We’ve worked with scientists and topflight audio experts since we first built the focus@will labs in Marina Del Rey several years ago. Our audio has been tested next to other types of music and the effects on the brain, heart-rate, and other key factors measured and tracked. Alongside personal reporting, we’re proud that our hypothesis, that our proprietary formula can and does help listeners focus, has been validated time and again.
Ideally, once you start listening, the audio stream itself should disappear from your conscious attention. Behind the scenes as you work, our system simply helps you get on with the work at hand, with all distractions muted. Think of it as a flow state facilitator.
But brains are as different as the people who possess them. Our whole system works on the nonconscious processes of your brain. So the more conscious you become of the music (whether you like it or hate it) the more the music itself becomes a distraction keeping you from your work.
So experiment with all our specially-curated and carefully engineered music channels until you find one that works best for you and your brain type. That’s NOT the channel you like the best – it’s the one you notice the least as you work.
It’s important to know that while our exclusive channels vary quite a bit from each other, all of them are curated, mastered, and tested to ensure they help people with different needs and brain types to attain a greater state of focus. Here are a few of our tried-and-true channels (please note our beta-channels, too, under the “Labs” tab):
ALPHA CHILL
So let’s say you really, really dig electronica. The New-Wave, lyric-driven, synth-pop of, say, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, floats your aural boat. It’s easy to tap a toe to Humphreys’ electronic drum patterns, or sing along to McCluskey’s baritone. But the presence of words and certain kinds of rhythms, dips and dives, as well as jarring transitions in music can be – you guessed it – a big distraction. Our Alpha Chill station is still plenty synthy, but we’ve removed those lyrics and other distracting elements to help you sink better into a focused flow-state.
UP-TEMPO
There’s a certain energy that permeates your body and brain when listening to powerful electronic music. Why do you think it’s played obsessively at gyms, shopping malls, and hip restaurants? It’s designed to make you feel happy, motivated, pliable. Here music is used as the new “opiate of the people.” Notice the regular absence of lyrics and transitions when you’re out and about and someone’s trying to get you in the mood to stop paying attention to what you’re doing (what you’re spending in terms of time and money). Our Up-Tempo channel does exactly that, but when you use it while working on your OWN agenda, you simply get more shit done.
AMBIENT
Deep breath in. Subtly repetitive tones, a lack of melodic phrases, and chords engineered to calm. Deep breath out. You’re listening to our Ambient channel. You’ll find only the occasional percussive snare here, artfully placed to kick your nonconscious brain at the exact time necessary given the length of your session. If you need an escape from distractions and music with a soothing undertone, this station was built for you.
ADHD TYPE-1
As reported from countless focus@will members, our service has become one go-to aid for those with ADD/ADHD. No mistake, our ADHD Type-1 channel is specifically designed for these individuals. It’s a controlled-chaos miasma of kick drums, piercing synths, wailing guitars, and frenzied arpeggiations. If you find it disharmonious and wonder, “How the hell could someone focus while this shit is playing,” then you probably don’t have ADD/ADHD. But a brain with that condition requires a certain kind of cacophonous cocoon in order to focus.
Of course, music has been known to affect our emotions for centuries – probably much longer. After all, that’s why you listen to it. For example, certain tones and rhythms can calm our minds, reduce anxiety, and put us in a relaxed state so we can concentrate on the task at hand.
If your goal is to focus, though, then the first step is to find music engineered and produced to do its emotional magic nonconsciously. The moment you notice it, it’s a distraction.
Take our quiz at focusatwil.com to find out which channel will work best for you.
