Usually nothing but sometimes classical or lofi. Mostly I find it distracting but occasionally it works for no discernable reason

If I want little distraction it’d either be no music, or music I never have or rarely listen to.

something without lyrics

None. I’ve tried everything from Mozart to Metallica, and any kind of music playing while I’m trying to concentrate is more of a distraction than a help.

Film scores and soundtracks that have no vocals.

Depends on how my mind is. If I need to concentrate because I am anxious, I try to put on something without serious lyrics, though gentle enough to calm my anxiety down. If I am calm yet finding it hard to focus, I tend to put on light music that I usually listen to, like my most listened to tracks: I find these tracks are the easiest to drown out with the least distractions, as I already know in my head where the tracks are going, however with new tracks even instrumentals when I lose concentration I tend to focus too much on the new tunes and such.

Many times I don’t listen to anything as my head is too cluttered that way.

Aphex Twin

The music varies a lot. Everything from Adam Young, via Hiromi Uehara, to Dimmu Borgir. The common thread is that it has to be instrumental and not annoying.

Tool :-)

Thrash Metal or Mozart.

• lofi
• ambiance
• game soundtracks (chill ones)

Kammerflimmer Kollektief

Glass Beams

Bohren und der Club of Gore

Khruangbin

I listen while working most of the day most days, my top 5 are probably:

Mount Shrine, Sleep Research Facility, Thomas Koner, Loscil and Brian Eno

Always up for new listens though so I’ll check back what others put up for sure.

I like the group audiomachine - they do instrumental music for trailers and commercials. I also listen to: Lindsay Sterling Dallas string quartet Vitamin string quartet And dragon force. Lol

Dragon forces music is so fast it’s practically instrumental to me.

I also listen to the instrumentals of within temptation.

For physical tasks that require little higher brain function but just need me to not zone out or chase a distraction, I listen to audiobooks and podcasts. It’s about the only way I can get stuff done around the house.

For tasks that require real brain power, I stick to original scores from movies and games. No lyrics, easy to find something with the right level of intensity for your mood, and generally designed to compliment an existing experience rather than be your sole focus.

Extended loops of Brothers in Arms from Mad Max Fury Road and Mountains from Interstellar have saved my ass in many a crisis. And the hour long Skyrim morning exploration mix and Witcher relaxation mix combined have probably doubled my creative output.