In this post I want to discuss the attributes that good background music must have. Making music that can be played in the background during almost any activity you can think of may seem simpler than it is. From the composition to the production, it takes the right choices and the options are limited. And yet, there is a lot of great background music out there. As you will see from my examples, it is not really genre dependent. Rather, it’s often the kind of song it is and the sound the artists are going for that matter most. The songs that I will pick this time are all from the same playlist that I called Easy Listening. The name of the playlist reflects the sonic qualities of the featured tracks. The listening experience is pleasant and relaxing. The mix is balanced; the dynamic range is present but not exaggerated. The mastering has a fair amount of compression, but it is not going overboard. The songs themselves are chill or have a steady rhythm with a tempo that is not very high.
News:
My Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B playlist is approaching a milestone of 1,000 followers.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2usFfxgLjpAe4xFuwtZNHw
If you like rap, you’ve gotta love this playlist!
Music Picks:
I begin with two of my absolute favorite songs on the Easy Listening playlist. You must love them too!
The Sea and Friction by Morcheeba:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0xjkgYSzHjBZNvyUaC9cXX
https://open.spotify.com/track/4Ez0699U8pfsMR9IaiVYH1
The appeal of these tracks is so universal that they make perfect background music that you will want to listen to on repeat.
I will continue with an amazing reggae song UFO by Strangely Arousing:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6c342HiCqdZC9nOMYa0RVW
Great sound. Awesome lyrics.
Now I feel compelled to change genre and mention a song by a talented rap artist from Canada.
One of Those Feelings by Classic and CrazyJaZz:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2H3E4e3q2Qdhz5cMCMh1xU
The lyrics are clean. They complement perfectly this chill composition, turning it into a moment of reflection.
At first glance, one could think that jazz is a natural genre where a lot of background music can be made. And yet, this is not so all that often. It depends on the performance style and production choices. A bass with not enough compression or that is too loud in the mix, not enough work done with EQ — especially in the high frequency range — or an overcompressed mastering, are just some examples of what may make it feel unnatural to listen to the composition in the background, for it will be drawing too much attention and the brain will not feel as relaxed as it should when true background music is playing.
Here are two examples of excellent jazz compositions from two famous artists. Notice how well the performance is controlled and the production is balanced.
Tutu by Miles Davis:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5nZnAVUt0w7UO8Wma9GabV
and
The Big Apple by Hugh Masekela:
https://open.spotify.com/track/24VGPrS8qMvjHQjTu3GoO1
It is time to show you that rock music can be background music as well. And I do not mean that it must be prog rock like Pink Floyd. Not necessarily. My next example is a beautiful and funky indie rock composition with jazz elements in its arrangements, a sweet message in the lyrics, and an all-around perfect performance.
Stranger Love by Phillip Bracken and Natalia Czekala:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4jiPq1CJTViOc6YJEaBbcp
Let’s switch our attention to electronic music. This is clearly another great example of a genre where much background music can be created.
Unfinished Love by Cool Bellini:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4a6sYdoN7mpVZMZtI8mQYC
I admire the dynamic composition and the vocals.
Speaking of electronic background music, I cannot avoid mentioning the champion.
As the Rush Comes by Motorcycle, Gabriel & Dresden and JES:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5PgOmKNRPRt66ihyRd3pmY
Impeccable mix and vocals.
I’d like to finish my music picks with a perfect background song coming from Brazil. You can dance to it too.
Segue o baile by THAMI:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0egTKiqudl4bbXlPZlRVtw
Final Thoughts:
While the examples I mentioned clearly have strong hooks, all compositions had a significant level of complexity. They are dynamic. The performance is very well controlled. The mix is balanced. The mastering is done carefully.
This is very much unlike simple catchy mainstream songs that we hear on the radio when we want to change the channel or turn it off.
Don’t get me wrong, as I do not worship complexity. If there is anything I worship, it is beauty. And beauty can come in different forms. However, I must notice that on my Easy Listening playlist I do not seem to have simple catchy songs with overcompressed production — they just don’t work as background music.
As usual, I am inviting music submissions. If you can think of great background music that is still not on Easy Listening, let me know about it. My playlists are not streaming farms — they are art collections. And I truly enjoy growing them.