In this album, I would like to invite you to sample the world of awakened souls (awakenedsouls.bandcamp.com), an ambient music project of veteran electronic music producer James Bernard and his wife Cynthia. When I stumbled on their album how we heal, I knew I had found an artist who creates music for the same reason I create these mixes: to heal. Their mission is to "help others find the sense of healing that music brings to them" and their name comes from their "hope to be in touch with the most authentic parts of ourselves." I think you will find that their music indeed lives up to this ambition and is conducive to quite reflection.

As always, if you like what you hear, check out the time-stamped track list and support awakened souls and all the other great artists featured on this mix by buying and streaming their music.

Making this mix was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee (uppmixes.com/donate). You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you subscribed to this podcast. Thank you.

Also, did you know that I have another podcast called Chill Pills. It features the same quality of craftmanship and careful curation you've come to expect from this show but focuses on more up-tempo genres of music spanning chillout, lounge, jazz, instrumental, lo-fi chill hop, etc. Check it out:
https://link.chtbl.com/ChillPills

Happy new year everyone. Let's make the best of 2021. I'm energized and looking forward to crafting for you more mixes showcasing the best of what ambient genre has to offer.

Let's start this year with another trip back in time to a mix I released 5 years ago as part of my Drifter ambient series, which I created under my previous pseudonym DJ Seroton. At the time, I dedicated it to the wonderful people behind Ambient-Nights (mixcloud.com/Ambient_Nights), who I had the pleasure of joining as part of the Ambient-Nights Mixer Family. Ambient-Nights was the site that got me hooked on ambient music since I discovered it in 2007. The quality of their mixes is really extraordinary, and they have a body of work that will sure take some time to go through, but the experience will be just as rewarding.

Fun fact: I decided to call this mix after the second track, Weightless by Marconi Union. Few years after this mix was released, scientists singled out this song as "the world's most relaxing song." The song is filled with dreamy, mellow synths, soothing melodies and instrumentation composed of piano, guitar and electronic samples of natural soundscapes. Read this for more information:
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/relaxing-song-best-weightless-marconi-union-youtube-surgery-anxiety-a9011971.html

Making this mix was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee (uppmixes.com/donate). You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you subscribed to this podcast. Thank you.

Also, did you know that I have another podcast called Chill Pills. It features the same quality of craftmanship and careful curation you've come to expect from this show but focuses on more up-tempo genres of music spanning chillout, lounge, jazz, instrumental, lo-fi chill hop, etc. Check it out:
https://link.chtbl.com/ChillPills

What a year 2020 has been! We're not out of the woods yet, but we're here and we have few things we can be thankful for as this years draws to an end.

I'm thankful for all of you listeners and supporters of this show. I have recently been graced by an uptick of positive reviews on Apple Podcasts and other apps where this show is available. I treasure each one because it lets me know the positive effect this music has on your life.

I'm also thankful for the artists whose music make this show possible. Whenever you can, check out the timestamped playlist in the episode description and look up the songs you like.

Happy holidays everyone. Stay safe and cherish your loved ones. Tomorrow's lights will shine, and we will be together again.

Making this mix was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee (uppmixes.com/donate). You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you subscribed to this podcast. Thank you.

On the eve of 4th anniversary of Calm Pills (this series began back in Nov 15, 2016), let's take a trip back in time to the very first ambient mix I ever created. This is mix number one! I created it 8 years ago under my previous pseudonym DJ Seroton, and to this day it remains one of the best ones I have ever done. This is what I wrote in the release notes back in Jan 16, 2012:

"What puts you to sleep?

I bet the answer to this question will vary from one person to the other. For me, I like total darkness, comfy pillow, and believe it or not, the constant sound of AC, which I’ve grown to appreciate as a way of eliminating little on-off noises from around the building. On top of that, when I’m in the mood, nothing beats a good playlist of pure and peaceful ambient music.

I first came to discover this wonderful style of music back in 2007, when I accidentally stumbled on a great site called Ambient Nights. Not knowing what this style of music was all about, I decided to give it a try and downloaded few of the mixes, created by Alex Hephaestion. I was in the middle of preparing a public speech at the time, my first one ever, and while researching my material, I would put these mixes on.

To my surprise, these mixes magically helped me focus and zone into my work in a weird but awesome way. I said weird because when you’re listening to ambient music, the idea is not to listen intently, but in a passive way. You just let it play in the background, and it’ll do its thing. This is best described by Brian Eno, one of the most influential artists in this genre and the one believed to have coined the term “ambient music“, who was quoted describing it as the kind of music that can be “actively listened to with attention or as easily ignored, depending on the choice of the listener”, and that exists on the “cusp between melody and texture”.

Not all ambient music is created equal. Over the years since my discovery, I’ve been curating my collection of ambient music that’s truly relaxing and in no way disturbing or weighs too much on the dark side. I think all that boils down to what you’re going to listen to in this 1 hour mix.

But mixing this style of music has proved a little challenging for me. When I sat out to create this mix, I wanted a mix that’s perfect to sleep to. This is easier said than done, because when you’re trying to sleep to music, the slightest off beat or melody can wake you up. So the mix must flow seamlessly from start to finish, and not have any surprises in the middle since the person listening to it might, and most likely will, drift off in the middle.

Also while creating this mix, it’s not just enough to make sure tracks flow seamlessly into each other. You’ve got to listen over and over to the entire mix to make sure you’re setting and maintaining the right mood, in this case sleeping mode, throughout the mix.

Overall, I think I’ve done a pretty good job with this one. I’ve even took it for a spin and tried sleeping to it. After a few tweaks, I think I’ve managed to perfect it. Well, at least I hope you do think so."

Making it was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee (www.uppmixes.com/donate). You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review. Thank you.

I'm back with yet another guest mix. This time I approached Alessio who hosts Corsica One, a series that showcases carefully curated selection of uplifting and evocative soundscapes. His show is all about variety, and that inspired me to do something a bit different to start this Calm Pill mix with, something a bit more mystic. I think you'll like it.

Making it was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee (www.uppmixes.com/donate). You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review. Thank you.

In his seminal album Ambient 1: Music for Airports, Brian Eno proclaimed "Ambient Music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting". Over at AmbientSoundbath.com podcast, Matt has been curating and producing longform ambient albums that are faithful to that aspirational ideal of ambient music. I really admire the work Matt is doing, including his YouTube channel, that I reached out to him with a proposal to create a guest mix, and he graciously accepted.

Check out Matt's Ambient Soundbath podcast:
https://ambientsoundbath.com/

And his ambient guitar albums:
https://mattborghi.bandcamp.com/

This mix is pure ambient as it was meant to be. Making it was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee (www.uppmixes.com/donate). You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review. Thank you.

"I call to you in longing, by the light of the moon. Billowing clouds envelope me, with absence of pain or fear, all time suspended. In the stillness of this night, peace washes over me. As I listen to the Universe, do you hear its whisper, do you feel its heartbeat? You smile inside the clouds, as we yearn to become one, lingering until the color of dawn, spills across the sky." — The Stillness of This Night by James Casey

This mix was released on this day 5 years ago as part of my Drifter ambient series, which I created under my previous pseudonym DJ Seroton. It was the second collaboration I have done with the talented musician Tonepoet, who creates an excellent ambient mix podcast called Spaceman's Transmissions. We gave this mix the title of “As The World Comes into Focus”. It’s essentially an exploration of our inner senses as we drift in and out of consciousness. You may recognize this feeling from a time when you drifted off to sleep and then brought back somehow to faint awakening, only to drift back afterwards into a peaceful and restful sleep.

This is what Tonepoet had to say about the mix and our collaboration:

"While a simple mix from myself would seem sufficient, having the partnership with the humbling DJ SEROTON is one thing that pushes this mix far over the edge. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to create 2 mixes with him (the other is DRIFTER VOL. 6). For this particular mix, I stirred up the first half of the set, and he countered my vision with an unparalleled mix of intensity, beauty, and authority. It's really nice to have someone enhance my intentions and gives a fresh vibe to the set. The unpredictability of the outcome is what provides inspiration smiles. Not only is DJ Seroton such a very cool guy and like-minded music aficionado, but his production standards of both his art and presentation are of the highest standards. I really felt that I should do my best so as to really raise the standard of what we both could offer our peace seeking listeners. I'm very confident that together we have woven the perfect texture of sound and color; using light as glue and sealing it all in a consumable format for your mind and ears.

My hope is that the music brings you a sense of solitude and elation. Feel free to use the music any time you need those sensations. Peace."

Brilliant colors wash over the sky
The wonder of it all brings out a sigh

Clouds bathed in the rich tones at dusk
Give way to a crimson, for some it's a must

The elegance of the sun sinking into the sea
Did God make all this especially for me?

The stars emerge through the deepened sky
And one by one they brighten ones eye

Moonbeams dance; sparkling upon the waves
This awesome sight, always brings out the raves

There is a joy in viewing this scene
To clarify the memory of what life means

As steady as the breeze that blows from the sea
I'll always cherish sunsets made special for me

As constant as the pounding of the surf
As sure as the green grass weaves on the turf

With the certainty that the sun will rise
Love will go on if seen with these eyes

Fading Light by James Casey

This album is dedicated to Antonymes, an artist whose work has inspired me for years. Ian's music has been described as "rich in ambient textures and tonal arrangements that are both beautiful and haunting. If you close your eyes you can see a landscape that pulses with color and life that cannot be seen with the human eye." (Joseph Timmons, blogcritics.org)

The opening track, Coming Into Silence, was Ian's contribution to a charity compilation album called Gap In Time, whose proceeds go to WHO's efforts to counteract the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. This highlights yet another side of Ian's character. His humane, down-to-earth and generous qualities shed light on the wonderful human being behind this mesmerizing music.

As if this wasn't enough, Ian's an avid designer and photographer. He carved out a unique niche in photography: documenting disused properties across the UK and Europe. The cover photo of this album was shot by Ian, and is part of a great set of photos reflecting the haunting decay of abandoned buildings.

Time goes by but memories never fade. I released this mix on this day 4 years ago, a week after my best friend passed away. It is a deeply personal mix in which I tried to express a never-before-felt outpouring of grief. Somehow the tracks I've chosen had titles that told a similar story, and those words by Megan R. Bokowski were quite consoling at the time:

The time soon comes for parting,
And our time is at an end,
The rest of your life is starting,
And we have no time at all to spend.

You knew one day you’d have to go,
But thought you’d have more time.
We can’t reverse time’s one-way flow,
But at least you’ll have this rhyme.

You had your shining moments,
Upon this life’s darkened stage,
And in my book of wonderments,
You’ll never be just another page.

Like the exploding of a star,
You’ve changed me in and out,
Your light will travel with me far,
Past when all other lights go out.

Drifter’s Melody by Megan R. Bokowski

I’m lost in a stream of thoughts, afraid of controlling the dark. If hope shall come to question, it’s surprise to hesitation. Whither away for memories, hide the past from destiny. It’s a lesson to hold for, to try and gain more.

This mix is inspired by one of the best ambient albums I have heard in recent memory: Kaleidoscope by none other than my good friend and previous mix collaborator Tonepoet. Released on his birthday this year, he describes it as a semi-autobiographical album representing some of life changes he has been going through. What drew me to this album, besides the phenomenal music, is the message that Tom wanted to convey about seeing the world refracted through a metaphorical kaleidoscope to see its beauty with childlike wonder and innocence. Tom has a better way with words so I'm going to cite his words describing the album below. I highly encourage you to check out and purchase his albums, and if you were to ask what other ambient mixes I recommend, his Spaceman's Transmissions mixes are the first ones I'd recommend!

"The title 'Kaleidoscope' was chosen as a reference to the device used (mostly) by kids to refract the world around them and display it in a fascinatingly colorful recreation. No matter how you twist and turn the device, it yields a captivating image that for a mere moment represents your entire world. I honestly can't remember a time as a child when I thought that every single representation I created wasn't the best thing ever.

While this children's toy is a symmetrical world and makes a lot of sense, the adult world is asymmetrical and seen in many different and ever changing angles. We seek to (blindly and effortlessly) navigate through the ether by jumping from one distorted angle of perceived success to the next with hopes that we land on our feet.

In an attempt to feel and act grown up, we've abandoned our true inner longings and dreams, our childlike wonder and innocence. Instead of 'finding the time', MAKE the time to restore yourself back to that refracted world of enthusiasm and elation with a renewed sense of how to achieve your objectives with an innocence that is a dynamic reflection of your innocent creativity. I know that I will. Peace."

Making this mix was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee. You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review. Thank you.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GNZN3F6X5D8TN

Holding the compass of uncertainties,
Carrying the baggage of memories,
The drifter is drifting along with the tides…

Without boundaries or borders,
Floating with the moment,
The drifter is weaving timeless dreams…

The journey of love and joy,
Build in every pause life takes,
Never holding back the voyage,
The drifter survives in the passion…

Miles and milestones left behind,
The strides always ahead of the past,
Moving forward in the distance,
The drifter fades between the lines of present and future.

A guest mix on Planetarium, an ambient, drone, modern classical, chillout music promotion project by Nils Feldhus and Frank Korf, two very talented mix producers that I have come to know and appreciate over the years.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people affected by the vicious 2019-nCoV Novel Coronavirus. I can't imagine what it feels like to be isolated and quarantined, along with your fears of the unknown. This mix is for you. I hope it eases your affliction.

"Cool night air lulls us to cast away our net defenses, and bury our weariness deep into our soft pillow. The troubles of the day are behind us, and joyful hope awaits us when remove the vale of sweet slumber."

Watching the trees turn from a uniform green to all varieties of gold, yellow and red is a spectacular experience. One can almost be blinded by the fiery brilliance. How can it be that all this beauty is sign of death and decay?

May the music of the heavens, dance around you in the air. May the gift of true contentment, glow like sunlight on your face. And may your life be truly blessed, as you start each brand new day.

A double album I created as a guest mix on AmbientMusicGuide.com. It’s inspired by The Endless, a 2018 supernatural indie film that made an impression on me. Features several tracks from the score and sprinkles key passages from the dialog throughout.

The spirit of spring rises into a blissful gate to heaven. When the sunset shields, against the vibrant contours of nature, it leaves a spectacular scenery, and a feeling of rapture.

Stop running from it all. Stop chasing all that’s wrong. Let the night keep rolling on, and watch it turn to day.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey and this moment is just a little parenthesis in eternity. If we share with caring, lightheartedness, and love this moment will have been worthwhile.

There is a sense of timelessness in the twilight, where the mundane melts away into the symphony of colours in the sky. Here's to a twilight of a happy and fulfilling new year.

Sometimes we seek absolution as a means of feeling justification. We want to feel okay, rather than remorse, about what we did wrong. This mix is the story of Absolvo.

There is comfort in reclusion. With the sensual beauty of the piano, this mix will caress you into a state of peacefulness.

It was beautiful. It was green and clean. The smell of fresh air, the sound of the river flowing. I love everything happening there, and I love it even more when this mix is in play.

"I shall have some peace here, for peace comes dropping slow. I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore. I hear it in the deep heart’s core."

This mix is an ode to my good friend Tonepoet. His original ambient productions and mixes are second to none and are always a source of inspiration to me.

We often underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, or any small act of caring, all of which can potentially turn a life around.

When peace sets over, no feeling compares. A mellow, loving feeling pervades this mix, helping you turn down the volume knob on life.

"and the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home."

Today's moments are tomorrow's memories, but sometimes we don't know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. What would you do differently if you knew?

The true joy of a moonlit night is something we no longer understand. Perhaps we can learn to appreciate its peaceful beauty and with this kind of relaxing piano music.

Every one of us has their comfort zone. This mix invites you to ponder what's beyond. Is your safest place really what you think it is?

Good night - may you fall asleep in the arms of this graceful ambient mix.

Through stained glass, ever deepening colors, slowly dusk. Enjoy the charm of sunset with this beautiful ambient mix.

When everything is moving and shifting, the only way to counteract chaos is stillness. This mix will help you do that.