Music is more than entertainment
It's one of the most powerful tools we have for influencing how we feel. The right music can energize you before a workout, boost your confidence before a big presentation, or help you unwind after a stressful day.
Research has consistently shown that listening to calming music can help reduce stress and anxiety by influencing the body's stress response. It can help calm the autonomic nervous system, support relaxation, and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Classical music, ambient soundscapes, and nature sounds have all been associated with these benefits.
Can scientists create the worlds most relaxing song?
This question inspired the British Academy of Sound Therapy to collaborate with the Manchester-based band Marconi Union to create "Weightless"—a piece of music intentionally designed using principles of sound therapy and relaxation.
According to research conducted by Mindlab International, participants who listened to Weightless experienced significant reductions in anxiety, alongside decreases in heart rate and blood pressure. The study reported anxiety reductions of up to 65% under the test conditions, making it one of the most widely recognised pieces of music associated with relaxation.
The study also identified several other tracks that performed well in reducing stress and promoting relaxation:
- Marconi Union – Weightless
- Airstream – Electra
- DJ Shah – Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix)
- Enya – Watermark
- Coldplay – Strawberry Swing
- Barcelona – Please Don't Go
- All Saints – Pure Shores
- Adele – Someone Like You
- Mozart – Canzonetta Sull'Aria
- Café Del Mar – We Can Fly
Why does "Weightless" feel so relaxing?
Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, explains that the song was carefully composed to encourage the body to relax.
It begins at approximately 60 beats per minute before gradually slowing to 50 beats per minute, encouraging the listener's heart rate to slow naturally through a process known as entrainment. Gentle harmonic progressions, spacious intervals between notes, and subtle ambient textures create a feeling of calm, while low-frequency drones inspired by meditative chanting contribute to a deeply relaxing listening experience.
As Cooper explains:
"Sound therapy has been used for thousands of years to help people relax and improve health and well-being. Music was at the heart of healing and worship among indigenous cultures."
How Dreampad uses music to support better sleep
We've spent more than a decade creating a music and sound library specifically designed to support relaxation and healthy sleep through the Dreampad sleep app.
Every track is composed in-house using evidence-informed principles, including carefully selected tempo, frequency ranges, and musical structure that encourage a calmer nervous system and a more restful bedtime experience.
Combined with Dreampad's unique sound technology, our music is designed to help create an environment that supports relaxation, making it easier to unwind and prepare for sleep naturally.