Let’s Talk Ambience…

Ambience establishes a setting and atmosphere to provide peace for the mind. Ambience is to allow its listeners to practice mindfulness, being present in the moment, to calm anxieties or allow enchantment into different worlds produced by the mind. There are many producers that work with ambience. Adrian Von Ziegler is one of them, and I believe he does it effectively through his various lenses. 


Uses of Ambience

Ambience is used for many purposes. Whether a reader needs to set the atmosphere for a short story or novel or a young woman or man needs some background music for cooking or cleaning, this soundscape industry is utilized for peace. Ziegler manages to incorporate multiple different soundscapes into his work, rather than remaining in one or two themes. Different readers feel attracted to different soundscapes, some may desire ones that have a common theme while others yearn for a kaleidoscope of them. Based on the flexibility in his themes, Ziegler exemplifies the production of multiple soundscapes or themes that readers can utilize, whether it’s to set the atmosphere or calm their minds before entering it. 

Variation of Themes

As mentioned before, it’s effective to be able to incorporate different themes. I have listened to ambience producers for quite a few years now for reading and meditating purposes. I’ve come across some producers that utilize a common theme or two. That’s okay, of course, as these producers are tending towards their own audiences. However, some established soundscapes by them are examples of when it’s decided to not differentiate amongst themes. Some soundscapes may not utilize themes that encourage mental expansion into different lenses that could assist with different areas of readers’ minds or different tasks. For example, below are a few works by producer, Inn House: 

This video utilizes a fireplace, ocean waves, pumpkins, and blankets in a sitting room with a coastal view to establish a fall setting by the ocean. 

This video also utilizes a fireplace in a light assortment of pillows and blankets with snow falling outside to establish a cozy winter setting.

This video utilizes a fireplace in a sitting room with snow falling outside with an ocean view to establish a cozy winter coastal setting.

As seen, Inn House tends to use a common cozy theme adorned with a fireplace and an ocean. Though, it is to be noted that Inn House has produced a few videos that stray from this common theme, such as one with sounds of rain outside a window. However, the soundscapes produced are an example of those that tend to follow a common theme. 

Incorporating different cultures and aspects, Adrian Von Ziegler tends to differentiate among themes established. Here are a few below: 

This video sets a setting through the celtic melodies being played amongst the howling of wolves. This may apply to settings of fantasy, and etc. 

This video sets a setting through suspenseful dark melodies. This may be applied to suspense, thriller, horror, and etc. 

This video sets a setting for stories through calm Japanese melodies that set an epic tone. This may be applied to aspects of voyage, coming-of-age, dystopian, and etc. 

Through the use of themes, Ziegler maintains a kaleidoscope of settings that could apply and appeal to various states of mind. Though, it is to be noted, he doesn’t tend to produce a few videos that only have nature sounds(as Inn House does). For example, he has one that has nature sounds but is accompanied by soft music. 

Tone Set By Ambience

Overall, it allows for different areas of the mind to be activated through different lenses when producers establish various settings rather than mainly utilizing one or two common themes. Don’t get me wrong now, producers like Inn House know their own audiences and manage to differentiate while staying within a certain theme. That is an efficient skill. Though, if I were to recommend a producer for readers to listen to in regards to forming mental settings for books, I’d say Adrian Von Ziegler or those that often incorporate different settings. It’s important to set different tones through settings that apply to various areas of readers’ minds that are shifted towards different environments.