Hi, this is Dai. The curator of Youtube chill sound studio “Tone by Gridge”. I hope you remembered that my job is to pick submitted music from all around the world and to make contact with the artists. However, doing so is not enough to predict the future music trend. Because music evolves every day. So I put effort into finding artists who make new sounds and contact them directly.
Tone by Gridge on YouTube
Why "Bedroom Lo-Fi" now?
The most popular channel in Tone by Gridge is the “Bedroom Lo-fi”. I reived a pleasant message which said that the channel fitted for spending a sleepless night. The messages are satisfying for me who seeks pleasure beyond “chill”.
I loved listening to city pop. But during the pandemic, my lifestyle has changed, sitting in a room for a long time, and losing track of my “story” that I used to have in normal life. As a result of losing normal life, story-less ambient music with few lyrics and songs started to make me more comfortable.
I feel that many artists and listeners enjoy animation. How about you? I proactively watched animation during the pandemic. It easily fills in the story that I have lost.
The so-called “Anime-songs” are excellent music to feel the nostalgia of the story I watched. However, not just “anime-songs”, but “soundtracks” with great sounds are all over the animation. I sometimes encounter soundtracks that fit my tone.
The anime “Non Non Biyori” is broadcasting its third season and its soundtracks have a just-right sound that fits the current situation making me feel ambient.
TV Anime “Non Non Biyori” Original Soundtrack / Hiromi Mizutani
Especially the soundtrack “Hidamari Michi” signified the scene of a landscape in the original state in Japan. The element of sorrow in the sound resonated with my current situation. I felt the magic of music that turns sorrow into comfort.
“Hidamari Michi” - Piano Version / Hiromi Mizutani
“Bedroom Lo-fi”
I thought that Lo-fi Hip Hop is structured for listeners to easily chill while listening. However “digging” music during pandemic changed how I feel about Lo-Fi Hip Hop. Of course, WAVE sound still exists but on the other hand, I feel that the beat is becoming weaker. There are events happening around the world that cannot be dealt only with “chill”. Therefore, it is necessary to search for the oasis to find the sound beyond “chill”. “Beyond Chill”. This is not a story that will be on the news but I feel that this sensation was felt simultaneously around the world.
In the recent “Bedroom Lo-Fi, consciously but also unconsciously, I tend to choose more of the music with an ambient effect. To feel comfortable in real-time, music should be changing even within a genre. I have picked up music that would be a reference of the Lo-Fi beyond “chill” so please get some tunes in!
1. Says Phoebe - Late Night Coffee
DUB music is a derived reggae that has its unique echo effect and bass line. This song has a DUB bassline combining the “chill” and Lo-Fi sound creating a new ambient sense.
2. jincha - mellow paradise
Compatible sound with electronica that I also introduced on the radio.
The groove differentiates from the existing Lo-Fi sound.
3. Oshio - Reflection in the Water
Impressive deep tune of the piano, and a comfortable repeating minimum melody.
The ambient sound is connectable to Post Classical.
Music Radio Station『Tone by Gridge』