[2026] Songs that calm the mind. Music that soothes the soul.

Don’t Know WhyNorah Jones

Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why

A gentle piano melody and a warm, whisper-soft voice right by your ear.

Norah Jones’s debut song is a gem of a ballad that gently wraps itself around the listener’s heart.

Included on the 2002 album Come Away with Me, it became a massive hit, selling over 27 million copies worldwide.

At the 2003 Grammy Awards, it swept three major categories, including Record of the Year.

Its charm lies in a sound where jazz and pop blend together, evoking a touch of nostalgia.

The lyrics portray subtle emotions swaying for reasons even the singer can’t fully grasp, and as you listen, your shoulders naturally relax.

It’s a song that stays close to you on nights when you’re worn out from work or when you’re feeling a bit low.

SummerHisaishi Joe

Summer (Kikujiro Soundtrack)

This is a gem of an instrumental piece by Joe Hisaishi, one of Japan’s leading composers.

Written as the main theme for Takeshi Kitano’s 1999 film “Kikujiro,” it beautifully captures the film’s worldview.

Centered on the piano, its light, airy melody blends a refreshing sense that evokes summer sunlight and the scent of the breeze with a certain nostalgic poignancy.

Though simple in structure and influenced by minimal music techniques, it possesses a mysterious power that sinks deeply into the listener’s heart.

The piece was also featured in commercials for Toyota Corolla and Kirin Beverage, helping it gain popularity beyond the realm of cinema.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you want to pause in the midst of a busy day or reset your mind.

If you surrender yourself to its calm melody, distant summer memories are sure to return softly.

Waltz for DebbyBill Evans

Bill Evans – Waltz For Debby

A gently swaying triple-meter rhythm flows unhurriedly, and the more you listen, the more your heart seems to unwind.

This waltz was written by Bill Evans—often called the poet of jazz piano—for his niece, who was three years old at the time.

First recorded as a solo piano piece in 1956, it later appeared in a live performance from New York’s famed Village Vanguard in 1961 on the album “Waltz for Debby.” The trio’s conversational interplay with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian is suffused with an intimacy, as if the three are quietly speaking with one another.

As a standard with over 300 cover versions, it continues to be loved around the world.

Its gentle sonorities offer quiet companionship after a day’s work or on sleepless nights.

A masterpiece I recommend to anyone seeking a peaceful moment.

An Ending (Ascent)Brian Eno

Brian Eno – An Ending (Ascent) (Remastered 2019)

Brian Eno, known as a pioneer of ambient music, released the classic album Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks in 1983.

Among its tracks, this piece shines with exceptional beauty.

Gentle, synth-driven chords expand as if drifting through zero gravity, softly enveloping the listener’s heart.

Created for the documentary film For All Mankind, which focuses on the Apollo program, the work expresses the silence and mystery of space through sound.

It has been used in numerous visual productions, including 28 Days Later and Traffic, and drew attention when it was played at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

It’s the perfect track for a quiet night when you want to step away from the noise of everyday life.

Gymnopédie No. 1Erik Satie

Gymnopédie No. 1

Composed in 1888, Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie No.

1 from Three Gymnopédies remains a beloved masterpiece more than 130 years later.

Marked “Lent et douloureux” (“Slowly, with pain”), the piece floats in a gentle triple meter with shimmering major seventh chords, evoking a certain sadness while enveloping the listener in a tender warmth.

In 1897, Satie’s friend Claude Debussy orchestrated it, helping the work gain wider recognition.

In Japan, it has frequently been used in television commercials—by companies such as Shiseido, Ebara Foods, and staffing agencies—so many people may have heard it there.

It has also been selected for figure skating programs.

Listening to it before bedtime or on a night after a tiring day at work can bring a soothing sense of relief, as if the heart is gently lightened.

Goldberg VariationsJ.S.Bach

Lang Lang – Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria

A keyboard work by Johann Sebastian Bach, surrounded by the legend that it was composed for a count seeking solace on sleepless nights.

Published in 1741, it begins with a gentle sarabande-like aria, unfolds through 30 variations, and returns to the aria, offering a grand and compelling architecture.

The canons placed at every multiple of three are meticulously designed, expanding their intervals from unison up to the ninth.

The piece has been used to striking effect in films such as The Silence of the Lambs and The English Patient, its serene yet deeply tensioned sonority blending beautifully with the visuals.

Glenn Gould’s 1955 piano recording became a worldwide bestseller and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1983.

It’s the perfect piece for those who wish to calm their minds at night or spend an introspective moment away from the bustle of daily life.

SoulfulL’indécis

L’indécis – Soulful

A gently warm and nostalgic instrumental beat.

Crafted by the Grenoble, France–born beatmaker L’indécis, this track was released in February 2018 as part of the EP Playtime.

The electric piano tones that breathe jazz and soul, the pleasantly loose drums, and the subtly nostalgic choral samples layer together exquisitely, inviting listeners into an unhurried flow of time.

It also drew attention when actor Will Smith used it as background music on Instagram, and its streaming plays have surpassed tens of millions.

With no vocals, it’s perfect for reading or getting work done.

When you want a brief escape from the bustle of everyday life, press play softly.