The World of Ambient Music

The world of ambient mood music is a big, floating space of relaxing, frequency-optimized music, tailored to have a calming effect on the listener. Since Brain Eno composed “Music For Airports” in 1978 and revolutionized the way music was being thought of at the end of the decade, we have come a long way. Ambient music has become a popular choice to deepen sleep and help with insomnia, to create moments of relaxation in the daily, and to meditate to a chosen soundscape. 

The umbrella term “Ambient Music” is described as “a genre that focuses on tone, mood, and atmosphere instead of traditional song structures, beats, or catchy tunes. It uses long, floating layers of sound to color an environment”. The initial idea according to Eno was to create music that could be “as easy to ignore as it is interesting to listen to”: a soundscape that blends into the background but still fills a purpose when doing so.

As a label, we have specified in and learned a lot about the mood music and ambient music sphere, collaborating with musicians who have found joy and opportunity in this musical niche, many of which have found their biggest interest in the ambient genre.

The base of any ambient song is a vibrant, humming synthesizer pad drone chord that shifts slowly through chord sequences. The sound feels like slowing down, the absence of any rhythmical element gives it a timeless feeling. Genres like Solfeggio or Binaural Beats adapt to specific frequencies and tunings, aiming for a specific physical effect when listening, like stress or anxiety relief.

Solfeggio is a sound experience, tracing back to six frequencies and tunings that resonate especially much with heart, mind, body and soul.

Binaural beats combine two different frequencies per side (right, left), aiming for a vibrant sound in the stereo listening image. A sound illusion completed by a middle frequency the brain makes up while listening. 

From there on, ambient music can be enriched with all kinds of instrumental choices and melodies. Handpan, harp, flute, guitar, piano. Added nature sounds can help to make a track feel spacious and grounding. 

Depending on the context, the pace of the progression can be faster or slower, the lead melody more or less engaging and attention demanding. 

The most melodic and pulse driven ambient genre is called “Deep Focus”, where an electric guitar melody flows soothingly over a heartbeat like soft pulse beat. Big reverb and soft effects are added. 

In interviews and conversations with producers from Nova’s roster I have noticed that the creation of the ambient track is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Detailed knowledge about arrangement and music theory are required. And as Moon Safari jokingly said - when you write a track that is intended to be listened to to fall asleep, and you as the composer become sleepy when listening - you know you are on the right path!

Musical tastes are subjective, yet where ambient music unites us is that it has a calming and soothing effect to the very most of us who listen to it in an openminded, relaxed state. A break from the stress and rush of our daily lives.

You can browse through some of our ambient music here, reach out to us if you are curious about a broader sound selection from our catalogue. 

Or, if you yourself gor hooked to make ambient music, go ahead and drop your track in the demo submission on our website and we’ll be in touch with you soon! ■