The sirens of sleep
"The original sample was a recording of ocean waves as heard in Belize. Sleep imagined as water is a very inspiring vision. But this brought the Sirens to my mind. Dangerous, mythical creatures that may allure you to join them in the waters and stay there forever. What if something in your dreams would try to keep you there forever? Would it be tempting or scary? Both, I guess. And such is the ...
5m Sep 27, 2023
5m
Underwater sounds from a stream
Location: Corrie Hamelin Park, Tiny Township, Ontario, Canada. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
20m Sep 27, 2023
20m
Waves at Awenda Provincial Park
Waves recorded on the shores of Georgian Bay at Awenda Provincial Park. The waves are restful - recorded as a wide soundfield. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
20m Sep 27, 2023
20m
Peepers peeping
Peeper frogs mating calls - the calls are more individual with gaps in the recording. Recorded at the side of a gravel road at night. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/ image: Peter Paplanus, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>...
6m Sep 27, 2023
6m
Peeper frogs in the spring
This is a recording made of Peeper frogs in a marsh at night. This is a mating call that happens during a very short season in the Spring. The high whistles at a low volume can be very relaxing and hypnotic. Recorded at the Tiny Marsh Conservation area in Tiny, Ontario. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the colle...
16m Sep 27, 2023
16m
Waves on a pebble beach
Waves on a pebble beach - Awenda Provincial Park. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
20m Sep 27, 2023
20m
Insects and frogs at Yacuma River
Insects and frogs at midnight in the jungles of Bolivian Amazonia create a beautiful symphony that gets me in the mood for relaxing or taking a long nap. Recorded by Erick Ruiz Arellano. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
3m Sep 27, 2023
3m
Small waves at Placencia
Small waves at the beach in Placencia, Belize. I find this sound very relaxing cause its natural slow rhythm and its wonderful stereo panning creating a mild flanger. Recorded by Erick Ruiz Arellano. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
2m Sep 27, 2023
2m
Hypnagogia
"I was instantly drawn to Alan Cook's recording of waves crashing into the sea wall rocks at Port Noarlunga in South Australia. I manipulated the original field recording in such a way as to reimagine the state of wakefulness leading to sleep, otherwise known as hypnagogia. As well as working with the original field recording, I added various synthesiser parts to the composition." Port Noarlun...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
Adriatic moons
"Adriatic Moons is an explorative-ambient composition inspired and incorporating a field recording by Rafael Diogo from Kororez bay, Albania. After researching the location of recording, the cyclical nature of the tides and circadian rhythms - sonic convolution and granular synthesis were applied to the source sounds and the piece was composed around the ebb and flow of the tidal movement. "Th...
7m Sep 26, 2023
7m
Krorez Bay Berceuse
"For this project, I left the field recording largely intact because the pulse of the crashing waves already felt like being rocked to sleep. Listening to it felt like breathing. I wanted to create music that reflected this peaceful feeling of being lulled to sleep. I think low frequencies can be relaxing so I employed a rocking motion that reflected the pulse of the waves in the bass, but kept...
4m Sep 26, 2023
4m
Lullaby89
"Inspired by the already profound sense of calm the field recording instilled in me, I added a few simple sound beds and wove in some minimal piano notes to create a serene soundscape that will (hopefully) help gently lull the listener into a state of gentle slumber." Belarus bird tower reimagined by Jenn Howd. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds...
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
Midnight Thunder
"Sounds of rain and birds layered with non-linear hardware synths improvisation. Recorded during the midnight thunderstorm in the forest not far from the field recording area." Belarus bird tower reimagined by nWave. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
8m Sep 26, 2023
8m
Watery winds
"The sounds of the Albanian Lengarica Canyon inspired me to create this piece where the gentle murmurs of the river intertwine harmoniously with the ethereal notes of a bass flute and electronic sounds, conjuring a tranquil ambiance. My adjustments to the field recording have been minimal, preserving its raw essence. The sustained, airy notes are thoughtfully woven throughout, guiding the liste...
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
A place of longing
"The source field recording of waves washing over Albanian rocks conjured the beauty of both white noise and organic tidal repetition, that was kept entirely in tact as the foundation of the work, adding the sounds of twilight birds giving way to cicadas in the swelter of a night in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. "I added gongs and bells recorded from the Longplayer project at the listening post at ...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
"Night falls again and again" (music for Lyra 8, organ and hypnagogic states)
"I wanted the sea to bridge the work and thought of the reimagined piece as being a number of destinations on the way to falling asleep. I, like many have to work hard to fall asleep, either counting backwards from 10,000, breathing exercises to settle or achieving a state of exhaustion through exercise. Anything to escape the screen and interruptions to "healthy sleep habits" being formed. I u...
10m Sep 26, 2023
10m
Një endërr Gjipe (a dream of Gjipe)
"The field recording is from Gjipe, a secluded beach on the Albanian Riviera. The piece, Një Ëndërr Gjipe (A Dream of Gjipe), draws on the whispers of the sea communicating with us, drawing us into a sleepy dreamy state, the ebb and flow of the soft piano mimicking the sea lulling us into this serene reverie." Gjipe waves reimagined by Moray Newlands. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
The sea wall
Ocean surging against sea wall rocks. Recorded by Alan Cook. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
18m Sep 26, 2023
18m
Bird tower
While staying in the village, the best time for sleeping is when it is raining. This recording was made by myself during a sound expedition with ornithologist Vitaly Kosheev. We where planning to record the signing of cranes that where on the other side of the lake, but rain started and they didn't sign at all. Recorded by Anton Anischanka. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more infor...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
Stream flows softly
While hiking along the unexplored paths of Lengarica Canyon in Albania, one cannot help but be awestruck by the gentle murmur of small river streams. These delicate sounds weave a soothing melody, creating crystal-clear natural pools along the way. As you pause to admire the breathtaking majesty of the canyon's limestone walls, a sense of wonder envelops you, immersing you in nature's grandeur....
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
Cave-crashing waves
It is a truly captivating experience to listen to the gentle caress of waves as they tenderly kiss the shoreline, and then extend their affectionate touch to embrace the caves within the canyon. This rhythmic dance, a back-and-forth response to the water's elemental embrace, unfolds in the remote splendour of Gjipe Canyon in Albania. It is a harmonious symphony that epitomizes the enchantment o...
4m Sep 26, 2023
4m
Rocky shores
The melodic sound of waves gracefully traversing through rocky crevices along the coastline of Krorez Bay awakens the senses. The rhythmic movement of the water produces a refreshing symphony that entices anyone to rise and behold the captivating expanse of the sea. This remote location in Albania beckons with its serene allure. Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Music for Sleep project - ...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
Gentle waves
The melodic sound of gentle waves upon the shoreline orchestrates a serene dance on this blissfully warm day. Here I stand, alone, amidst a captivating desert coastline — one of the hidden gems nestled in the remote corners of Albania. To reach this secluded paradise, one must embark upon a journey either by boat or through an arduous trek that demands a few hours of dedication. Recorded by Ra...
4m Sep 26, 2023
4m
Night falls over the sea
The nightfall over Gjipe’s Canyon is an experience in itself, where the waves gracefully dance to the rhythm of the nocturnal sea breeze. It is a solitude soundscape, an enchanting symphony that echoes through the untamed wilderness of Albania. Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://cities...
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
Coastal whispers
When the sea communicates in whispers, it is in those moments that the sea breeze gracefully embraces and hushes the bustling sounds of the ocean, crafting a serene and delicate soundscape. This melodic symphony, found along the coastline of Gjipe, hidden within the remote canyons of Albania, possesses the power to lull one into a state of tranquility, inducing a sleepy and dreamy ambience. Re...
2m Sep 26, 2023
2m
Watch your step as you exit the dream
"The piece is an attempt to represent my peculiar sleep experiences in recent months. I perform as a percussionist with the band Foals and when the Music For Sleep project was announced I was midway through a 5 week tour of the US. Instinctively, I selected a field recording made back in my hometown of Oxford. During the tour I've so often fallen asleep on various modes of transport, dreaming o...
4m Sep 24, 2023
4m
LWRCS (listen when requiring calm sleep)
"The inspiration for »lwrcs« was mainly driven by the feedback-like howling of the wind in the original field recording. It’s rich in frequencies but also has something eerie yet warm to it. When being played silently it sounds like a sung melody. Digital and analog feedback loops and warm tape noise create the framework for the heavily processed fragments of the field recording. Here and there...
15m Sep 24, 2023
15m
Draw breath
"How does one create a sound to help others to sleep and not make it tedious? I enjoyed the "bubbling, hot pool" of Tim Kahn's field recording and tried to create something that takes someone on an exploration but can also possibly induce a feeling of calm and serenity." Field, Oregon hot pools reimagined by Bill McKenna. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear ...
6m Sep 24, 2023
6m
In true sounds
"The recording, a waterfall, reminded me of the white noise I would sometimes use to block intrusive noise to help me sleep and where I might have imagined I would like to have been. I live in a city and use to work as a paramedic. Attempting to sleep in the day, or to suffer insomnia at night was challenging, there was much noise and I could feel the vibration and sound of construction and hea...
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m
Ripples on the surface of the absolute
"Since first reading about the Music for Sleep theme for this project, I have spent quite a bit of time talking to friends and family about their sleep patterns and the techniques they use to help them get to sleep. I have also been doing some reading on the sounds, tones and patterns that can sometimes help people achieve the state of being asleep. Within “Ripples on the Surface of the Absolut...
19m Sep 24, 2023
19m
Into the woods (one minute warning for Jamie Bell)
"When I consider 'music for sleep' I immediately consider water and 'less is more'. This piece contains my own continuous field recordings of the Holy Brook (flowing through Devon) in real time (recorded on 30/07/2023 with Sony PCM D100) featuring sounds presented by Jamie Bell." Glasgow woods reimagined by Tulse Hill Fields. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to h...
20m Sep 24, 2023
20m
The transition
"This piece is a playful attempt to portray hypnagogia in an individual entering an increasingly hallucinogenic resting state. Here we have a front row seat in witnessing the sounds of body rhythms and firing neurons meshing with the fleeting perception of environmental sounds as awareness eventually slips away from perceived material existence." Oxfordshire woods reimagined by Gerald Fratzl (...
6m Sep 24, 2023
6m
Oxford to eternity
"The soft thunder and rain and birdsong in the recording were so transportive, I wanted to tint that environment with a drowsy theme that loops in one’s mind while drifting into sleep. I kept the original recording and layered in another copy at half speed to add to this dreamy state and to allow the bird melodies to be drawn out into melancholy cries. The entire piece is a loop itself, and can...
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m
Sommeil mort
"I've used an underlying rhythm which is supposed to reflect the breathing while you sleep, then a layer of sweeping synth-like dreams coming and going, and finally the birdsong over the top as if thoughts are interrupting the sleep. I've treated the original recording with some clipping distortion and echo." Paris birdsong reimagined by Richard Watts. Part of the Music for Sleep project - fo...
4m Sep 24, 2023
4m
The wind rocks me gently
 I love listening to the wind and its voice as it travels around, and the constant drip of the tap is comforting reminder that I'm home. Recorded by Michelle Breslin. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m
Gently bubbling hot pool with thunder
A bubbling geothermal pool in the middle of a sagebrush desert surrounded by crickets. The gentle bubbling sound is very relaxing, the crickets are a classic evening sound, everything is still and peaceful and no one else around to interrupt. Distant thunder punctuates the moment. Recorded by Tim Kahn. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the...
5m Sep 24, 2023
5m
Crecy-Couvé - La Blaise waterfall
The time in which the river is changing, following the upcoming night. The last sounds of the birds, while the flow of water doesn't stop. Recorded by Cristian Estrella. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m
Crecy-Couvé - La Blaise river
The time in which the river is changing, following the upcoming night. The last sounds of the birds, while the flow of water doesn't stop. Recorded by Cristian Estrella. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
6m Sep 24, 2023
6m
Birdsong in a tunnel of bushes
In the woods among the huge grounds of the Stonor Park country house and park, two rows of bushes form a tunnel over a small footpath - perfect for leaving our binaural recording device to pick up birdsong and buzzing insects from all angles. Recorded by Cities and Memory. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://cit...
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m
In Summerheath Wood
On a summer walk in the Oxfordshire countryside, we pause in the small but perfectly-formed Summerheath Wood to record a moment of forest-bathing calm among the birdsong. Recorded by Cities and Memory. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
5m Sep 24, 2023
5m
Thunderstorm in the trees
A summer thunderstorm over Oxford in June 2023. The rain hits the tree canopy, softening the sound to a relaxing bed, with almost constant, low key rumbles and grumbles of thunder rather than loud, infrequent cracks. Recorded by Cities and Memory. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for...
14m Sep 24, 2023
14m
Into the woods
Birdsong, a bee or two, and slight background ambient 'world' noise. Recorded using 3D immersive Binaural mircophones I submitted this new version as I tidied up the track information on the file itself etc rather than just sending the title. Sorry for the inconvenience but this WAV version is the better one to use. Thank you! Recorded by Jamie Bell. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for...
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m
Parisian bird singing in the middle of the night
I woke up in the middle of the night and heard this beautiful birdsong in the courtyard of the apartment I was staying in. Recorded by Stefana Fratila. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
1m Sep 24, 2023
1m
A gentle touch
"I find birds chirping very relaxing. This is why I've chosen to work with this particular sound recording. I imported the original sound into Ableton Live. I recorded a few pad improvisations using my 1010music lemondrop granular synth. I then recorded some piano that I processed with a few effects (Puremagnetik Fragment, Spaceship delay and PaulStretch). Overall, I tried to write a piece wi...
9m Sep 24, 2023
9m
Black licorice moon
"Meditative and calm. This source recording is in the water, and I think water and breath are related. Breathing in and out reminds me of waves crashing on a sea shore. This song should evoke the breath and the sea together as you drift off to sleep." Carkeek marsh reimagined by Galen Spikes. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collectio...
9m Sep 24, 2023
9m
Goodnight ocean
"Inspired by the recording of Vietnam Tuy Hoa Beach at Night, I composed a 4hz ambient binaural beat. I created it with the intention of helping listeners relax and ease into sleep. I set the piece to 50bpm, mirroring a human's resting heartbeat. I then created a lo-fi ambient pad and wrote a chord progression to evoke the sense of a dark night. I slowed-down the audio recording, creating a be...
15m Sep 24, 2023
15m
Rainy day dream
"I’ve been enamored by wind chimes for quite some time. There’s something about the contrast between the percussive strike of the clapper and the ringing vibrations of chimes I find very centering and calming. Sometimes I visualize the sound emanating from the chimes like ripples on a calm lake. Collaborating with Meghan Fohl’s original field recording of wind chimes I composed a set of genera...
12m Sep 24, 2023
12m
Spring peepers (chorus frogs) in concert
Spring peepers (chorus frogs) in full chorus shortly after sunset in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan, USA. The persistent, lush and mesmerizing symphony of the spring peepers makes for a perfect backdrop for sleep and relaxation. Recorded by Darrin Wassom. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, vi...
18m Sep 24, 2023
18m
Pizzicada
"The sound piece Pizzicada takes on the, sometimes very loud, cicada sounds in the rainforest. My idea was to put artificial cicadas into the sound of the natural biotope. The sounds of the "artificial cicadas" are samples of a prepared piano and are played as pizzicati and arpeggios. From the combination of the words pizzicato and cicada, the title of the track is born: Pizzicada. It is a tri...
8m Sep 24, 2023
8m
Thousand steps
"This piece attempts to replicate the experience of falling asleep and into a dream. It starts with the field recording of calming, repetitive wave sounds and slowly edits and manipulates it to create a dreamlike, unfamiliar soundscape to demonstrate how our sleeping state can provide us a version of the world that is similar, but a bit strange and disorienting." Thousand Steps Beach reimagine...
8m Sep 24, 2023
8m