I have experimented with music therapy since probably high school, and it has always been a great method that I have experienced to control anxiety and cognitive difficulties. Crazy, unpredictable things happen to us as life progresses forward, second by second.
I like to fill these seconds with relaxing music from great artists. This list is most of my current playlist.
1- Work Playlist: Eiro Nareth's guitar covers are astonishingly amazing, not just in the complexity of his playing style or the unbeatable harmonics of a Baton Rouge guitar, but the sheer choice of songs is what impresses me the most. Perfect for work listening and unwinding after a long day. My favorite Nareth cover is "My rock and roll" by Bi-2, definitely one of the best all-time chillaxing songs. The second-best cover is definitely "Time" by Hans Zimmer. Trust me, you will be hooked onto him forever.
2- Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam: Greatest hits from Apple Music (That is if you're on Apple Music).
I found Cat around 2016 when I was going through a seriously tough phase of life (more about that later on), listen to "Peace Train."
His simple yet energetic and clean style inspires moments of tranquility that are priceless. On a normal Cat Stevens binge, I start off with "Peace Train" and end with "Sitting." "Sitting" has achieved the right to be my funeral song :D. I have pulled through a lot listening to "Sitting" and not to forget classics like "Father and Son," "Wild World" (a super-duper hit), probably the best breakup song ever, and "How Can I Tell You."
I suggest listening to the high-quality versions of his songs on Apple Music or Spotify for the best results.
3- Tracy Chapman: I don't even know where to start with Tracy Chapman. The extremely versatile American Folk music supplemented by the super-strong vocals of Tracy has always drawn me close to her very intimate style. Her songs' lyrics typically relate to small town humans and our dreams and ambitions. I can't help it, but I will post each song I love of hers here.
a- "Fast Car"
The simple guitar progression keeps a constant beat throughout, this was the first Tracy Chapman song I heard.
b- "Baby Can I Hold You"
The ghost beats on this one send chills down my spine all the time.
c- "Change"
The guitar work on "Change" is super smooth.
That's all for today; I will keep updating this list and sharing my choices of songs for music therapy.
If you have music that reduces anxiety, please share it with me in the comments below. I love exploring new music and will review the songs for sure.
Until next time.
Thanks.