meditation soundtracks, death cab for cutie, boy pablo Haley Heynderickx glass animals

[Photos via Spotify]

10 records that could be the soundtrack to your next meditation session

May 12, 2021

[Photos via Spotify]

When life gets hectic, it’s important to take a minute for yourself to reset and clear your mind.

Music is always a go-to way to destress, whether it’s validating our feelings or mellowing us out.

mama’s boy – LANY

LANY‘s third studio album, mama’s boy, is a steady, chill record perfect for sitting outside and basking in the sun. Each song is unified by a dreamy feeling with a theme of introspection and spirituality. There are a few love songs, but nothing too sad to make you lose your train of thought. It’s the ideal upbeat, nondistracting album to put on in the background while you just chill out.

Reverie Lagoon: Music For Escapism Only – Seahaven

Seahaven veered from their usual pop-punk sound in 2014 with Reverie Lagoon: Music For Escapism Only. And each song does what the title suggests—it helps your mind escape your constant flow of thoughts to go inward and chill. There are a few tracks with heavier guitar and drum beats, but it’s nothing that will get your heart rate up too much.

I Need To Start A Garden – Haley Heynderickx

Haley Heynderickx‘s debut album is composed of eight tracks that can help you relax. It’ll take any feelings of uncertainty or loneliness and let them go. The indie-folk atmosphere will help you feel safe and comfortable while you allow your mind to visualize the calming scenes that the songs conjure in your head.

Transatlanticism – Death Cab For Cutie

While Death Cab For Cutie‘s Transatlanticism is full of heartbreaking tracks that convey the feelings of distance and loneliness, it’s also sonically low-key. The tracks contain texture and emotion, especially melancholic piano and moody guitar parts. Ultimately, it’s an album that will ignite your senses and allow you to take in your surroundings.

ZABA – Glass Animals

Glass Animals‘ debut album, ZABA, is a psychedelic, electro-pop album made for zoning out. It has a futuristic feel that will take your mind on a journey of its own, all through hazy melodies and electronic beats.

The Hawk Is Howling – Mogwai

For a truly meditative experience, Mogwai‘s 2008 album, The Hawk Is Howling, follows a slow-and-steady tempo made for aligning with breathing exercises. Each song is distinct, but they all blend together, thanks to atmospheric guitars and low-and-slow basslines.

Diary – Sunny Day Real Estate

Sunny Day Real Estate marked their place in emo history with Diary. This is probably the “loudest” album on the list, thanks to a few moments of heavy guitar and drum beats. However, if you’re going on a mind-clearing walk and want to stay motivated, this record is the best of both worlds.

tuck me in – boy pablo

boy pablo’s latest EP, tuck me in, is five tracks of absolute peace. The songs confront themes of heartbreak and introspective feelings but with a bedroom-pop feel that is nothing but chill.

Dive – Tycho

Tycho is able to capture raw emotion and relay it sonically, particularly on his 2011 album, Dive. The album has a lo-fi sound that makes you feel as if you’re embarking on a trip to paradise. Plus, it’s a great record to put on when you want to drift off to sleep.

Ambient 1: Music For Airports – Brian Eno

Brian Eno is best known for his producing credits on albums with artists such as David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads and more. But his ambient records are the ultimate soundtracks for meditation. It’s like a background track for your brain to clear out all of the bad thoughts and accept peace.