What Is Chillout Music? | Introducing Popular Tracks
Lately, you hear the term “chillout” all over the place.
It’s a commonly heard word, but I think few people actually know what it means.
Music that helps you relax is called chillout music, but it’s not just about relaxing—chillout music also refers to sounds that help you “stay alert” or “feel clear-headed.”
In short, it’s kind of like a coffee break.
This time, we’ve picked out some popular chillout tracks.
We’ve selected a wide range—from relatively recent songs to timeless classics—so if you want to get a deeper understanding of chillout music, be sure to read through to the end.
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What Is Chillout Music? | Introducing Popular Tracks (11–20)
Mango DriveRhythm & Sound
Rhythm & Sound is a group that has had a tremendous impact on electronic music around the world.
Strictly speaking, it’s not a group but a project, though it is essentially produced by Mark Ernestus and Moritz von Oswald.
Among their classic tracks, the one I especially recommend as chill-out music is Mango Drive.
It’s what you’d call a deep house piece, but compared to contemporary deep house, it’s crafted with a simpler structure.
Save The WhaleSolar Quest
Solar Quest is a musician from London.
He’s a music producer who creates instrumentals, and while he isn’t widely known, he has consistently released a number of superb tracks.
Among them, the one I’d like to recommend as a perfect fit for chillout music is “Save The Whale.” It’s a masterpiece that, while employing ethereal sounds and featuring some edgy synthesizers, maintains an overall calm atmosphere with a well-defined, dynamic structure.
Sure ThingSt Germain
The French artist St Germain is known for his unique sound that blends nu jazz and house, earning popularity especially across Europe.
“Sure Thing” is one of his standout tracks, crafted with a structure that leans more heavily into nu jazz elements.
The vocals evoke an R&B feel, achieving a superb balance of nu jazz, R&B, and house.
If you’re looking for stylish, soulful chill-out music, be sure to give it a listen.
TravellerTalvin Singh
Talvin Singh, a London-born artist known as a pioneer of the Asian Underground genre that mixes his roots in Indian music with drum’n’bass, energized the late-1990s scene with his distinctive sound.
One of his iconic tracks is “Traveller.” It’s a highly stylish piece that skillfully weaves in elements of Indian music—a high-sense chillout track.
HouseUlla Straus
Ula Strauss is an artist based in Philadelphia who has been gaining attention for her ambient sound.
Her 2020 album Tumbling Towards a Wall made waves.
Among her works, the one I recommend as chill-out music is House.
With no drums at all, it consists solely of endlessly resonant, ethereal electronic tones, creating a calm and soothing atmosphere.
BoadiceaEnya
Enya, an artist who is extremely popular in Japan as well.
As I mentioned at the beginning, chillout music isn’t actually about putting you to sleep.
While many of her pieces are the sleepy kind, “Boadicea” is an exception.
It’s a strikingly dark track that differs from the style we usually associate with Enya.
Its structure makes it perfect as chillout music for boosting concentration, so if you’re studying or working late, be sure to give it a listen.
In conclusion
This time we introduced some classic chill-out music tracks, but were the selections different from what you imagined? The term “chill-out music” only emerged relatively recently, yet there have actually been many timeless songs abroad that fit the chill-out definition for years.
At Rug Music, we also have articles that bring together a variety of other minor genres! If you want to deepen your music knowledge, be sure to check them out!