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 (1–10)
All I Need feat. Beth HirschAir
Air is a band from France.
Their sound is striking for how it mixes lounge music with electronica and rock.
If you like Sade, this band will probably be right in your strike zone.
One of their classics is “All I Need” featuring Beth Hirsch.
It starts with a downbeat, stylish intro characteristic of lounge music, but when the chorus hits, it shifts to a catchy melody with a pop feel.
It’s great chill-out music for boosting concentration.
Autumn LeavesColdcut
Coldcut is a British techno group that gained popularity for their sophisticated sampling.
At a time when there wasn’t a culture of sampling pop music, they actively sampled major works, exerting a significant influence on contemporary techno.
Among their catalog, a track I recommend as chill-out music is Autumn Leaves.
It samples a jazz standard and is crafted into a dark, stylish piece of chill-out music.
SpringSaint Etienne
Saint Etienne is a music group from London.
They helped energize indie pop and alternative dance.
Compared to today’s indie pop, their sound shows a stronger influence from Black music, which earned them worldwide popularity.
Among their works, the chill-out track I especially recommend is Spring.
It exudes an ennui-tinged atmosphere, while also conveying elements of funk and smooth jazz throughout.
Om ShantiAlice Coltrane
Alice McLeod, an American jazz musician popular for her avant-garde jazz.
In addition to vocals, she excels at a variety of instruments including piano, organ, and harp.
Among his works, the one I’d recommend as chillout music is Om Shanti.
It’s crafted with a musicality that’s hard to call purely jazz or soul, and it features African-inflected sounds throughout.
A truly sophisticated piece that epitomizes chillout music.
Coração VagabundoCaetano Veloso
Suddenly, but do you know which countries have a well-developed chill-out music scene? In fact, Brazil has a very rich tradition of mellow genres like chill-out music and bossa nova.
One artist who’s especially popular in Brazil is Caetano Veloso.
His classic song “Coração Vagabundo” features a calm, Latin-tinged melody, making it a great chill-out track for when you want to relax.
Sad NudesCate Le Bon
Kate Le Bon is an artist from Wales.
Known for her gothic musical style that blends folk, indie rock, and baroque pop, she’s also popular among women thanks to her stylish looks.
One of her standout tracks is “Sad Nudes.” It’s an instrumental piece, and unusually for her work, it carries a soft, ennui-tinged atmosphere.
Highly recommended for fans of gentle chill-out music.
Moments In LoveArt Of Noise
The British electronic music group Art of Noise.
Their band name is taken from the manifesto The Art of Noises by Luigi Russolo, known as an Italian Futurist artist.
As this suggests, their musical style is highly avant-garde, and from the 1980s through the 2000s they consistently pursued a distinctive sound that hadn’t existed before.
Moments in Love distills that very musical sensibility into a refined piece of chill-out music.