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BGM for staying focused at work: a curated collection of music that’s also great for remote work

Do you ever listen to music while you work?

If you work remotely, there’s a good chance you often have music on as you work.

But you might be wondering, “What kind of music actually helps you focus at work?”

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of recommended background music (BGM) for working.

When you want to concentrate, calm instrumental tracks like classical, ambient, or lo-fi hip hop are especially recommended.

The ideal track can vary depending on your mood and the task at hand, so try to find the best one for you from the selections we introduce below.

BGM that helps you focus on work. A curated selection of music recommended for remote work as well (21–30).

sparrowKakuno Hayato

Hayato Sumino – Suzume [Audio]
sparrowKakuno Hayato

Everyone knows the feeling of sitting down at your desk but struggling to switch into focus mode.

That’s when you should lend an ear to this piece: a piano solo reconstruction by Hayato Sumino of the theme song from the film Suzume.

Featured as the closing track on the tribute album Dear Jubilee – RADWIMPS TRIBUTE -, released in November 2025, this work is an instrumental without lyrics, yet its expressive power makes the original song’s earnest words seem to spill from the keys.

Its dramatic arc, growing from stillness to heat, is sure to deepen your immersion in whatever you’re doing.

It’s the perfect track for nights when you want to enter a deep zone for studying or work, or when you want to center yourself and face a task head-on.

marble latteRin Oto

marble latte – Rin音 (Official Music Video)
marble latteRin Oto

You know how the cold winter air can make your heart feel just a little tense? This is a track by Rin-ne that gently accompanies the everyday life of university students.

The song has a comforting warmth—like a hot drink soaking into your heart—that lets you take a deep breath and relax.

It likens the blending of a latte to emotions, and the choice of words is truly lovely.

Released in December 2023, its rounded keyboard tones and gentle beat are perfect for studying in a café or taking a walk on a nighttime street.

Violin Sonata No. 9 “Kreutzer”Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven.Violin.Sonata.No.9.Op.47.kreutzer.[Anne-Sophie Mutter.-.Lambert.Orkis]
Violin Sonata No. 9 “Kreutzer”Ludwig van Beethoven

A passionate piece by Ludwig van Beethoven in which the piano and violin spar as if striking sparks.

Composed during the period when Beethoven’s style was shifting into his so-called “heroic” middle phase, it is distinguished by an energy that powerfully stirs the listener’s soul.

Its overwhelming drama inspired the great writer Tolstoy and is known for having given rise to a novel of the same name.

Since its score was published in 1805, numerous recordings have been made, including the album “Beethoven Violin Concerto & Violin Sonata No.

9 ‘Kreutzer.’” When you want to push your concentration to the limit or need a catalyst for creative work, there may be no piece more fitting than this.

Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach, known as the “Father of Music.” The chorale that closes his church cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, composed in 1723, is likely something everyone has heard at least once.

Its warm yet majestic sonorities evoke a deep sense of peace and unwavering hope.

Beloved as a staple at celebrations such as weddings, it is also widely known in the piano arrangement by Myra Hess.

Its quiet, refined harmonies won’t disrupt your thoughts; rather, they gently enhance your concentration.

Give it a listen as background music to clear your mind while studying or doing desk work.

A Whole New World (from “Aladdin”)Alan Menken

This moving ballad, loved by many, is a work by composer Alan Menken, renowned for numerous Disney film scores.

It’s a romantic piece that evokes the image of traveling through the night sky on a magic carpet.

Celebrating the freedom and hope of stepping into an unknown world, the song may free your mind from the task at hand and lead you into a realm of fresh ideas.

A signature song from the 1992 film Aladdin, it can be heard on the soundtrack album Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Its universal appeal is underscored by winning Best Original Song at the 65th Academy Awards in March 1993.

The grand, beautiful piano tones will sweep away everyday distractions and support you as you focus deeply during creative time.

Name of Life from Spirited AwayHisaishi Joe

Many listeners have surely been captivated by the crystalline piano tones and faintly nostalgic melody.

The theme song of Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece Spirited Away evokes a bittersweet yet warm story of searching for lost memories and one’s true self.

Its message—recalling something precious and finding one’s place—reaches us with quiet emotion.

Released in July 2001 as a single performed by Yumi Kimura, the song deepened the film’s impact.

The piece originally began as an instrumental track on the soundtrack.

Its calm, dreamlike phrasing is perfect for times when you want to focus on work or study.

Letting yourself drift on its gentle waves of sound may calm your heart and clear your mind.

A Town with an Ocean View (from “Kiki’s Delivery Service”)Hisaishi Joe

This is a piece by Joe Hisaishi with a memorable, hope-filled melody that makes you feel as if a beautiful seaside town is unfolding before your eyes.

The emotions that arise at the moment of taking a new step—expectation mingled with a touch of anxiety—are brilliantly rendered through light, sparkling piano tones.

The piece accompanies the moving scene in the July 1989 film Kiki’s Delivery Service where the protagonist soars over a new town, and it is included on the classic album Kiki’s Delivery Service: Music Collection released the same year.

Its nostalgic yet liberating atmosphere is sure to refresh you when you feel stuck with work or study.

Why not spend a focused, enriching time wrapped in its gentle, forward-looking melody?