Serenity Sounds is a solo project aimed at creating music intended as healing and therapy.
Using ambient soundscapes, a host of MIDI instruments and VST plugins, and a passion for creating soundscapes that help others, Serenity Sounds has garnered quite a buzz and following among the YouTube community, the primary platform used for releasing these audio and visual creations.
Scrolling through the comments, it becomes immediately apparent that Serenity Sounds is helping people in many ways. Whether using his 6-8 hour long Submliminal Sleep Programming creations or his shorter compositions intended as sonic healing alongside his carefully written positive affirmations, there is no denying the healing power hidden beneath the surface of arranged sounds and instruments.
When he receives comments from individuals battling with PTSD that his music helps them manage it or learning that doctors refer patients to his compositions, Serenity Sounds passion for this work continues growing as does his drive to continue learning as much as he can about his craft.
Fortunately, I was able to get a few minutes out of Serenity Sounds busy schedule for the below interview. We discuss how he got started in this line of music creation, challenges faced in the digital era, the things that motivate him to continue creating and much more.
You can find the full Q&A along with links and videos below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create?
I currently reside in the small city of Athens, Georgia. I just moved into a small apartment after living in Maryland my entire life; honestly, it feels completely different, but I am learning to adjust!
Musically, Serenity Sounds is meditative ‘ambient soundscapes’; it is created using various MIDI instruments, software plug-ins, and electronic keyboards. However, many other genres of music have influenced my musical style. For example: Post-rock, carries a lot of elements of ambience – it gives that spacey feel, almost like you’re drifting off into some unknown place in the universe, but in a beautiful way. Additionally, there is a certain feeling of freedom within the ambient genre. The sound does not feel confined into a single space, but rather creates spaciousness itself. Ambience can be found in various genres of music or even in nature. Listening to the sound of a thunderstorm or the wind blowing against the trees can offer this type of head-space, the characteristics that this type of music seems to offer; which I think is fascinating.
In reference to style choice, when I first started Serenity Sounds, three years ago or so, I was thinking solely of basic level meditative characteristics; as I continued to create music, I felt like that was limiting me, becoming too narrow, you know? I wanted to branch outward in someway that was different, an approach that is less defined or put into a box. Nonetheless, meditation remains to be the founding theme of my music: I believe, I’ve just discovered new artistic doorways in the creation process. Thankfully, my music is still evolving, and I am learning new ways of thematically expressing ideas through sound design. The learning never ends.
What inspired you to begin studying and using music as therapy and healing? What motivates you to keep going and learning?
Growing up, my inspirations had formed around the emotions invoked from listening to all sorts of musical genres: classical, punk, ambient, you name it. Moreover, I had ‘felt’ some sort of freedom and connection to healing properties when I’d put my headphones on and would play my favorite album: this felt like self-care or a form of therapy to me. I was capable of being in my own world free from anxiety and stress. Then, after discovering what certain software and instruments had to offer, I became inspired to experiment with my own sounds, which inevitably led to the creation of Serenity Sounds. Using sound-effects, such as reverb, made an instrument seem more enhanced, bigger, than it actually was; this happens because it expands the sound of the notes you’re hitting. The possibilities felt limitless.
Also, outside of my personal experiences, I had become aware that music therapy has an incredibly rich history, a topic so huge that I cannot even begin to tackle it. Reading books and taking a few college courses helped me learn more about the subject; however, I learned a lot just through observation: using sound as a medium for healing. Sound energy is a real thing, I mean, you’re creating a vibration which you are ultimately in touch with. If these sounds make you feel optimistic, free, or generally good, well then that is therapeutic at the core. Yet, this goes deeper, it’s a creative science!
I keep creating this type of music because its therapeutic to me and to others. Kindly enough, I’ve even had doctors recommend that their patients listen to my music for stress-relief. So, to know that it can have a positive impact, in whichever way, makes me continue to pursue this passion; it just feels right to keep creating content.
Even though the music is ambient and might appear simple at the surface, there is a lot going on beneath the surface. Can you briefly explain other areas of knowledge one is required to understand in order to learn to create and use music in this way?
For me, the complexity, starts with the technical side of things: software complications, instrument selection, audio plug-ins, mixing and mastering, adjustments, and the finality of the composition(s). This is a handful in itself.
Then, there is the mental side of it all: coming up with new concepts, learning patience, blocking outside distractions or accepting them, and deciphering how the song structure is going to change or flow.
Overall, it is subjective to the song I am creating. Usually, if I am creating a ‘soundtrack for sleep’ I could have over 60+ MIDI instruments in one Logic Pro X file. I want the sound to flow freely, but there are so many elements making it happen. For example, I could have one of those 60+ tracks softly hitting bells with a stereo spread, waving between your right and left earphone, whilst another is steadily going through a chord progression. There could be a multitude of melodies smothered in reverb; they are all being played at once, hence creating a “oneness” or a “flow” that’s incredibly diverse when you open a song file and observe the inner-workings. Additionally, I add positive affirmations, that I have created, to these videos. Creating my own affirmative thoughts can take sometime to accomplish. In order for everyone to understand the affirmations that are being recorded, I take the time to write every affirmation, for each new You Tube video, in the description section.
Concluding this question, every creator is unique and works differently. There can be similarities, but at the end of the day, it boils down to experimentation, what feels right, and understanding what works best for you. It takes me about a month to release a new song, but that’s just because my methods take longer and I like to pull together really small details to paint a bigger picture.
Can you tell us about your Subliminal Sleep Programming videos? How do these works differ from the other meditative compositions you release?
These Serenity Sounds tracks quickly became the most popular because they offer more than just meditative music; the concept is learning positive thoughts as you sleep, but without disturbing the listener with an openly spoken voice. For better or worse, our minds are constantly picking up information, depending on your perspective. The philosophy behind Subliminal Sleep Programming: to change negative thinking patterns with positive ones as you rest, because your subconscious mind picks up this information. These works are far more complex because I am not only creating music, I am creating a multitude of messages which are being sent to the listener’s mind. The feedback I receive is almost always incredibly positive; so it inspires me to focus more on this type of content. The recording process is more in-depth, requires a microphone, a long written list of original positive affirmations, and the video files are often so large that it takes a few days to upload onto a platform, such as YouTube; the average video file can range from 6 to 8 hours per video. As I learn new ways of incorporating beneficial traits and frequencies,I would say that these songs are evolving into something greater, a better version of the original idea.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with meditative music?
The most rewarding aspect is completing a work and then reading someone’s testimony about how it has assisted them in a positive way. For example, awhile ago, someone even wrote me a message stating that my music helped them to manage their PTSD. Knowing that, I felt very inspired to keep creating content.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Challenges are everywhere, especially in the digital age. YouTube has been my main platform ever since I began writing music; unfortunately, they have been updating their policies, and personally, I feel that the changes they have implemented have hurt their creators. Just recently, a handful of people, including myself, were demonetized without explanation. This hurts, because having ad revenue allowed me to have more time to create music. Remaining positive, I hope that, working to resolve these issues can only better us and the platform as a whole. Being erased, or having your hard drive crash, as well as other “unexpected happenings,” are all unfortunate, and quite frequent, possibilities when working in the digital community. I have experienced both, but I have also experienced, and learned, that with such trials, growth and acceptance can happen. It all depends on how you look at the situation, your attitude directs your goals.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
As of right now, youtube.com/SerenitySounds is the only place you can find my music. However, I plan on expanding, trying out different platforms in the near future. For updates, you can also find me on facebook.com/SerenitySoundsMeditation Anyone is free to message me at any time, whether they have questions about my music production or just want to give feedback – I am open and welcome to such communication.
Anything else before we sign off?
I would like to thank you for having me. This was my first interview and I hope it offers some insight about my music (or meditation music in general) to whomever may be reading. There are so many different ways of evolving as a musician and as a person; I think one should always explore those psychological pathways and push oneself to reach the higher levels of their craft, always learning. Remember: growth is ever-present and achievable!
