British ambient band, Marconi Union, incorporated scientific theory to unlock “the world’s most relaxing song.”
"Weightless" by Marconi Union was found to reduce levels of stress and anxiety by a 65 percent, and produced a state of relaxation.
“While listening, your heart rate gradually comes to match that beat. It is important that the song is eight minutes long because it takes about five minutes for this process, known as entrainment, to occur.
The phenomenon of entrainment is the adjustment or moderation of one behavior either to synchronize or to be in rhythm with another behavior. The rhythm is set to about 60 beat per minute as a resting heart rate.
The decrease in heart rate also leads to a decrease in blood pressure.
This allows the body to be more calm and closer to homeostasis.
The harmonic intervals – or gaps between notes – have been chosen to create a feeling of euphoria and comfort. And there is no repeating melody, which allows your brain to completely switch off because you are no longer trying to predict what is coming next.
"Weightless" was designed to do exactly that- reduce stress. Marconi Union, the group behind the song, worked together with sound therapists to create carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines, all for one purpose- to slow the listener’s “ heart rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.”