Why it steps down

Start where you are

If you’re wired and someone puts on the slowest music they can find, it can feel like being shushed. An old idea in music therapy, the iso principle, suggests matching the listener’s current mood or energy first, then changing the music gradually. That’s what every set here does.

How we measure “energy”

Every one of the 366 tracks was measured for tempo, loudness, how much the loudness jumps, how busy the attacks are, and how bright the tone is. Those numbers combine into an energy score and a calm score. Your set picks tracks near your starting energy, then halfway down, then the calmest of all.

The breathing guide

Press Breathe in the player for a soft ring that grows for 4 seconds and shrinks for 6. A longer out-breath than in-breath is a simple, widely used way to slow down. Follow it for a minute or two, or ignore it.

What it isn’t

Soothing music isn’t a treatment for anxiety, depression or insomnia. It can make a hard moment a bit softer. If things feel heavy for a while, please talk to someone.