Flow State $8 / month

Flow State is a Substack dedicated to highlighting artists and albums ideal for creating a focused work environment. It covers a wide range of genres including ambient, electronic, jazz, and instrumental music from around the globe, featuring both renowned and emerging artists.

Music Recommendation Ambient Music Instrumental Music Electronic Music Jazz Music World Music Artist Profiles Album Reviews

The hottest Substack posts of Flow State

And their main takeaways

Lou Reed

1100 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎶 Music Musician Album Review Meditation
  1. Lou Reed was an iconic American singer, songwriter, and ambient music producer.
  2. His final solo album, 'Hudson River Wind Meditations,' is designed for activities like meditation, yoga, or tai chi.
  3. The album was recently remastered and reissued by Light in the Attic Records.

Hania Rani

766 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎶 Music Composer Collaboration
  1. Hania Rani is a talented Polish composer and pianist.
  2. She draws influences from Bach, Mozart, and Chopin.
  3. Listen to her works like 'On Giacometti' and 'Inner Symphonies'.

Claire Deak

668 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎶 Music Composer Album release Collaboration Music genres
  1. Claire Deak is an Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer.
  2. Her first solo LP, 'Sotto Voce', is inspired by baroque composers and recorded in a 19th century wooden church.
  3. Deak collaborates with her partner on the album 'The Old Capital'.

Miles Davis

569 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎶 Music Jazz Musician Album Biography Recommendation
  1. Miles Davis was an American trumpeter and composer known for his 'cool jazz' sound
  2. Davis incorporated funk, rock, and electronic styles into his music in the 70s
  3. One of Davis's notable albums, 'Agharta', captured a live performance in Japan
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Aphex Twin

452 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎶 Music Electronic Ambient
  1. Aphex Twin is an electronic music composer from Cornwall, UK.
  2. Enjoy vibrant curation of Richard D. James on YouTube with compilations like 'Music for Sleeping.'
  3. Listen to 'Selected Ambient Works Volume II' by Aphex Twin for a chill weekend vibe.

Polygonia

569 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎶 Music Electronic Producer
  1. Polygonia is an electronic music producer based in Munich
  2. She has released five LPs, thirteen EPs, and many singles since 2019
  3. Polygonia's music combines techno templates with lifelike synths and organic samples to create a connection between electronic music and nature

Benoît Pioulard

452 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎶 Music Ambient Composer Album Collaboration
  1. Benoît Pioulard is an ambient composer from Michigan based in Brooklyn.
  2. His latest album 'Sunder' is a collaboration with Offthesky, filled with staticky synth pads.
  3. The album 'Bloodless' features frosted, drifting chords and some spoken vocals.

Iasos

589 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎶 Music Composer Albums Influence Biography
  1. Iasos was a Greek-American new age music composer who had a significant impact on the genre.
  2. He released albums like 'Inter-Dimensional Music' and 'Essence of Spring' which are known for their unique sound.
  3. Iasos passed away at the age of 77 but his music continues to inspire many listeners.

Biosphere

550 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎶 Music Electronic Ambient
  1. Biosphere is an electronic/ambient project by Norwegian musician Geir Jenssen.
  2. In his latest LP, Inland Delta, Biosphere plays with synth drones and melodies on stripped-down tracks.
  3. The 1997 record Substrata + Man with a Movie Camera by Biosphere layers field recordings and radio transmissions over synths.

Donato Dozzy

393 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎶 Music Electronic Producer Albums Artists Genre
  1. Donato Dozzy is an Italian electronic music producer known for his subtle kick drums and 'twinkling arpeggios'.
  2. He pursued a doctorate in politics while his music career took off, earning him the nickname 'The Professor'.
  3. His latest LP, 'Magda', and earlier release 'Filo Loves the Acid' showcase his unique sound.

FM3

314 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎶 Music Experimental Instrumental Electronic
  1. FM3 is a duo that created handheld looping "Buddha Machines".
  2. The duo collects samples of traditional instruments like the sheng and matouqin.
  3. Their music is available on streaming services and they have reissued their first edition devices.

Spirituals (Interview)

334 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎶 Music Interview Artists Inspiration Projects
  1. Tyler Tadlock's music project Spirituals blends voice memos, digital instruments, and guitar to create beatless dance music.
  2. Tadlock's approach to music-making is organic and inspired by everyday sounds, emphasizing the importance of sounds' relationships.
  3. Tadlock finds inspiration in natural sounds, free improvisation, and underrated musicians like George Cartwright.

Laurence Vanay

255 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🎶 Music
  1. Laurence Vanay is a prog rock project by French multi-instrumentalist Jacqueline Thibault.
  2. Thibault worked at Studio Château d’Hérouville and recorded four albums as Laurence Vanay.
  3. Two featured albums are 'La Petite Fenêtre' and 'Evening Colours', each with its own unique style.

Cowboy Sadness (Interview)

334 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎶 Music Interview
  1. Cowboy Sadness is a trio from New York with a unique music style.
  2. Their music is a mix of ambient sounds, influenced by Pink Floyd and Can.
  3. They are currently working on new music and have plans for the future.

Hiromi

275 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎶 Music Composer Jazz Classical Performances
  1. Hiromi is a talented Japanese pianist, composer, and bandleader.
  2. She moved to the U.S. to study at Berklee and caught the attention of Ahmad Jamal.
  3. Check out her albums Spectrum and Duet for a mix of blues, jazz, pop, and classical music.

The Black Dog

176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎶 Music Music Production
  1. The Black Dog is a techno trio from Sheffield, UK, known for their brutalist techno sound and unique recording methods.
  2. Their album 'The Grey Album' features a spare, reduced sound created by recording on one synth each in separate warehouses.
  3. Their album 'Music for Real Airports' showcases a unique blend of less percussion with scene-setting audio, creating a distinctive listening experience.

Hiroshi Yoshimura

727 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🎶 Music Ambient Artist Albums
  1. Hiroshi Yoshimura is a Japanese ambient artist from Yokohama.
  2. His music from the 1980s, like 'Surround', is considered canonical in ambient music.
  3. A recommended album is 'Music for Nine Post Cards' from 1982.

Jerskin Fendrix (Interview)

176 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎶 Music Composer Interview
  1. Jerskin Fendrix is an English composer and singer based in London, known for his avant-pop and hyperpop sounds.
  2. Fendrix composed the soundtrack for the film 'Poor Things,' which earned him and the filmmaker Oscar nominations.
  3. Fendrix's music is deeply inspired by various influences, and he aims to capture emotions and essence rather than conform to traditional scoring.

Jon Hopkins

550 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🎶 Music Electronic Ambient Composer
  1. Jon Hopkins is a talented musician from England known for his techno and ambient music
  2. His solo albums Immunity and Singularity are impressive and worth checking out
  3. You can find Jon Hopkins' music on various platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp

Yussef Dayes

530 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🎶 Music Composer Collaborations Performance Albums
  1. Yussef Dayes is an English drummer and composer known for his eclectic and collaborative albums.
  2. His debut LP, Black Classical Music, showcases machine-precise rhythms and features various collaborators.
  3. Yussef Dayes' Live at Joshua Tree performance is highly recommended and available on YouTube.

SUSS (Interview)

471 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🎶 Music Bands Genres Collaborations Influences Recommendations
  1. SUSS creates ambient country music by blending ambient and instrumental country influences.
  2. The band has evolved through lineup changes and now focuses on more abstract pieces.
  3. The members find inspiration from a variety of artistic disciplines outside of music.

Ballaké Sissoko

432 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎶 Music Collaboration Albums
  1. Ballaké Sissoko is a Malian kora player who started playing the instrument from a young age.
  2. After his father's passing, Ballaké joined the Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali and later went on to release his own music.
  3. His 2012 album 'At Peace' features first takes and collaborations, while his 2003 collaboration with Ludovico Einaudi is 'Diario Mali'.

Tommy Guerrero

491 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🎶 Music Producer Albums
  1. Tommy Guerrero is a guitarist and producer from Oakland, CA.
  2. Tommy Guerrero has released two albums with different styles: "Amber of Memory" and "Sunshine Radio".
  3. "Amber of Memory" is a 12-track LP of wistful guitar meditations, while "Sunshine Radio" features subdued surf rock and mellow bassy instrumentals.

Hermanos Gutiérrez

707 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🎶 Music Instrumental Classical Folk
  1. Hermanos Gutiérrez are two guitar-playing brothers from Ecuador raised in Switzerland, influenced by a variety of music genres.
  2. Check out their albums: "Eternamente" from 2021 and "El Bueno Y El Malo" from last year.
  3. Enjoy their instrumental music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Bandcamp, and Tidal.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

609 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🎶 Music Composer Tribute Albums Influences
  1. Ryuichi Sakamoto was a talented Japanese composer and pianist with a diverse body of work.
  2. His music ranged from pop to film scores to experimental electronic music.
  3. Sakamoto's creativity and talent have inspired many around the world.

Erik Hall

452 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎶 Music Composer Albums Recommendations
  1. Erik Hall is a multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Michigan.
  2. His new LP, 'Canto Ostinato,' explores minimalist pieces with gratifying harmonic development.
  3. Erik Hall's music can be found on various platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

Wayne Shorter

452 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🎶 Music Jazz
  1. Wayne Shorter was an American saxophonist known for his legendary experimentalism in jazz music.
  2. He was part of Miles Davis's second quintet and co-led Weather Report.
  3. Shorter's passing was acknowledged, and a 2011 compilation of his Blue Note Records tracks is recommended for listening.

Rei Harakami

432 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🎶 Music Electronic
  1. Rei Harakami was a Japanese electronic music producer known for using familiar dance music elements in unique ways.
  2. Rei Harakami's albums 'unrest' and 'opa*q' are recommended for listening.
  3. Harakami created electronic music with the Roland SC-88 Pro and his music style was considered non-obvious.