slowed down music

Time. A concept that humans sometimes loose themselves in. Days are measured in hours and minutes and years are measured in weeks and months, though even occurrences happen second by second we fail to understand its fleeting. As it passes by us we find that it can change in moments for each of us, sometimes fast, sometimes slower. The pace, rhythm, beat and melody of a song are all wrapped in time. This can make us feel different when the song is played. A fast tune with light melody may be perceived a happy or fun, while slow and heavy may feel sad or angry. These are natural emotions that we establish when listening to the song. Case in point, Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen is fast, light and full of teenage angst when giving out your number, though when it is stretched out over 30 minutes it sounds like yearning, wavering, haunting, almost sci-fi. Take a listen above, and if you want to speed things along, about 14:10 is when the chorus starts.

Above Jolene, by Dolly Parton is a song about a Woman who confront this beautiful woman who is trying to steal her man. Though, even though it is a song about standing up and making sure what yours stays yours, when slowed down by 25% the song now sounds as if she is begging this woman to not take her man away, almost pleading. It becomes more about heartache and pain versus owning love. 

What really started me on this journey was a segment on Radio Lab based on Time, and how we perceive the moments in it differently. In that segment they experienced an art happening in New York where the Beethoven's 5th Symphony was stretched out over 24 hours in a glorious expansion of time dilation in music, which feels dreamy and surreal. In the above piece Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata stretches beautifully gracefully and romantically. Each of the above stretch into an aether of slowed grace. All forming a dreamscape of sound and feeling.