When you’re longing for nothing more than a good night’s sleep, music can help you drift off. Many studies have proved that music can prompt us to release dopamine, the hormone that helps us to relax. In this state, you’ll breathe deeper and your heart rate slows down, creating the perfect state for sleep.
With hundreds of ‘Sleep’ playlists on Spotify, what are some of the world’s favourites to fall asleep and dream to?
The Best Dream Lover Music
What makes great dream music? You need a slow tempo, or BPM (Beats Per Minute). A normal resting heart rate is around 60-100BPM, so anything in that tempo range is good – the ideal seems to be 98BPM. Piano comes out as the most soothing instrument in dreaming music, as it’s generally very tranquil.
From classical to ambient and pop, you can find songs with calming melodies, gentle rhythms and a peaceful feel in any genre – here are a few of our favourites:
- ‘Someone You Loved’ – Lewis Capaldi. The Scottish singer-songwriter is a popular choice when it comes to dreamer songs – ‘Before You Go’ also scores highly. Sad songs, by their nature, are usually slower, so ‘Someone You Loved’, with its delicate piano, is a must-have for your dreaming songs playlist.
- ‘Lovely’ and ‘When the Party’s Over’ – Billie Eilish. Whispery vocals are an Eilish trademark, making her catalogue full of fantastic dreaming songs. ‘Lovely’ features a piano melody and is hauntingly beautiful.
- Deep Sleep Music Collective – this aptly-named group specialises in ambient music for sleeping and relaxation with multiple dedicated sleep playlists, including Peaceful Acoustic Guitar and Healing Sleep. ‘Amongst the Theta Waves’ has birdsong and harp, to make you feel like you’re in the middle of a magical forest.
- ‘Only Time’ – Enya. Delicate strings and Enya’s soothing voice make the Irish musician a perennial favourite when it comes to dream songs.
- ‘I Need Some Sleep’ – Eels. The lyrics nail how you feel when you’re in need of a good night’s kip. This is slow and twinkly and will help you drift off, with its ‘You’ve just got to let it go’ refrain helping to put you into a meditative state.
- ‘All Alright’ – Sigur Rós. Sparse piano and low-key vocals keep this track from the Icelandic indie superstars in dedicated Spotify sleep playlists. But many of the band’s tracks have a dreamlike feel, so check out a full playlist if you don’t know their music:
- ‘Venus, the Bringer of Peace’ – Holst. The second movement from Holst’s classical masterpiece is a beautiful, mystic homage to the Goddess of love, beauty, desire and prosperity, with tranquil horn and violin solos.
- ‘Nocturne No. 2, Op. 9’ – Chopin. One of the masters of the Romantic era, Chopin’s music is a great choice, offering an abundance of relaxing piano works. This stunning nocturne was written when he was just 20 years old. For more calming classical, listen to Pastoral, from our Classical Collection
- ‘Weightless’ – Looking for the track that’s scientifically proven to be the most relaxing song ever? Sound therapists and Marconi Union teamed up to create this song. The British Academy of Sound Therapy found it was able to lower blood pressure, slow heart rate and reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) at unprecedented rates. And at eight minutes long, you’ll probably be in dreamland before it’s finished. With 99 million views on YouTube, it’s the ultimate ambient
- ‘Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix)’ – DJ Shah. For more mellow beats, this track also does the trick, making you think of the sun going down on a beautiful beach somewhere sunny – perfect if you want to create a playlist of daydreamer songs too!
Dream Music For You
Want more? Here are the best picks from the Audio Network catalogue:
- ‘Dreams of Glass’ – Ethereal textures and muted strings blend with soothing woodwind and gentle celeste
- ‘Binary Dreaming’ - Vintage synths blur the line between dreams and reality in this atmospheric dreamscape
- ‘Free at Last’ – Sparse piano + floaty guitar pads = deeply peaceful
- ‘City of Coral’ – Take yourself to a magical place, with gentle piano, harp and ethereal vocals
- ‘Sunset Depending’ – Guitar-led chill hop features sparkling synths and relaxed drums
- ‘Fluorescent Rush’ – Dreamy electronica with elegant plucked strings and synth pads are the ideal companion to help you drop off
- ‘First Touch’ – A lovely pulsing pattern with reflective strings and delicate piano make for a gorgeously gentle track
- ‘Recovery’ – Hectic day at work? Slow yourself right down with drone builds, peaceful uplifting bells and a hypnotic electric piano motif in this dream lover song
For more high quality original music, explore all of our latest releases, hand-picked playlists and collections.
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