If a Lava Lamp Could Sing
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I often get too serious in these blogs and I want you to remember that this is fun! So, I want to share a fun thought experiment I did while composing some of the music for Dream CPR Renew (especially the tracks “Renew” and” Resurface”).
When creating new music for Dream CPR, I often find inspiration in an unexpected source: a blue lava lamp I bought for my mom in the early 1990s. It’s one of the few things I kept of hers, and it’s become an integral part of my creative process.
As I watch the lamp, I ponder, “What would music sound like if it were composed by this lava lamp?” This thought experiment leads me to match the lamp’s slow fluctuations, rises, and falls in my compositions.
This approach reminds me of my college days as a dance accompanist at Arizona State University. There, professors taught us to study the flow of dance, the dynamics and articulations of movement, and how they can relate to or clash with sound. This training has been invaluable in my pursuit of composing “lava lamp music.”
My process evolved from trying to accompany the lamp to attempting to embody it. As I delved deeper into the project, I developed a more imaginative ability to feel like I was the lava lamp itself, making the music easier to write.
How does the music sound or mimic a lava lamp? Here are a few examples:
1. Just as it takes time for a lava lamp to do something interesting, some tracks wait a very long time before getting started.
2. A lava lamp starts with sparse wax formations that gradually fill the lamp over time. Similarly, some Dream CPR tracks may start with only one note but reach a maximum of five notes simultaneously before diluting again.
3. The music rises and falls at different intervals and velocities, mirroring the lamp’s movements. You’ll hear the music ascend, descend, or do both simultaneously, all in respect to the lamp’s flow.
When I listen back to these compositions, I feel the sounds change as the lamp does. Sometimes notes last too long on a track, or one might be too bright or loud - these are the little surprises that come with the beauty of a 35-year-old lava lamp.
Through this “lava lamp approach”, Dream CPR creates a sonic landscape that ebbs and flows, inviting listeners into a meditative state as fluid as the lamp itself.
Your Feedback
Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear from you. Which album or track has resonated with you the most? Which albums or tracks are you finding that help you? I’d love to hear your feedback on this ever-evolving project.
Stay Connected
Thank you for being part of the Dream CPR journey. Follow us on your favorite streaming platform and social media to stay updated on our latest releases and discoveries in the world of relaxation music.
On Spotify, a playlist including all Dream CPR music can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Q1qaPoMYild8hZ7NyTI1H?si=808eee35363c496c
Sincerely, Colin
Science Alert: A 2021 study in PLOS ONE revealed that listening to music with a slow tempo and low pitch can induce a meditative state, enhancing focus and reducing mind-wandering. Read more: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253779
