With its simplistic nature and familiar jazz sound, the Lofi Beats genre has become a staple for writers and storytellers alike to play while writing.
However, the simplistic and relaxing nature of many lofi songs can make them feel similar and repetitive (especially if your main method of listening to lofi tunes are Youtube Playlists that haven’t been updated since 2014). When you’re listening to songs that feel all too the same, it can put your mind at risk of feeling monotonous, stale, and unoriginal. Even worse, using the same background music whenever you write could leave you feeling unimaginative, heading for the dreaded writer’s block.
To avoid the mundanity of listening to the same top playlists with the same songs, try adding in some new, alternative, and global takes on the popular Lofi Beats genre. Don't be turned off by the term alternative, these tracks won't give you flashbacks to the early 2010's Dubstep Grunge or Garage Band Punk. These tracks still have the essential relaxing and inspiring tones that won't distract you while you focus on your writing. These five tracks take themselves outside of the mainstream Lofi genre by including Latin American influences, playful inclusions of unexpected sounds, and their incredible ability to reinvigorate.
Try adding these alternative lesser-known Lofi songs to help revive, refresh, and reinvigorate your creative writing time.
"Great Green Earth" by Lofi Coffee and Mike Casey
Nothing brings out creativity quite like being around nature to see Earth and all her majestic beauty. However, sometimes this world's beauty is all too distracting when you need to focus on finishing that last page. Lofi Coffee and Mike Casey do a wonderful job of invoking that natural feel with a lively saxophone lead in their track "Great Green Earth". This saxophone sound by Mike Casey feels like soulful sunlight that follows you around as you listen to Mother Nature's original background music.
"Coisa Nova" by IzaBeats
One of the best parts of the IzaBeats track "Coisa Nova" is the artist's ability to divide the song into parts that bring you a burst of inspiration as you travel along! In this 2:32 track, IzaBeats provides a gradual rise and fall that drives you through different sections of her song. From destructed melodies that make you appreciate the guiding chord progressions, to the moments of quiet that highlight that sweet baseline, this song brings an entire plotline into an auditory life form of its own. A Bazilian musician with a love of hip hop, jazz, and Bossa Nova, IzaBeats does a wonderful job of inviting newness and life into writing with her track "Coisa Nova", which translated into English mean a new thing.
"ADHD" by Me/Mo
Bring your attention back to your writing with this fun track by Me Mo. A Chilean artist with a love for video games and anime, many of Me Mo's most popular tracks are inspired by games like Pokemon, Zelda, and Final Fantasy. "ADHD" is a track off of their 2020 EP "My Blooming Process" that highlights the much-needed time for relaxation and creativity during quarantine. This song is a perfect way to fill your ears with inventive uplifting tones so that your mind can be fully focused on your new writing.
"Belmira" by Omar Bmar
Let's take it back to nature with this quick little track by Omar Bmar called "Belmira". Belmira is the name of a beautiful town and municipality in northern Colombia full of scenic green highlands and fish-filled waters. In this 1:10 minute track, you're quickly taken through an auditory experience that mimics the powerful force and overwhelming serenity you feel when nature completely engulfs your surroundings. Soothing vocal samples and rhythmic drum beats effortlessly carry through the song and your writing.
"Boating" by nosubject and .clouds
Another quick track one-minute track, "Boating" by nosubject and .clouds is a perfect playful mix of piano melodies and synth chords that can give your creative writing that much-needed upgrade you've been wanting. The cheerful and spirited piano feels similar to sprightly fingers typing when inspiration flows automatically from your fingertips. "Boating" motivates your hands to move effortless and fearlessly across the keyboard as if you were the pianist accompanying this fun lively track.
"Alternative Lofi Beats to Reenergize Your Writing" is part of our ongoing blog series, "The Soundtrack to Your Creative Process." Check out our running Spotify playlist and stay tuned for more additions soon!
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Note From Tongal: This blog is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here!
