
But many people don’t realize the profound effect that ambient sounds can have on one’s mood, temperament, and the human psyche.Īs we previously wrote in our viral article, How Mental Health Became Pop Music’s Biggest Muse:

Because “Weightless” is so relaxing, the composers actually caution against listening to it while driving, operating machinery, or doing anything where acute relaxation could pose a risk. “The world’s most relaxing song” works by slowing the listener’s heart rate to induce a feeling of calm. The only context in which this kind of relaxation music would be inappropriate, researchers say, is while driving a car. Ultimately, whether you’re looking for passive stress relief– or some calming background music for work, travel, or sleep, this song works wonders. But there’s a notable purposefulness to the melody here that undergirds the song’s effectiveness at inducing a state of calm. In terms of relaxation music, it all sounds vaguely familiar. These elements layer together in waves to create a truly immersive soundscape. The song’s dreamy rhythms sample natural soundscapes and feature hints of soothing piano and gentle guitar strums. In fact, neuroscientists claim that listening to this song can actually reduce anxiety by up to 65%! But sound therapists are quick to point out that the most calming song in the world works specifically by stimulating parts of the brain associated with conscious emotions.

Most people have gut feelings that music can be calming and used to regulate both mood and affect. The gentle pulsing baseline and carefully arranged harmonies in “Weightless”, moreover, induce a feeling of calm that scientists can actually measure. In 2011, British ambient band Marconi Union worked with sound therapists and researchers from Mindlab International to specifically design an 8-minute song that induces a feeling of relaxation by stimulating brain waves through calming neural tones that they engineered to create what might be the world’s most effective, clinically-backed relaxation music. Hunting for relaxation music and want to get really clinical about it? Marconi Union’s “Weightless” is literally the most calming song in the world– at least according to neuroscientists.
