Being able to focus can be very difficult for some people. Especially if they’re a procrastinator like me. Over the course of the last four years of high school I’ve developed some strategies to help me focus. One of those strategies happens to be listening to some nice, mellow tunes.

1.   Crush by Cigarettes After Sex 

This song starts out with a very mellow, roughly 30 second intro, and then leads into a soft toned voice that has a very soothing vibe. Throughout the song there are soft instrumentals behind the vocals and in between the chorus. The chill vibe this song promotes creates a very focused and relaxed environment to work in.

2. Love Is a B*tch by Two Feet

This song starts off with a very rustic, acoustic vibe. The vocalist also has a rustic tone to his voice, while being very mellow and slow with his lyrics. The song in its entirety, with the mellow and chill vibes the instrumental part promotes, mixed with the vibe the vocalist gives off just promotes a stable working mood.

3. Wait by M83

This song is has a softer vibe than the previous songs. It starts off very calm and slow, with a soft instrumental and vocal lead. As it gets deeper into the song it gradually reaches a climax bringing it’s level towards the same as the previous ones, and then goes back to the soft and relaxing song that it started out as. It reminds me in some ways, of a song you’d listen to while going on a night time walk down the beach. It just allows you to envision yourself in a more relaxed area, which can help ease the stress of your mind and help you to complete your work comfortably.

4. Sunsetz by Cigarettes After Sex

This song, much like the previous song by them, has a very mellow vibe to it. It has a soft, fairly constant beat of a tambourine in the background throughout the song. Which is also accompanied by a soft bass guitar and slight, small sounds of a piano in parts. This very mellow and chill aroma this song gives off provides for a relaxed study environment where you can focus and get things done.

5. Sleep Apnea by Beach Fossils

This song has an older vibe to it, mixed with a new era of music. Some of the sounds remind me of a more mellow Beatles. The overall sound is very similar to Cigarettes After Sex and Hippo Campus, both of which have a very chill and sweet vibe to them. This song, while the lyrics are slightly sadder, gives off a focus and euphoric vibe. The instrumentals and the vocal tones allow for you to think, “hey this is kinda hard, but it’ll be alright” which can provide motivation for you to keep on working if you get tired or stuck on a problem.

These songs all have a similar vibe to them, with chill or mellow instrumentals, but they all have a unique way with their words and how they execute the instrumentals. They’re great to just relax and chill or to listen to while trying to work on difficult assignments or cram for big exams.