Why has a genre of music that evokes images of despair and destruction become a popular sleep aid?

In the quiet hours of the night, when the world is supposed to be still, millions of people are turning to a peculiar genre of music to lull them into sleep: post-apocalyptic ambient music.

This genre, often described as “music to survive nuclear winter”. is characterised by its haunting, atmospheric soundscapes, punctuated by white noise, distant echoes, and a sense of desolation. It is a soundtrack for a world that no longer exists, or perhaps one that has yet to come.

But why has this music, which evokes images of destruction and despair, become so popular as a sleep aid? What does it say about our collective psyche, our relationship with anxiety, and the relentless demands of the attention economy?

The seduction of despair

At first glance, the idea of falling asleep to the sound of a world in ruins seems counterintuitive. Shouldn’t the thought of nuclear winter, with its barren landscapes and endless darkness, fill us with dread? Yet, for many, this music has become a form of solace. It is as if the very horror of the imagined apocalypse...

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