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Comment by nomilk | Hacker News Reader

I can't overstate how important music is to my productivity.

What I listen to is extremely dependent on my mood and energy levels, but I almost always have on some long playlists (or better still, a single long youtube video, with adblocker on of course).

When I need calm, awesomeness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXSrQ_c904M

Upbeat productivity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NXWQ9QZwo#t=27m13s

When I want to be distanced and creative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI4-HUn8dFc#t=26m54s

When I want something fun (although also a little distracting): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SolEjKrcg4E&t=39m11s

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Thanks for sharing. I can’t listen to songs with lyrics when I work - but the structure of the music seems to have the frisson, although I’m usually so far in a work groove that it doesn’t necessarily make my hairs stand up, but instead subconsciously motivates me more to get into a flow. Usually it’s mostly electronic (ie https://m.soundcloud.com/kobeyo) or classical. When watching classical live I get the frisson. When I’m at an electronic event they really play with the buildups and the frisson seems like the goal (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=quoAVYJfDuU)

My dad constantly listens to the same era of music, the 60s and early 70s…like every night. I think this brings back memories of when he was growing up and of the times (lots of political / social changes) because he just starts ranting about high school and super detailed small things that happened to him like almost 50 years ago. I speak three languages and can’t remember anything from my past almost. The music really puts him on a time machine, it’s pretty interesting to observe…it’s like this frisson thing is going non stop.

Nice to see that other people love Donkey Kong. Here's what I have to share.

When I study (mostly algorithms and mathy stuff) I listen to this: https://youtu.be/daOaDBIh9xo

For chilling I prefer this: https://youtu.be/CKAc3nYEatw

For coding session (where I need to be creative) I listen to this in loop (usually 9-10 times in a row per session (I code a lot, mostly JS (I got a different song for Rust, I feel like for Rust different brain regions need to be activated))) https://youtu.be/AnEfB1F9BaY

When I travel to work (literally _travel_ to work, I choose working locations far away from my apartment, so I can walk there. The furthest was like 20 miles.) For this, I listen to this: https://youtu.be/0ttYoJk5sHY

After working with and without music for over 20 years I think working without music makes me more productive, working with music is more pleasant.

For me, music is only helpful if I'm in the flow. If I'm trying to figure something out (i.e. in the creative part of work) it only distracts, but for the parts that are more mechanical, music is a great catalyst.

Heavy metal works for me, for upbeat productivity.

Specifically black metal and blackened death metal for me.

edit/ And Sludge.

Same here. There is someting with the almost complete saturation of the mid- and upper frequencies of BM that focuses me like nothing else.

If anyone has a good starting point for a BM newbie (preferably a playlist or album), please suggest.

Lots of different styles that can fall under BM but here is some:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3LHSxySCaooKrQxuLtuYSV?si=OVS...

Wolves in the Throneroom, kind of dreamy artsy style. I'd like to think of these guys as the Pink Floyd of BM.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5t5tP8dVwdyI8yTShWcIzX?si=zzL...

Satyricon, started out oldschool and raw, evolved to a more polished more produced (clean vocals even!). This album is right at the start of the more polished style but still quite a lot of energy.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4a4g7PAi7KRsCQykBFqE5E?si=4LG...

Darkthrone, about as raw as it gets while still good. 2 guys and a porta studio, never played live.

https://open.spotify.com/album/63NhXXsb7BNEtLCTnYzub2?si=8qL...

Feminazgul, deep in the nerdery now. Queer themed with Tolkien inspired/ripped lyrics.

Can definitely confirm that. It's one of the few genres (with general Metal, some Crust/Sludge/Old-school Rock being among the main alternatives) that's able to touch me on an emotional level while managing to keep my attention without me zoning out.

It use to for me too. But these days I need to chill more to Dark Ambient.

I recently threw together a simple website for this purpose – love those YouTube playlists, but having YT open during my work sessions was hurting my overall productivity.

https://radio.writing.fm

JimTV is great for this. https://youtu.be/wTvkT6Q_CwI

on the other hand I cannot listen to music and work, if it's music I like.

Yep. Either I tune out the music or I can't focus no the work.

Lol are you me? I listen to the exact same. Will add this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q3_fB1LqV0

I'm only a few minutes in, but it's amazing, thank you for sharing.

Thank you. I mean the thanks, but must listen later. This comment will remind me.

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