best music to get homework done

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The Ultimate Study Music Playlist

This is a playlist of my favorite study music. It’s great for homework, studying for exams, reading, and generally getting crap crossed off my many checklists.

I’ve been working on this playlist for several years, and it contains music (all non-lyrical) from a wide variety of genres and sources, including video game/anime/movie soundtracks. At the moment, it’s got about 240 songs for you to choose from.

Listening on another app? I’ve worked to mirror this study playlist to other services. Check them out below:

• Spotify Study Music Playlist
• Apple Music Study Playlist

If you’d like, you can study with me in another tab while this plays. You can also listen to the playlist on YouTube instead of on this page.

By the way – I create my own study music as well! If you’d like to give it a listen, here’s a playlist:

You can also follow me on Spotify or on YouTube if you want to be notified when new tracks are released.

Need even more study music?

Here are a few options.

Brain.fm – Music designed specifically to help you focus more effectively. It works really well for me, and I use it for around 50% of my research, writing, and reading sessions – the other half are mostly done with the playlist above.

Piano Study Playlist – If you’re in the mood for a more consistent playlist, check out this one full of solo piano tracks.

Coffitivity – Sometimes I’m in the mood for ambient noise instead of music, and the sounds of a bustling coffee shop are my personal favorite type.

Noisli – An ambient noise generator that lets you create your own mix using sounds like rain, thunder, fan, and white/brown/pink noise.

More Playlists

Work Vibes – My personal playlist of “getting-stuff-done” music. Most of the tracks here have vocals, so I wouldn’t read or study intently with them. But they’re great for crushing emails, working on design projects, or doing other work where I simply need to execute quickly.

Tom’s Workout Playlist – A collection of the tracks that usually accompany me to the gym.

The best music to listen to while you work or study

They say classical music makes the best study tunes, but are we really limited to Bach and Mozart?

You've probably heard that classical music is good for studying, taking tests and doing creative work. This idea stems from the " Mozart Effect ," a term coined in 1993 when scientists discovered that listening to Mozart's Sonata for 10 minutes resulted in better spatial reasoning skills -- a particular type of intelligence that involves visualizing and manipulating images in your brain. 

The findings in that 1993 study got blown out of proportion, however, and classical music became synonymous with intelligence: so synonymous, in fact, that in 1998, then-Governor of Georgia Zell Miller proposed sending a classical cassette tape to every baby born in the state, free of charge, so that the babies would become smart. 

Even though the Mozart Effect has been more or less debunked in the time since, some experts still argue that music can offer other benefits to our brains -- namely, concentration and productivity. 

Read more: How to create the best exercise playlist for better workouts

How can music help us focus?

Consider these few reasons why music might help you plow through your to-do list: 

Elicits positive emotions: People tend to be more productive and efficient when happy ( recent research confirms this ), and the right kind of music can put a little pep in your step. People who listen to music, in fact, may be happier overall than people who don't listen to music.

Makes you feel upbeat: Sometimes, work and life just feel drab. If you've been feeling bored, a happy tune can make lackluster tasks seem more appealing. 

Drowns out other noise: If you've ever worked in a coffee shop or an office with an open floor plan, you've probably been driven up the wall by the sounds of someone sniffling or shuffling their feet. Listening to music, particularly through a good pair of headphones , can drown out distracting noises.

Read more:   Best music streaming: Spotify, Apple Music and more, compared     

If you can't stand the sounds of your work environment, use music to drown them out. 

Can music really make you more productive?

Research on music for productivity is inconclusive, to say the least. Some studies show that background music can improve your episodic memory and overall cognitive performance , yet other research suggests that background music can actually be a detriment to your ability to focus and learn . Still others say that it has no effect one way or another .

There are factors that affect whether background music works, too: Some research suggests that background music needs to be free of lyrics in order to promote productivity ; other studies say simply that whether music aids in concentrating depends on how much a worker likes or dislikes the music . 

Note that the studies discussed in this section measure something different than the aforementioned Mozart Effect. While the Mozart Effect measures the ability of music to enhance intelligence after the music stops playing, research on music for productivity investigates background music, or music that plays while your attention is primarily on something else (your work).

Read more:   Best turntable under $300 in 2020: Audio Technica, Pro-ject, Fluance and more   

40 gorgeous headphones for people who are sick of black

What kind of music helps us focus? 

With the fact that there's no real scientific consensus in mind, it's worth looking at the handful of research studies on different types of music and their ability to aid in concentration.

Classical music

Despite the muting of the Mozart Effect, some research still suggests that classical music can help people learn and focus (just not as impressively so as the 1990s would have you believe). For example, one study found that college students who listened to classical music during lecture learned more than those who listened to the same lecture without classical music. Some research suggests, however, that classical (or any type of complex) music is best when performing simple tasks , rather than complicated ones.

Ambient music

Ambient music is a style of gentle, tone-based music that utilizes ambient sounds like the hum of an air conditioner or the buzz of TV static. Ambient music often lacks a true beat, usually doesn't have lyrics, and ends up blending into the preexisting background noise -- this is why ambient sounds like white noise are often used at sleep aids . 

In terms of focus and productivity, one study found that white noise can help people with ADHD ignore noisy environments and perform tasks with more efficiency. There's still a lot of work to do, however, when it comes to understanding when ambient noise helps and when it doesn't , according to recent research from the University of Alberta.

Nature sounds

We already know that spending time in nature is good for our physical health. It turns out that listening to nature sounds, even when trapped in an office, can boost your mood and promote deep focus . Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York found that soothing nature sounds, such as rainfall, can mask intrusive sounds and help workers stay on task. 

This Nature Sounds playlist on Spotify has more than one million monthly listeners, a good indication that the playlist works for something, be it relaxation, sleep or focus. 

Test your music system with these great rock tracks

What type of music to avoid

Just as particular styles of music can help you focus and get things done, other styles can sabotage your efforts no matter how strong your work ethic. There's no research that explicitly compares the effects of different types of music on productivity, but most people can probably agree that it's best to avoid distracting styles, such as dubstep music and heavy metal, while working. 

Truly, though, it all comes down to personal preference. And it's not as if experimenting with background music can really hurt -- we're talking about music here, not whether a food additive is safe or not . The worst outcome is a slow day at work and perhaps a bit of scolding from your boss. 

You should know yourself well enough to understand what types of music and sounds help you focus, and which ones don't. If you find yourself struggling to focus with '80s classic rock in the background, maybe it's a good idea to turn off the Guns N' Roses and switch to something with less electric guitar.  

It's worth experimenting to find out what kind of music helps you focus. I personally can't listen to any music, regardless of style or tempo, that has lyrics. I've tried and tried and failed. I just get too caught up in the words and can't concentrate on the task at hand.

Instead, I've found that I focus much better when listening to soft electronic music or nature sounds (particularly rain and waterfalls). Some of my most productive days have been the result of simply switching on a floor fan to block out distracting noises. 

In the end, as with all things, do what works best for you.   

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4 best music for homework that’ll dramatically improve your productivity

Choosing the right music for homework can help you focus better and learn faster.

Around 60% of students tend to listen to music while studying. Researchers also found that listening to music was the most popular side activity for teens who juggled studying with another task.

While we may prefer different genres of focus music, we can all agree that the right playlist has the magical ability to boost concentration.

This is because music activates the most diverse networks of the human brain. It’s been proven that people with ADHD focus better with the right music.

This is on top of  existing research  that has found listening to music reduces anxiety, blood pressure, and improves sleep quality, mood, and memory.

Johns Hopkins University researchers have done work on jazz performers improvising inside an fMRI machine to see which areas of the brain light up as well.

They found that jazz musicians make unique improvisations by turning off inhibition and turning up creativity.

In short, if you find the right music for homework, you can elevate both brain power and creativity.

While there isn’t a one-size-fit-all approach to this, let us help you narrow down some of the best genres for you to try:

Here are the five best music for homework to help you increase your productivity:

Having the right music matters, even for top athletes. Source: Tiziana Fabi/AFP

1. Classical music

When picking music for homework, you’ve probably heard how classical music can increase your focus when studying.

There’s a theory dubbed “The Mozart Effect” that suggests this genre of music can enhance brain activity and arouse your brain to focus.

There are also several studies done where students listening to classical music did better on quizzes than students with no music.

Suggestions:

• ClassicFM  (a free radio streaming platform that plays famous classical pieces)
• “Study Playlist: Classical Music” on Spotify
• “Classical Music for When You’re on a Deadline” on YouTube

2. Video game music 

This might surprise you but video game music is actually one of the best music for homework. According to Orion Academy , video game music is designed to keep you absorbed and focused — which is also great for memorising. 

When your brain is focused on just melody, it’s taking a break from trying to break down the lyrics of a song and thus increases your performance .

Video game music tends to stay at a relatively low, constant volume too, preventing you from becoming distracted by sudden increases in volume.

Since video game music is generally fast-paced, your brain will be constantly engaged in the task at hand.

• “Video game soundtracks” on Spotify
• “Video game music for studying” on YouTube
• Choose favourites from this list and create your own playlist!

3. RnB 

If you’re someone who easily gets distracted, RnB may not be the best music for homework for you. There’s a high chance that you might spend too much time jamming to the lyrics of the song instead of focusing.

Though music under his genre generally has lyrics, many RnB fans reported feeling more relaxed, focused, and less stressed, which may have a positive impact on their ability to focus and learn.

• “Study R&B Smooth Songs ” on Spotify
• “Chill R&B Beats Mix – Beats to Relax and Study (Vol.1)” on YouTube

4. Nature sounds 

It’s been shown that nature sounds relax our nervous system. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  have also discovered that natural sounds boost moods and focus.

The study found employees were more productive and had more positive feelings when nature sounds were playing in the background while they worked.

Nature sounds include the soothing sounds of the rain, ocean waves on the beach or even the jungle. Some prefer listening to bird calls and animal noises, so feel free to explore if nature sounds aren’t the right music for homework for you. 

Relaxing Nature Sounds for Sleeping – Natural Calm Forest Waterfall Music Meditation Sound for Study on YouTube

“Nature Sounds For Concentration” on Spotify

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Best Music For Homework To Get More Productive

Doing your homework everyday tends to get a bit repetitive. You will quickly get bored of working on your school assignments in complete silence for hours. In fact, it may even become awkward to learn in complete silence. Believe it or not, there is a way to solve this problem. It has been demonstrated that music for homework is a very effective method of keeping focused and increasing your productivity.

Table of Contents

Homework music benefits, places to find songs to listen to when doing homework, good examples of youtube music to listen to while doing homework.

It sounds strange, but the truth is that certain songs to listen to while doing homework can actually help students concentrate and do a better job on their school chores. Yes, it also makes you cool. However, to get the most benefits out of music, you need to be able to listen to the best music for homework. This is easier said than done, because most students don’t know what music to pick. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of music, some places where you can find good music, and a few examples of sound tracks you can listen right now.

First, let’s take a look at the benefits of listening to music while doing homework. There are several benefits of having an adequate study music playlist available at all times. Check them out here:

• Music helps you study. Studies conducted by universities such as the University of Wales have demonstrated that music can help students study more efficiently and learn more in a shorter time. It looks like music improves memory, attention and even the student’s ability to do mental math.
• Music is known to decrease anxiety and depression. Let’s face it; you won’t be able to do your homework properly when you are sad and depressed. However, some music to do homework to can easily relieve most of the depression and anxiety. It has been demonstrated that music calms students down and helps them focus better on their school assignments.
• Music keeps other sounds away from your brain. The sound of your neighbor’s dog barking or of airplanes taking off near your home will not have any effect on you. You simply won’t be able to hear all the distracting sounds around you and will be able to focus properly on your homework. This is why a homework music playlist is great for every student.
• Listening to music while doing homework is a great way to make sure you don’t feel the urge to do something else. When you work in complete silence, you get bored quickly. Getting bored means you feel the need to do something else, like playing a video game. If you get bored while listening to music, you can simply stop what you are doing and listen to one of your favorite tracks while you think about something else. You will then be able to immediately get back to work when the track is over.

However, to be able to reap all the benefits of listening to music while doing your homework, you need to make sure you get the music you need. You don’t want to listen to tracks that have too many lyrics or that have a crazy rhythm. These will distract you and decrease your ability to do your homework correctly.

Music and homework should go hand in hand. The best tracks are those that have few lyrics and are melodically pleasant. For example, listening to heavy metal rock is not a good idea. Listening to vocal trance, on the other hand, is a very good choice.

You can find all genres of music on the Internet. While YouTube is not generally considered a platform where one can find a lot of audio, it is actually one of the greatest sources of music you can ever find. Yes, users are required to upload videos on YouTube, but there are hundreds of thousands of audio tracks there as well, made to look like video clips. Some of these tracks are two or three hours long. Some are even called the best music for homework.

And let’s not forget that one of the best genres of music that help students do their homework is classical music. Yes, the plain old Beethoven, Bach and Tchaikovsky are great for listening while you work on that difficult project for the physics or path class.

Here are a few good examples of great YouTube music that works best for homework. Some of these tracks are even titled the best tracks for studying – and for a reason:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPni755-Krg – This YouTube mix is 3 hours long, so you can play it in the background. It’s soothing and relaxing, with absolutely no lyrics.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3HCPVMtd8M – This is a mix of Bach music (instrumental, orchestra) that is perfect for studying, according to its makers. Homework music classical is relaxing and has various rhythms to keep you from getting bored.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAVbvBK8ceU – This is a trance mix made for studying. It does not have any lyrics, but its rhythm is relatively fast-paced and active. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o-xjAdwW4k – This is a vocal trance mix that has the best 50 tracks of 2017. It contains lyrics, but the music is calm and chill; nothing brutal or too fast-paced.

Of course, you can always get music for homework for any channel that has live music. This way you never get bored. The channel’s owners mix the music themselves and it’s all live so you don’t know what’s coming next. There are hundreds of channels that play live trance music, progressive vocal trance, and even classical music. You definitely have plenty of options to choose from (and don’t forget about our tips above).

There are many places where you can get music to be the best homework writer to on the Internet. In addition, you can always go to a radio station’s website and start listening to radio online. The problem with radio is that although it plays cool tracks, it also contains advertisements and quite a lot of speech. This can quickly become distracting for a student who is trying to focus on doing his or her homework. Whatever source you choose, make sure that the music you listen to is adequate for studying.

Still Having Trouble With Homework?

Music for homework can be a life saver indeed. Hopefully the advice above has given you some ideas and inspiration to change your study habits toward them being product, efficient and fulfilling. But it is not an answer to everything. You might create a great environment for studying, but still feel stressed and stuck. Sometimes it is undeniable that you need a little outside help.

One option you should consider is getting outside homework help from your family, friends, or classmates. But they might be busy or at their capacity as well. That is why our service is here, for the moments when you are thinking of paying someone to do your homework . Our writers are top-notch professionals at the top of their games, who are willing and enthusiastic to help you with any assignment you might have. Your teachers will be absolutely impressed and you will be at the top of your class!

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13 Productivity Playlists to Center and Focus ADHD Brains

We asked additude readers what focus music helps them hit a productive groove while working or studying. they recommended these 13 playlists for channeling attention — and getting more done..

Got music? In a recent survey, most ADDitude readers said they focus best while listening to music — so we asked for specific song suggestions. Below are 13 productivity playlists by and for ADHD brains. Next time you need to buckle down and get things done, look here for the perfect ADHD focus music or just follow ADDitude’s Spotify channel.

Have more suggestions? Leave your song, artist and/or playlist recommendations in the comments below — we’re always adding new music to the ADDitude Spotify!

Playlist #1: Upbeat Songs to Kickstart ADHD Brains

Punchy, high-energy focus music to get your to-do list started, the playlist features Panic! At the Disco’s “High Hopes” and Yellowcard’s “Ocean Avenue.” First thing in the morning or during the afternoon slump, lean on these upbeat songs for an injection of pure focus.

“Sometimes while I’m working, I like to take a break and listen to something that makes me dance for two to five exhausting minutes to let my energy explode and then get back to focusing .” — Bay, New Jersey

“I need to occupy my brain and body simultaneously, so if I have to do mindless tasks like making dinner, washing dishes, or folding laundry, I need something that engages my brain. Up-tempo songs with lyrics I can sing along to work well. Without them I just can’t do anything.” — An ADDitude Reader

[ Download: Music for Healthy ADHD Brains ]

Playlist #2: Instrumentals for ADHD Focus

Many ADDitude readers reported that they find lyrics distracting, so we created this purely instrumental playlist to reap all the productive benefits of listening to music without any diverting drawbacks. Filled with punchier instrumental pop and slower ballads, this playlist is perfect for people with ADHD looking for a happy, productive groove.

“I listen to instrumental music — not too fast, not too slow. It has that constant beat that sets my pace for my tasks.” — Bert, Indiana

“I listen to instrumental, calming music that really relaxes me from inside out. It’s the first step to slowing my brain .” — An ADDitude Reader

Playlist #3: ADHD Brain Food

Sometimes your ADHD brain just craves some good, fun music. In those moments, feed your brain with the easy, catchy songs on this playlist. Listen to these songs on your morning commute or while working for an extra dose of daily happiness.

“I need playful, interesting music to jolt me into productivity. I also love to sing along/harmonize with music, so this helps while cooking and cleaning, too.” — Kelsey, Minnesota

“I don’t have just one type of music or song that helps me focus and so I end up changing playlists and artists to whatever helps me at that moment. Sometimes I just need to listen to a band I enjoy.” — An ADDitude Reader

[ Read: Study Music to Focus the ADHD Brain ]

Playlist #4: First Day of Summer

“First Day of Summer is my go-to for an upbeat shot in the arm when I have the 2 o’clock sleepies — lots of electronic funkiness, world music, fun song remixes, and jazz.” — Molly Durham – Texas

Playlist #5: Lush Lo-Fi

“When I discovered lo-fi music, it changed everything! It’s the perfect background music for me to keep my brain happy and engaged while I work or just relax. It seems to regulate me, keep me on track, and it keeps me from getting overwhelmed with what I’m doing.” — An ADDitude Reader

Playlist #6: Sem Letra Nem Baleias

“I work better with background music, but lyrics distract me and I hate New Age-y music with whale sounds, etc., so I made my own, which contains neither lyrics nor whales (hence the title of the playlist in Portuguese). It’s mostly acoustic versions of Brazilian samba and rap/hip-hop songs.” — An ADDitude Reader

Playlist #7: Classical Focus

“If I need to focus on anything intellectual, I play some calm instrumental music. It can’t have lyrics or I’ll pay more attention to the lyrics than my own thoughts . These soundtracks are heavily vetted before I use them for something important!” — Colleen, North Dakota

Playlist #8: Lo-Fi Workday

“I find songs that I know and/or are lyric-heavy that can split my attention. When I need to focus — at work or around the house — instrumental tracks are my ‘secret sauce!’” — Gate, Seattle

Playlist #9: Do You Have MySpace?

“I prefer songs I know as they are less distracting. I made a playlist called Do You Have MySpace? because it’s mostly songs from my high school period (2004-2009). It has been very useful lately as I tackled a big task that still required some brain power at work.” — Catherine, Quebec

Playlist #10: Moneyball

“I had a professor who told me that he writes all his papers while listening to the Moneyball soundtrack. I gave it a try and haven’t looked back since. I hope this helps other people with ADHD !” — Spencer, British Columbia

Playlist #11: Bass House

“Bass House is just a great jump-around list that is exciting without being frenetic.” — Molly Durham, Texas

Playlist #12: Repetitive Needs

“I have a playlist of songs that I could listen to on infinite repeat and then I pick a song from that list before I start whatever task I need to do.” — Cameron, Australia

Playlist #13: Road Trip to Tokyo

“Combining instrumental music with posh hotel vibes, this music keeps you moving without distraction .” — Aria, California

Music for ADHD Focus: Next Steps

• Read: Mozart Helped Me Focus My ADHD Brain
• Read: “I Have a Verbal Fidget That Keeps Me Humming”
• Download: Music For Healthy ADHD Brains

SUPPORT ADDITUDE Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing . Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

How to Focus: Read These Next

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I’m an ADHD Expert — and I Still Struggle With ADHD

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Getting Things Done with Adult ADHD

The Music to Listen To While You're Working from Home

If the noise of your full house or the silence of your apartment is driving you insane, tune in to our playlist.

During long periods of working remotely, sometimes all it takes is the right song or album to get into the zone. Perhaps it’s an ethereal Tame Impala track to boost your mood or a shiny Tinashe hit to lend you a dose of afternoon energy.

Victoria Sines, Content Strategy Manager

Miguel is my go-to forever and always, but I can’t stop listening to Tame Impala’s new album, The Slow Rush . Their music always puts me in a good mood, and the song “Breathe Deeper” (pun intended) has really been getting me going in the morning or when that midafternoon slump hits.

Barry Samaha, Freelance Market Editor

For the past three years, Spotify’s year-end review has decreed that Aretha Live at Fillmore West is the album I listen to most. Apple Music also backs this data. Still, I’ve never really analyzed why it is in constant rotation on all my audible devices. Perhaps it’s the verve in Franklin’s voice, the musical arrangement of each song, her chats with the crowd in between sets, or a combination of everything. But what I do know for certain is that it makes me happy and keeps me focused. And when I am at home by my lonesome, and not panicking from headlines on CNN (I know! I know!) or stuffing my face with brownies, singing along to this gem keeps me sane.

Kerry Pieri, Fashion & Features Director

I find that any Motown Spotify list that has anything to do with Marvin Gaye keeps me in a good mood, motivated, and gives my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter something to jam to.

Bianca Betancourt, Assistant Digital News Editor

As of late while working from home, I’ve been listening to Kaytranada’s latest album, Bubba . The album’s tracks are upbeat enough to wake me up but still simultaneously chill enough to be a proper soundtrack to the start of the morning. My favorite track is the sassy “10%,” a funky collab with burgeoning Colombian pop star Kali Uchis. Around lunchtime, I usually begin to blast Bad Bunny—“Si Veo a Tu Mamá” is my favorite track off his flawless sophomore effort YHLQMDLG, which stands for “Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana” and translates to “I Do What I Want.” Then as the day winds down, I’ll put on Tinashe’s Songs for You —a very underrated and well-produced curation of cool girl, modern-pop bops that usually results in me shimmying at my desk, naturally.

Chelsey Sanchez, Editorial Fellow

I feel something akin to religious fervor each time Mitski graces my speakers. Her eclectic discography matches me at every stage of my work-from-home process: cathartic, grating vocals for initial rage; decadent and romantic pop songs for when I hit my groove; and skeletal instrumental arrangements for my inevitable surrender to Slack notifications and email pings. It’s always easier to bow down to the workload when Mitski is prodding me along.

Anna Aiello, Motion Designer

A few songs I’ve been listening to that I’d recommend: “Lost in Yesterday” by Tame Impala. Being locked in my childhood home might actually be the ideal place to listen to Tame Impala’s latest album, The Slow Rush . I’ve been particularly enjoying the song “Lost in Yesterday,” which has a fantastic chorus that may warrant a dance break for me and my dog.

“In My Room” by Frank Ocean. The name of this track has a whole new meaning in these times. Frank Ocean is famous for being a homebody, and I’ve been listening to this single on repeat to bask in the glory of staying home.

“Home” by CARIBOU. The perfect song to make pancakes to. Quiet but upbeat.

Roberto Dume, Director of Photography

I go for tone and mood to sort of map out the day. Think of your eight-hour workday as an album, and your music lineup as your track listing. Some of the records can weave in and out of each other and work just fine on shuffle, but usually I take albums and connect them to create a mood for an extended period, so nothing gets stuck.

If I’m working, I like music that’s not overly distracting, but I can still feel underfoot. It’s always about mood and shifting so that the day is both energized for work without taking you away from the focus.

Some records that have been circulating in rotation while working from home: Frank Ocean’s Blonde , Sade’s Diamond Life , Mac Miller’s Swimming , Khruangbin & Leon Bridges’s Texas Sun EP, Harry Styles’s Fine Line , Japanese Breakfast’s Soft Sounds from Another Planet , Blood Orange’s Negro Swan , Jeff Buckley’s Grace , Radiohead’s In Rainbows , Mac Demarco’s Salad Days , The Velvet Underground’s self-titled album, Erykah Badu’s Baduizm , Little Dragon’s Ritual Union , Washed Out’s Life of Leisure EP, Childish Gambino’s Kauai EP, Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and Rosalía’s El Mal Querer .

Lee Manansala, Senior Video Editor

WFH for me means waking up at 9:45 to be at my computer at 10, so I’m not fully awake. I put on something light, not too challenging. This morning, I put on “Rip It Up” by Orange Juice—if you like Vampire Weekend’s first album, you’ll like Orange Juice.

Once I find my stride, I need something that I can put on and forget, something that can reasonably take the place of the office din, which, if I’m being honest, I miss. Today, I put on Selected Ambient Works 85-9 2 by Aphex Twin. I know it by heart, so it’s not distracting, but I would miss it if it wasn’t on.

I ended today with The Wild Hunt by The Tallest Man on Earth, because when you’re trying to stave off atrophy and cabin fever, what you need is the perfect road trip album.

Erica Gonzales, Culture & Content Strategy Editor

My work soundtrack depends entirely on my mood (I have gone from Ariana Grande to Creedence Clearwater Revival in a day—I don’t understand myself), but lately, I’ve been finding comfort in mellow soul classics. I love “Superwoman (Where You Were You When I Needed You)” by Stevie Wonder; he’s one of my all-time favorites, and this deep cut is a perfect mix of calming and melancholy. I’ve also been constantly listening to “I Can’t Stand the Rain” by Ann Peebles; I can’t get that tingly timbales intro out of my head, and the song is such a cool gem apropos of New York’s recent dreary weather.

Other more modern artists and tunes on rotation: Dijon, Soccer Mommy, Clairo, the new Moses Sumney album grae , Niia, Snoh Aalegra, Outkast, Tom Misch, Boygenius, Rex Orange County, and Solange’s A Seat at the Table and When I Get Home.

Listen to all our picks and more in the playlist below and follow Harper’s BAZAAR on Spotify.

Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. 

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