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How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

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Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#21

Post by leetcrew »

iamatworknow wrote: post #3
pmoriarty wrote: post #2

"ambient music for shopping spaces, these days, is meant to soothe you or pump you up, and generally nudge your habits toward consumption" Fortunately, we do have some resistance to this in the form of portable music players. I virtually never hear any music at any of the venues or stores I visit, because I'm always listening to my own.

Maybe I'm alone here but I almost think this is worse. Granted the manipulative aspect of using specific music to set a mood in public places can be kinda gross, but I don't like that the alternative is that now everyone's in their own bubble and further isolating themselves from the people around them.

"earbuds in" is sort of like a social bloom filter. I'm not terribly social but I've started to try striking up casual conversation in lines and similar situations. most people don't really want to talk, but people wearing earbuds definitely don't want to talk. it's at least a mildly helpful signal.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#22

Post by AlphaWeaver »

gumby wrote: post #17
philwelch wrote: post #7

Despite this trend, maybe it’s just me but I have never actually experienced elevator music. As in music playing in a literal elevator. Sometimes there’s a TV with weather reports and sports scores and “fun facts” that pop up but no music.

Those TVs in elevators and fuel pumps are evil. You can look away from the screen but the voices make it hard to think.

Some of these can be muted by pressing one of the buttons, they're just not always labeled.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#23

Post by hiccuphippo »

pmoriarty wrote: post #2

"ambient music for shopping spaces, these days, is meant to soothe you or pump you up, and generally nudge your habits toward consumption" Fortunately, we do have some resistance to this in the form of portable music players. I virtually never hear any music at any of the venues or stores I visit, because I'm always listening to my own.

Soon they'll brand wearing headphones as adblocking and ask you to remove them or leave their store.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#24

Post by smush »

zeta0134 wrote: post #19
gumby wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those TVs in elevators and fuel pumps are evil. You can look away from the screen but the voices make it hard to think.

The ones in fuel pumps are the worst. In my town I make a point of avoiding any gas station that has sunk to that level, but they seem to be harder and harder to avoid especially when traveling.

YMMV but at least here in the southeast USA, the default GSTV signal can be turned off by pressing a combination on the 4 soft touch keys on the outside of the screen. If your buttons are like so,

1 | CONTENT | 5

2 | CONTENT | 6

3 | CONTENT | 7

4 | CONTENT | 8

try the sequence 5 6 5 . Here where I am at, that mutes the sound. Sometimes 7 8 7 also turns the screen off.

But! You need to put it back to screen on, sound on, or the staff will notice and you risk them changing the combination on you.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#25

Post by telotortium »

> THE LOGICAL ENDPOINT of the demand for mood-based content might be something that’s not created by a human musician, but by an algorithm. Some players in the music industry are betting on this. Earlier this year, Warner Brothers Music partnered with Endel, a company founded in Berlin that creates customized “soundscapes,” mostly for individual consumers. Endel’s songs aren’t really songs; they’re endless sonic ecosystems of sorts, for activities such as focusing on work or sleeping.

http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#26

Post by wffurr »

brontide wrote: post #10

…startup Mutebox The anti-jukebox that lets you mute restaurants' ambient music to bring back the vitality of your surroundings. For when your favorite cafe is playing experimental electronic music and you really came for the sound of espresso machines and light background noise while you crank out that TPS report. Or, the jukebox that exclusively plays John Cage's 4'33". [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4′33″

Like a noise canceling speaker I could place on the table to eliminate the music from that area?

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#27

Post by filoleg »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #13
pmoriarty wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience, people are already almost completely isolated even without headphones. With or without headphones, the only strangers who come up and talk to me are people who want something from me, like beggars, people seeking directions, or people trying to sell me something. As someone who's not very social around strangers, I rarely initiate conversations with strangers myself. Listening to my own music just m…

Here are some initiatives taken by transporation organizations to encourage people to talk to each other, like introducing a "chat carriage" on the train: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/public-transport-ch... For example: > The results showed that those asked to chat felt far more positive about their journey than those who kept to themselves, and that the longer people talked for the better they felt. A wo…

The chat carriage idea actually sounds really cool. Like, there are some days where I feel like I would love to use it, but there are definitely others when I just need to rest in some piece. But given that we are all in the same space on the bus right now (without this chat carriage idea implemented), I always default to being as silent as possible to give other people the opportunity to not be bothered. Hell, I even reject all phone calls I receive while on the bus.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#28

Post by egypturnash »

Lately I've been spending a lot of my working-with-a-laptop-at-a-cafe time at places that have outdoor seating. And another chunk of that time has been sitting outside at a very nice park I live nearby.

There is no music except for occasional snatches of it from passing cars. Instead there is the wind in the trees, various birds having their conversations, and perhaps kids playing if I'm near the playground. It's really kind of wonderful.

I find myself thinking that a cafe whose playlist is nothing but natural ambient sounds - maybe you walk in and the playlist is "jungle fauna", or "rainstorm", or "tranquil beach" - would be really cool, but I also know that running a small cafe is a ton of work and a great way to probably lose a ton of money. Maybe I'll suggest that at one of the cafes I work inside of on a regular basis.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#29

Post by filoleg »

Ancalagon wrote: post #6
pmoriarty wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience, people are already almost completely isolated even without headphones. With or without headphones, the only strangers who come up and talk to me are people who want something from me, like beggars, people seeking directions, or people trying to sell me something. As someone who's not very social around strangers, I rarely initiate conversations with strangers myself. Listening to my own music just m…

You and the parent both have excellent points, and I frankly agree with both of you. I think, at least in the US, many public spaces are trending towards isolation of the population. Specifically I'm thinking of gyms (where its no longer OK to interact with someone with headphones on), or bars/clubs where the music is literally so loud you cannot talk to someone standing right next to you. I believe all of this is in…

I think all of those have their place.

There are loud bars/clubs you go to with your friends at times when you want to let all your energy out and just drink, dance, and listen to music without having to worry about carrying a conversation.

There are also quieter and more fit for socializing bars and music venues, where you wanna go to shoot shit with the bartender, have a conversation with your friend you haven't seen in a while, or just relax and talk to people in your neighborhood who tent to visit that place often while chilling with a drink.

And I love the fact that in most cities I've lived in within the US, there are plenty of both, because I definitely like to utilize all of those options. More choices is always better.

The only example of yours I heavily disagree with is the gym one. It isn't a proper place for socializing imo, assuming you are talking about the weightlifting/cardio stuff. Team sports areas like basketball court or a soccer field (where I see a LOT of socializing happening) are a completely different story, however.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#30

Post by Hello71 »

brontide wrote: post #10

…startup Mutebox The anti-jukebox that lets you mute restaurants' ambient music to bring back the vitality of your surroundings. For when your favorite cafe is playing experimental electronic music and you really came for the sound of espresso machines and light background noise while you crank out that TPS report. Or, the jukebox that exclusively plays John Cage's 4'33". [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4′33″

this already exists. it's called Muzo, and ElectroBOOM reviewed it as an obvious scam.
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