26 June 2024 - 1 min read
We've put together the ultimate Lo-fi playlist to help you anchor down and ace any upcoming exams you have.
Whether you thrive on listening to music when studying, or are having a hard time concentrating, there's only one thing we know for sure: chilled vibes help focus minds.
Carefully curated, here is your Lo-fi study playlist on Spotify from us at DPG. We hope you enjoy!
“Lo-fi”, which is short for “low-fidelity” music, is a type of downtempo music that doesn’t have the typical polished, studio-quality sound high-fidelity (hi-fi) recordings have. Lo-fi tunes are more raw and embrace sounds that are typically considered imperfections, such as static, ambient noise, soft tops, raindrops or calming background noises.
The trademark of lo-fi music is its ability to create a calming atmosphere for listeners, creating the perfect serene acoustic backdrop to their daily routine.
Typically, lo-fi’s tempo, being between 60 bpm and 90 bpm, not only helps listeners relax, but allows them to remain engaged and focused with their tasks. This is further supported by studies, which found that music between 50 bpm to 80 bpm can enhance learning and stimulate creativity.
Along with that, the repetitive nature of lo-fi music makes it predictable and soothing to listeners, helping them feel more secure and at ease. This music genre features looping and sustained sounds that allow the brain to easily “predict on a subconscious level how it will continue to sound”, according to auditory neuroscience expert, Dr. Kevin Woods.
This is why lo-fi music often doesn’t include any vocals, strong melodies, or sudden changes in rhythm: to avoid being disruptive for listeners and help them remain concentrated on their tasks.
Need more reasons to love lo-fi music during exam season? Continue reading to find out more about the benefits of this music genre, to help you make the most of your studying.
It’s no secret that music has the ability to lift your spirits and boost your mood, so notably the same goes for listening to music while studying, helping you get in the mood and concentrate.
In fact, studies have found that listening to music you enjoy increases your dopamine levels by up to 9%. Dopamine is a chemical released in your brain during moments of peak enjoyment and is directly associated with motivation and learning.
However, music taste is subjective and can vary from individual to individual, so finding a lo-fi music playlist based on the music you usually enjoy is an unimportant factor in its effectiveness for your studies.
Are you someone who is easily distracted by background noise, making studying at coffee shops or study spaces merely impossible?
Well if that’s the case, listening to music is a great way to mitigate those distractions and remain focused on the task at hand.
But, just as music can be the solution to distracting background sounds, it can often be a distraction in itself, where you find yourself ‘mouthing; the lyrics of your song, instead of reading your study materials.
That’s why lo-fi music is a great choice for studying. As there are very few to no lyrics, it maintains a steady rhythm with no abrasive tunes, it creates a calming environment for students to stay focused.
Due to the calming, almost therapeutic, beats of lo-fi music can help reduce stress and anxiety, allowing students to relax and focus on their studies without letting the nerves of fast-approaching exams overwhelm them.
Students often require a dose of dopamine that will combat stress and sometimes even depression, to get them in the right headspace to remain engaged.
Still not convinced about the benefits of lo-fi music for studying? Try listening to our playlist during your next study session and we promise it’ll change your mind.
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18 October 2023 - 4 min read
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