Pleasure To Admirable Star
    Wren Kelly Tackling Society And Mental Health In New Single 'Game Over'
    Zac Brown Band - 'The Comeback' In Name And Nature
    Zane Williams Interview

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • The Magazine
  • The Articles