Deep Listening Is Your Future

SongsBrew Editorial

Deep Listening (the art of getting lost in it).

We have all seen the romanticized moments, where a person, usually having a hard time, gently lifts the needle, places it on a record, and sits with a whiskey, or something else from a good bottle.

There are plenty of examples; Suits, for instance, features Harvey Specter often listening to a record to get into or out of a headspace. Dr. Gregory House, again, frequently featured his record player and music, taking care to watch him place a weight on his records - it is all about the details. Harry Bosch is another example, with a dark landscape stretching into the distance, a city of flickering lights, and jazz playing in the background.

The question is, would any of these characters and scenes have been as impactful if they pressed play on Spotify?

No, not really.

There is something decadent and intentional about listening to music in this way, and we love to watch them do it. They aren’t doing anything else; they have carved out time to do it. The listening is the action. (Vinyl listeners are probably very familiar with how this feels and how much it improves what you are listening to.)

They each carefully select the exact thing they want to listen to. Committed to what will trickle out through the speakers. An intentional decision from start to finish.

Can it be replicated if you don’t have a record player, high-end headphones, or shelves filled with cardboard sleeves?

Yes. Yes, it can (to an extent, we’re taking creative liberties here).

Replacing a needle dropped delicately on the outer edge of the record with pressing play on a screen. The commitment level is still the same. You’re in it. We don’t judge the how; we support the effort.

What is Deep Listening?

Well, it is the opposite of how most of us consume music now. We’re coming away from the all-you-can-eat background music and indulging ourselves in a delicious single-serve meal.

No shuffling, no skipping, no nothin’. 

Your full attention is going to go on the album that you have picked.

This is about slowing down, long enough to hear and listen properly, and looking for all of the layers in the music. Hear the lyrics, take them on board, give them some consideration. Let it all wash over you, song after song.

Why does this even matter? For people who don’t just ‘love music’ but build their days and life around it, the music changes when you do this. Taking the time to hear works in their intended form and giving yourself around an hour (or more) to do so.

Turn off notifications on your phone, make yourself a drink of any kind, find a comfortable spot, and listen.

Want to amp it up instantly? Cool, listen to it a second time, the whole way through. Same rules apply. Listen for what you didn’t notice the first time around.

Do I need anything to start deep listening?

The best set of headphones is just what you already use, but if you do have the option of speakers, that is really what you want to do here.

Got a little budget? WiiM Mini + Edifier speakers will work perfectly. The WiiM has a mobile app allowing for EQ adjustments and will stream music from any of your favorite platforms, and Edifier is a solid option (active ones).

We’ve been through this before when we gave everyone audiophile passes. They’re still valid, but if you never read that article, Amateur to Audiophile The Art Of Hearing Differently.

Get started (right after reading this)

Hopefully, while you’ve been reading this, you’ll have been pondering over an album that you’d like to listen to from start to finish. And maybe now, you’ll just get right into it.

• Find your album, get it ready just to hit play. Turn off shuffle.

• Turn off your notifications. Full attention and intention on the listening.

• Get your drink or snack ready, and pick where you want to sit or lie down. Try to go somewhere quiet.

• Hit play, close your eyes.

What to listen for:

• Pay attention to the lyrics, did they always say that? What about the layered and background vocals?

• What instruments can you pick out? Which ones don’t you recognize? Don’t be tempted to grab your phone and Google just yet, though.

• How does each outro blend into the intros? Is there a story? Does it feel cohesive?

Your ears are just the start.

You’ve probably had the experience of the hairs on your arms standing up during a cinematic moment on TV or a movie. This has a lot to do with the music. You are, at that moment, immersed in it. You are actively watching and listening. Pay attention to how your body is reacting to what you are hearing. Do you naturally feel the urge to move and dance? Is your foot, fingers, or head moving in time? How does it make you feel?

Soak it all in. This is anything but passive now.

Once you start dedicating time to it, really listening to what you are hearing, and making listening the action, you’ll find it hard to listen to music any other way.

This week, we’re setting a challenge that we will also be taking part in. 

• Once you’ve picked and listened to your album.

• Screenshot the album, or take a photo of the vinyl (we’d love to see your collections).

• Share it to Instagram or TikTok and tag us @thesongsbrew using the hashtag #songsbrewdeeplisten. We will be reposting and sharing.

We’ve included our no skip albums, and for those who have watched or listened to our podcasts, see if you can guess who picked which albums!

A Final Note

Until next time,