The Living Music List #27: On Consistency
Reflecting on the role of consistent practice in success, and consistency in music to facilitate it
Currently listening to: A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio
No album is more consistently replayed in my home this time of year than Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. It is the definition of at least one half of the Chistmas Music sound to me (with the other half being the early to mid-20th century era of Christmas music, like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole). When I think of Christmas, though, A Charlie Brown Christmas and it’s easy-going jazz soundtrack usually comes to mind. I love that the official Vince Guaraldi YouTube channel released this yule log stream with the album, because it feels almost wrong to listen to it without a fire going nearby.
Reflection
Hello, friend.
What’s your best habit? What’s your worst one?
This year is coming to its end, and like many, I’m already looking ahead to the dreaded New Year’s Resolutions™ I’ll be making half-heartedly as a new imaginary unit of time begins.
Last year, I didn’t make any resolutions, really. At least, not in the traditional sense. My fiancée and I made moodboards using magazine clippings and Sharpies to define our outlook for 2024. Mine had a lot to do with soaking in moments, pausing, and increasing my overall awareness of the world around me. In the back of my mind, I imagined this would also help me follow through and finish more creative projects. Ironically, I only ended up filling about half the space on the posterboard that became my moodboard—talk about setting the tone!
Continuing the irony, 2024 was probably my most productive year in recent memory. I started this newsletter and haven’t let it fall by the wayside for more than 6 months. I started running again and didn’t fall off this time—I’m now training for a half marathon. I worked hard at my day job in copywriting and earned a promotion. I released a single, though my debut album is still waiting in the eaves.
The part of my meager productivity—I shouldn’t do that, calling it meager and comparing my portfolio to all the amazing work being done by other writers, musicians, and friends—that I am most proud of is the hidden consistency behind it all.
This newsletter is being built through consistent dedication—ensuring I write something meaningful every single week, explore enough music to share recommendations, and making connections with an increasing number of artists, labels, writers, and music lovers.
Likewise, I’ve only reached the point where I can run 6 miles without hassle due to the consistency of my training. Five days a week, rotating distances, times, and speeds. Much of the time, I run out of my apartment building and turn the same direction down the road, running to the same park about a mile from my place, passing kids on their way to school, saying hi to the same crossing guard who helps me cross a busy street nearby.
I don’t think I need to expand on the consistency required for finding success in a 9-5 day job.
Consistency is everything. That may be a trite sentiment, but this year has shown me that it is true regardless of how I feel about hearing it. Our goals and our success, while always relative, are best achieved through consistent, concerted effort.
Another thing I’ve realized about consistency this year is that I welcome it in music. I’m thinking primarily of ambient, here—there are many ambient pieces (though this is not exclusive to ambient) that are characterized by consistency. Whether it’s the steady flow of an enveloping drone, the repeating patterns of a slow, arpeggiated sequence, or the warm glow of a noisy layer running under the rest of the mix, there is a beautiful habit of consistency in ambient music that encourages its listener to fall in line.
When thinking of music that helps you get things done, the most effective music shares some consistent qualities. Consistency is one of those qualities. Unobtrusiveness, simplicity, and softness are among the others.
When working, do you also default to Lofi Girl’s lofi hip-hop radio? Lofi hip-hop embodies consistency, and this now iconic channel transmits a playlist of simple beats which all sound both unique and a little bit the same. They don’t require much thought. Like Brian Eno’s classic definition of ambient music, it is “as ignorable as it is listenable.” By the way, if you are looking for a consistent stream of consistent music that will aid whatever practice you’re trying to make consistent, try
.I hope you don’t feel that I have written this post to brag about my successes. On the contrary, most of the time I’m struggling to be consistent, to finish work, to make the same effort over and over again. There have been a few major bright spots this year that I’m proud of, for sure, but I hope there is more in store. Part of establishing consistency is being able to recognize what you have been able to accomplish through regular practice, so that you can make consistency a consistent habit (by the way, I’m sorry that I’m overusing the hell out of this word).
In 2025, I hope that I can build on my writing and my running and my music listening to become more consistent in other ways. Cleaning my apartment at more regular intervals, for example. Reading more. There’s only so much time in the day, of course, so not everything can be an everyday practice. But if awareness was my theme for this year, maybe expansion will be the motto of 2025. Increasing my range of activity, leveling up my productivity by exploring other practices, and preaching consistency in whatever I choose to try.
So, screw resolutions—what will be your theme of the coming year? What is something you can accomplish every day, every week, or every month in 2025? Whatever you choose, I wish you good luck. But remember—with consistent practice, you won’t need luck to find success.
Music Recommendations
Hello again, friend.
Thank you for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed the reflection—and I hope you enjoy the holiday season this year, no matter what you celebrate or if you celebrate at all. It’s an important time of year when most of us have a chance to wind down and relax a bit more than usual. Hopefully you can do so as you prepare to face the new year with optimism!
Now, let’s get on to the new music recommendations. Even though we’re not quite at year’s end, there are a few 2024 compilations from some iconic ambient labels like Past Inside the Present and A Strangely Isolated Place. While it seems like a bit of a quiet week for releases across the industry otherwise, there’s still some great new drops from artists like sea + i, Aphex Twin, and Clothing. Plus, even more ambient from some of my favorite labels like Seil Records, Room40, and Neotantra.
Happy listening.
The Living Music List—Ambient
Note: All of the below ambient projects are available on Bandcamp.
Past/Present 2024 Compilation by Various Artists (compilation / variety of genres covered, including: drone, electronica, meditative, minimalist, and more) [Past Inside the Present {note: combined release between PITP, Healing Sound Propagandist, and Fallen Moon Recordings} / Bandcamp]
2024 | Label Compilation (mixed by todos) by A Strangely Isolated Place (compilation / variety of genres covered, including: drone, electronica, breakbeat {note: the latter half of the compilation gets significantly less ambient and more upbeat electronic}) [A Strangely Isolated Place / Bandcamp]
half-life souvenir (ep1) by half-life souvenir (EP / ambient guitar {note: percussion on final track}) [Independent / Bandcamp]
heart eclipses forest by sea + i (album / drone) [Home Normal / Bandcamp]
Just a Dream of Iceland by Ingrid N, Skynbrögð & Scott Lawlor (album / space, meditative {note: fantasy-inspired but not dungeon synth, more deep and cinematic, some interesting stories in the Bandcamp description as well}) [Independent / Bandcamp]
Prismatic by Baldini/Dafeldecker/Strüver (EP / chamber music, field recordings) [Room40 / Bandcamp]
Nagroni by Lidell/Hainbach/Ayjay Nils (album / experimental, electroacoustic) [Seil Records / Bandcamp]
nətɪvɪti by World Circuit & Autumn Of Communion (album / minimalist, field recordings) [Neotantra / Bandcamp]
Dreams I by Recusant Wave (EP / minimalist, drone) [Independent / Bandcamp]
たゆたう by Kanami Oka (EP / ambient piano, field recordings) [Independent / Bandcamp]
if you think life isn't that good, it's just because you're not paying enough attention. by pietro d'autilia (album / lofi, drone) [Independent / Bandcamp]
Rose, New Rose Is by Astasie-abasie (album / experimental, musique concrète) [Falt / Bandcamp]
The Living Music List—All Genres
Note: All of the below projects are available on major streaming services, except #1 and #4, which are only available on Bandcamp. Reminder: Bandcamp links only provided in the All Genres list for fundraisers or reader-submitted work.
Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free by Mirthe van Popering X Honingbeer (EP / spoken word {note: fundraiser release on Bandcamp to support the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund or The Freedom Theater in Jenin} [Bandcamp link to support the fundraiser]
Music From The Merch Desk (2016 - 2023) by Aphex Twin (compilation / electronic)
Beauty Filter by Clothing (EP / experimental indie pop)
2004 - 2024 by Augen (compilation / ambient techno)
2014 Forest Hills Drive (10 Year Anniversary Edition) by J. Cole (deluxe re-release / hip-hop/rap {note: includes 8 new tracks})
Six Songs by Tom Misch (EP / neo-soul)
Blurred (Twitch Tapes) by Tory Lanez (single / R&B/soul)
A Complete Unknown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Timothée Chalamet (album / soundtrack {note: Chalamet does Bob Dylan tracks from the upcoming biopic})
Mentors by Fish in a Birdcage (album / alt folk)
Game Face by Eli Smart (single / alternative)
That’s all for this week’s issue. Thank you for reading. Until next time.
Your friend,
Melted Form
Remember to listen to the hum, buzz, & hiss of the world around you—there is music to be heard there.
Read the previous issue of The Living Music List:
Afterword—Let’s Get In Touch
Are you an artist, a label owner, or a member of the press? Want to share an in-depth feature of your upcoming release, an advertisement, or a guest post for a future Hum, Buzz, & Hiss issue? Get in touch with me at meltedform@gmail.com. As always, I would love to hear and recommend your music, especially if it’s new and ambient/electronic/experimental.
