Music and Mumblings

Hi fellow Neurodivergent peeps! Now, there are a lot of insta reels recently on ADHD/ASD minds, specifically around music. You know the -  'play this piece of music with headphones and see what it does to you - you'll thank me' type situation.

Currently it has been suggested that repeating pattern music is soothing for adhd/asd minds. HOWEVER, as with any spectrum we all have a different tonal tolerance, and pattern tolerance and I am curious how other people find these pieces that reels has been suggesting. FYI I have linked the music I am talking about in the blog, and the link will open on another tab for you. 

Binaural beats/Polyrhythms/ASD/ADHD

The on I have seen the most, is one that cropped up in 2021. It is from Isabella Kensington13 on TikTok -> Original ADHD music link who by all accounts is a solid vocalist. 

Someone clearly loved the overlapping she creates with her tone and acoustic in the bathroom, and this has now been remixed to produce more over lapping echoes -> Click here for the remix Personally for me, the first time I heard it, I was like, oh, that's clever. But then I read the lyrics (which killed it for me really) and realised that it was actually a one Breath singer challenge. Which is still cool, but it now feels more like a singing exercise for me. Still impressive, but no longer goose bump inducing - and for me, it wasn't that 'washing over me effect' because the loop is too short with no build up or down. 

For me, they have to be either simple build layering, or super complex. And instrumental only or sound sung rather than words. I have scores of lists on Spotify - which has become my favourite music playground, suggesting music I wouldn't have found by myself.  So I will share a few of my current obsessions. The music from Interstellar (still haven't watched that yet!) And a couple of other composers.

Now, I know that *Experience by Einaudi is vastly over played. BUT - the on one Spotify specifically by Daniel Hope, Virtuosi Italiani is my go to. Like, 'sit in my chair, eyes closed, taking off with the music' go to. I love polyrhythmic music when it is done right. But hate it when it becomes a muddy mash. In the Daniel Hope version, I can pick out the Cello, the viola, the piano, the Violins - each with there own theme laying on top or the others. Towards the end of the second crescendo of layering, there a scale runs done by the violins, and then later the Cellos. And everytime I hear it, my brain latches on to section it either loves or something new it has found.  But it doesn't have to be complex. It can be a minimalist piece (like Ferico Albanese - by the deep sea). Many of Hans Zimmers and Einaudi's pieces have this huge swell, of intricate pieces coming together to form this whole uplifting chunk, that for me, gives me a wash of goose bumps and the pull of wanting to just be in the music at that time. Hans Zimmers - Cornfield chase, and the remix Version of Hans Zimmers, Time - By Tale of Us, Pete Tong and Jules Buckley are both pure music food for me. 

These pieces are created by layering repeating patterns, (or repeating themes) on top of one another, usually building from very little - to a peak of intensity (Slow or fast) before dropping back down the other side, to finish quietly. 

The racing ones pull me so much, because I can feel how i would feel playing the pieces. There is something about a harmony that is so good, you loop back over it again and again because it feels amazing creating the sound. I would be SO sky high playing Experience in amongst other musicians.  

The slow ones - i find they sooth the soul. with less goosebumps, but more a warmth, like a snug blanket. - Lost Song by Fabrizio Paterlini does just this. 

*Can I point out, than this isn't particularly easy to play. Einaudi ALWAYS leaves me with hand cramp. Because the fugal patterns are so intense. (and a startling lack of piano playing on my part) 

ANYWAY my music rambling led away from the question. Do you get the same physical reaction to music. And get stuck on a song that your brain and ears can't seem to stop feeding on? Do you cycle through Genres, and then come back to old favourites? Do the songs linked here do anything for you at all? It is okay if they don't. 

We are infinite diversity in infinite combinations. 

I'll just be out here, being curious 😄