I may be wrong but Music for Relaxation must be the first album of its kind released into the local market in recent times and might just become another gold mine for Vicor Music Corp. Steven Tan, Vicor’s managing director says that they felt the need for this kind of album in these stressed-out times and the release of this album is their way of responding to that need. “We just want to provide the public with one of the best options available at all times to relieve stress and allow relaxation anytime we want it,” says Tan.
Commercially, an album like Music for Relaxation, is a risky venture. With the size of its market still unknown, there is a strong chance, it might just easily tank after only two or three hundred copies sold. But on the other hand, having that unknown factor can also work to its advantage. Being the first or only one of its kind among the current releases can arouse curiosity among the buyers. And when you get lots of those, the album can become a big hit with virtually no competition.
The artist behind Music for Relaxation goes by the name of JR Walker. The album professes to be music therapy and should be instantly recognizable to anybody as spa music. You know what that is. It is the kind you hear when you enter a spa, tinkling music with no recognizable melodies and often coupled with ambient sounds like splashing water or the rustle of leaves. This, together with the smell of scented oils is calculated to convey a relaxing atmosphere.
Some years ago, this relaxing sort of music fell under the category of New Age, which was quite popular during the early ’90s. Propelled by artists like Enya, Tangerine Dream and Loreena McKennitt, New Age purportedly created a peaceful vision of this troubled world. Eventually though, as with what usually happens with new music forms, New Age branched out into other types. Those that originated from the East, like guitar sounds from Japan or the chanting from Bhutan fell under world music. Enya and company came to land under pop. And the rest became Music Therapy. Whatever local following New Age lost over the years has already returned thanks to the spa generation.
Music Therapy is the use of music to gain physical and emotional healing and wellness. This has been scientifically proven and I am sure that everybody knows how much music affects our day to day existence. The rhythm and tone of music can excite you or relax you. Check out the malls or the stores and restaurants. Those who want people moving around and not staying in one place, play music that is fast and loud. Those, whose clientele enjoy a leisurely atmosphere, play soothing light classical sounds as people shop or eat taking their own sweet time.
The most popular symbol of relaxation these days though, are the spas. The music played there reduces your heart rate, brings your blood pressure down and increases your ability to think, learn, reason and remember. Now spas, while relaxing and invigorating, can be hard on the budget. Since you cannot go all the time, you might as well get a copy of JR Walker’s Music for Relaxation and learn how to relax at home. It would be nice if you can get somebody to give you a massage. If that is not possible, then simply turn down the lights, listen to the music and relax.
The album includes nature-derived titles like First Tide, Shoestring, Freetime, Half Moon, Mellow Bell, Layered Strings, Beach Walk, Heavenly, Cymbalize, New Rave, Blue Harp, Son of Iron, Deep Eyed and Sky Bird. But who cares about these titles, the music is all that matters here. As mentioned before, these are no ordinary New Age sounds. Listening to them is also putting yourself in Music Therapy.
I do not know if this is considered alternative medicine but Music Therapy is now used to help people express themselves, find new memories and calm the body and mind. It has been used to improve the minds of dementia patients, lessen the pain of cancer treatments or childbirth and even calm crying babies or children throwing a tantrum. Of course, it brings relief to the stressed-out worker and calms him for the next day, and the next, and the next.