Plantasia

Spring is nigh, or rather, it’s already here!

I always look back to this playlist I made in the Winter of 2022, inspired by plants and “good noise.” That period was the first time I experienced living in the winter season, with trees stripped bare and away from the greenery. While making a playlist to study to, I stumbled upon Mort Garson’s Mother Earth’s Plantasia album. Subtitled “warm earth music for plants… and the people who love them”, this album stood out for me and made me wonder…

What if plants could make music?

And so it began. I started to compile multiple songs that carried that vibe—lush greenery, the forest, monsteras, grass blades moving with the wind, and raindrops falling on leaves and eventually finding their way to your face.

Essentially, that playlist ambient _ੈ)｡.)), was me floating in the river surrounded by plants. This playlist has a certain ambiance, one filled with synthesizers that make you feel like you’re in a retro video game (hello 8-bit me!).

As the leaves return this Spring, I am drawn back to this playlist again. One of my favorite tracks in this playlist is “最後の楽園 (Saigo no rakuen)” by Haruomi Hosono. It’s lighthearted and silly, speaking to me about a whimsical world. Let me set the scene:

I’m retreating into a forest and come across a glade.

The plants are swaying in the wind as if they’re dancing.

A mischievous twinkle accompanies their playful nature.

They invite me to join their fun, and we get into a delightful banter!

It’s a little hypnotic but in the best way. ambient _ੈ)｡.)) has me feeling deeply relaxed and connected to the natural rhythm of life. It isn’t just a playlist; it’s a gateway to tranquility, a reminder to pause and immerse myself in the beauty of the green around me.

Listen to the playlist here.

May 1, 2024