We are only halfway into the year 2020, but it seems like it has been going on forever. Most people have always found it difficult to strike a work-life balance, which often tends to take its toll on ones mental health, and it often goes unnoticed.

The events of this year have even more so been a source of unrest, anxiety, and stress for people across the world. With a growing number of coronavirus cases, going to the therapists is not very feasible as the moment. That being said, many therapists and mental health professionals are available via telephonic support or e-consultations at your convenience.

It is important to not take your mental health lightly during these trying times. One of the most popular practices that ensure mental well-being is meditation. This simple practice can, not only help ease your anxiety but through regular practice it can help you sleep better and keep your mind clear and robust.

Meditation is not difficult in its concept and essence, but it can present challenges for some. One of the most common is in having the discipline required to stick with it and do it every day, no matter what. - Liberty Forrest

There are various methods of meditation, like walking meditation, spiritual meditation, mindfulness meditation and others. However, considering people nowadays might not have access to meditation teachers, it can seem like a daunting task to start anew.

Guided meditation is the perfect way for beginners to learn and absorb the benefits of meditation. It involves listening as someone guides you through the process of getting into the headspace required for meditation. The guide will ask to sit in a comfortable position or lie down and take you through various relaxing visualisations helping you in clearing you mind. This can be done through music or narratives, depending on your preference.

The concept behind this is; when your mind is deeply relaxed it becomes more receptive to positive suggestions. You can choose how long you want to meditate and choose the guide accordingly. From personal improvement to spiritual development, there is a variety of material available for to aid your guided meditation practice.

Like most forms of meditation, this practice involves letting the mind become calm at its own pace rather than forcing it to concentrate. The trick is letting the mind wander when it does and allowing it to return to the topic at its own pace as well. In guided meditation, it is essential to pick a position and place in which you are comfortable and relatively free of distractions for however long you choose to meditate. If you are listening to guides on applications or online, you can even meditate while walking or doing chores, as long as you allow your mind to slip into a meditative state.

There are various apps that have catalogues filled with guided meditation tracks and even different topics relating to meditation that you can listen to or read at your own convenience. Some of these apps include, Headspace, Calm, and Aura.

Whatever forms of meditation you practice, the most important point is to apply mindfulness continuously, and make a sustained effort. It is unrealistic to expect results from meditation within a short period of time. What is required is continuous sustained effort. - Dalai Lama

On the occasion of his 85th birthday, The Dalai Lama XIV released an album of mantras that work as a form of guided meditation. It is titled Inner World and includes his teaching all through 11 tracks set to music.

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Guided Meditation: Relieve stress and improve sleep patterns with this holistic practice - Hindustan Times

We take a look at how different types of music can have an effect on Kid's moods and what type of music is better for boosting happiness.

Music has had an effect on mental health for thousands of years. It has been used to convey mood and emotion. When something exciting is about to happen in a movie, for instance, the type of music being played alerts the viewer to that fact. Conversely, when a villain is lurking about in the dark, ominous music begins to play foreshadowing something awful is about to happen.

The musicputs the viewer in a particular frame of mind, letting them know what to expect, how to react, and how they shouldfeel. Similarly, a hard-core playlist featuring rap, heavy metal, or rock (to name a few genres) prepares the mind and body for an intense workout.

According to HealthyChildren.org, individual experiences affect our musical tastes and make people a certain way. For example, quiet lullabies calm fussy babies (and moms), majestic orchestras, and choral music can fill us with feelings of power and pride. Some music, however, despite the listener's supposed enjoyment, can have the opposite effect.

"In a study of 144 adults and teenagers who listened to 4 different kinds of music, grunge music led to significant increases in hostility, sadness, tension, and fatigue across the entire group, even in the teenagers who said they liked it," HealthyChildren.org reported. In another study, it was reported that pop, rock, oldies, and classical music made them feel optimistic and friendly.

Music has been used to treat depression and calm anxiety. It is often used in offices of medical professionals to help patients relax, and reduce worries about procedures. Relaxing and calming music, most notably classical music, because of its more complex structure, affect the brain in different ways than other genres such as rock and country music.

A 1993 study of college students showed them performing better on spatial reasoning tests after listening to Mozart sonata, which led to claims that listening to Mozart temporarily increased IQ. In 1998, Zell Miller, then governor of Georgiawanted to provide every newborn in the state with a classical music CD. Baby Mozart and other CDs featuring Mozart's music became extremely popular among pregnant mothers and mothers of newborns and toddlers.

The research concluded that classical music pathways in human brains are similar to the pathways used for spatial reasoning. Those pathways are turned on when listening to classical music, which allows for easier solutions to a math problem or a puzzle. But this is temporary. Once the music stops, the spatial skills fade. Music does not necessarily make us smarter; it allows us to relax, which helps us to think better.

Classical music may impact the brain differently than other genres, but it doesn't mean that other genres do not have benefits on brain development and cognitive function. Any musical genre helps build musical pathways in the brain which have positive effects on moods, which facilitates learning.

Related: Classical Music Helps Your Childs Mental & Emotional Development

One genre of music which tends to get a 'bad rap' when it comes to influencing mood is heavy metal. Heavy metal tends to conjure notions of 'head banging,' aggressive lyrics, and noise. It has been blamed for promoting suicide, mass shootings, and other anti-social behaviors. Gangster rap bears a similar burden.

However, an article in neuroscience news.com suggests that heavy metal, along with other genres of "rebellious" music, has health benefits for fans. The article claims that there are reasons that people align themselves with particular genres, mainly for a sense of belonging, or theycan identify with the lyrical themes or ideology reflected in the music-it can also be a reason todisassociate from what is considered popular, creating a feeling of independence and empowerment for the listener.

Research has shown that fans of heavy metal music tend to be open to new experiences, a characteristic resulting from enjoying music that is unconventional, intense, and complex. Recent studies have also shown that fans of heavy metal are not desensitized to violence as commonly assumed and that they had happier childhoods and were better adjusted in adolescence compared to their non-fan peers.

According to Ani Patel, an associate professor of psychology at Tufts University and author of Music, Language, and the Brain,music neuroscience is an emerging field of studystudying howthe human brain works. Patel explained to WBURthat knowing how and why music changes the brain may impact the value we place on it in terms of emotional development and maturity, social skills, and a child's commitment to achieving personal and educational goals.

At a time when arts funding is being cut from elementary school budgets, this is exceptionally good news, since studies have proven that musical education is instrumental for brain development in young children.

Certain styles of music will undoubtedly affect different people in different ways. People listen to music with specific intent. Happiness will be found in upbeat music. Lowkey, "downer" music allows the listener an opportunity toreflect upon the pain that is causing the sadness. People are attracted to a particular genre because they want to indulge in the experience that particular genre offers.

Several studies and research projects exist that explorethe undeniable connections between music, mood, and brain function. However, in order to learn howdeep the connection is, more research is necessary.

READ NEXT: Waking Up To Music Might Just Be What Your Body Needs To Stay Alert

12 Times Toddlers Proved They Aren't As Innocent As Their Cute Cheeks Make You Believe

Renee was born in Brooklyn, and grew up in Toronto, Ontario. She currently resides in the Boogie Down Bronx. She holds masters degrees in both childhood education and urban policy and administration. She is the proud mother of 7 year-old twins Zachary and Noah.

Continued here:

Styles Of Music And How They Effect Kid's Moods, Explained - Moms

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, its become more crucial than ever to get quality sleep. Even now, as many companies around the globe reopen for business, our days are filled with change and uncertainty, and sleep is there to comfort us. It centers us, offering an opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on life every day. Sleep clears our minds for new ways of thinking.

In the midst of the challenges were all facing, sometimes going to sleep is the only thing we want to do! And thats positive. Its natures way of telling us to rest well and be well. The science on the subject is clear, showing unequivocally that sleep is vital to our well-being. It improves our ability to focus and sharpens our cognitive functions. It helps us stay calm and steady within, no matter what is going on outside us. Sleep is also a natural immunity booster, which is essential right now. Studies strongly suggest that insufficient sleep, poor sleep quality, or irregular day-to-day timing of sleep may adversely affect immunity, says Dr. Eve Van Cauter, Ph.D., a professor in the department of medicine at the University of Chicago who chairs the Sleep Number Scientific Advisory Board.

At Sleep Number, a survey (of the general population) with 1,000 participants conducted in April found that 55% of those polled were feeling more stressed than usual, while 58% of said theywere getting less sleep than usual.

On the other hand, the data from Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed sleepers told a different story. While they also report feeling stressed, they are prioritizing quality sleep to help them cope. In fact, Sleep Number bed owners have gained between six to 17 minutes of restful sleep per night compared to this time last year, highlighting the desire to focus on sleep as an immunity booster during the pandemic. Research has shown those extra minutes can make a significant difference to our health, well-being, and our productivity while also improving our ability to fight off a virus. An extra 15 minutes of quality sleep per night leads to 100 additional hours per year, which is meaningful.

Additionally, Sleep Number bed owners are showing more consistent sleep patterns since the start of the pandemic. According to our SleepIQ data, there is less of a discrepancy between weekday sleep/wake patterns versus weekend patterns (17 minutes now compared to 23 minutes prior to the pandemic). Science has shown that when sleep patterns are consistent, sleep quality improves overall. Were thrilled that Sleep Number owners take these facts to heart and are experiencing the benefits.

It is exciting for us at Sleep Number to be able to provide higher quality sleep with our smart beds. Society understands the importance of sleep to their overall well-being, and now people are beginning to realize that what they sleep on matters. Prioritizing sleep is something everyone can do, and the payoff is tremendous, particularly during times of crisis.

Sleep is the foundation of both our physical well-being and mental resilience. At a time when our collective anxiety levels are at an all-time high, sleep plays a major role in reducing stress. When were asleep, our brains prune themselves of anxious thoughts, a process that can lower stress. Getting the right kind of zzzs offers us much-needed advantages as we navigate this crisis. It supports us in becoming kinder and more thoughtful. Sleep stabilizes us, enabling us to be decisive and clear, so we can be more balanced in our reactions to our co-workers, our family members, and even the news. In short, being well-rested helps us to show up as the best version of ourselves.

We cant always control our circumstances, however, we can make behavior changes and decisions to improve our sleep. What you do during the day impacts your night of sleep. Personally, I make sure I exercise, eat well, and have no caffeine after noon, which keeps my heart and breathing rate low and results in higher quality sleep. I also try to spend time in nature every day it is the source of my serenity.

Here are my simple steps for sleeping well and creating helpful bedtime rituals during the pandemic and beyond.

Switch off devices an hour before you go to bed

Eliminate screen time (or at least reduce it) an hour before bedtime. Its important because the blue light emitted from our gadgets suppresses melatonin production, which is essential for sleep. And dont forget that the content were inundated with in the news can be unsettling and increase stress. While youre limiting your news consumption before bed, try reading instead, or listening to relaxing music, as part of your wind-down routine.

Establish a regular nighttime and morning routine

One of the most meaningful steps you can take is to establish a consistent sleep routine.Science shows that routine helps give your brain a message that its time to sleep. So as much as possible, try to wake up and go to bed around the same time every day including weekends. That said, giving yourself about an hours range is helpful; youre more likely to be successful if youre not excessively rigid about sleep and wake times. And in the morning, sit by a window or go for a walk to take in some natural light. Morning daylight exposure provides additional energy for your day.

Avoid caffeine after noon

Our research at Sleep Number has shown that people who dont drink caffeine after noon benefit from 13 more restful minutes of sleep a night. Studies have found that caffeine enters the bloodstream rapidly and stays there for longer than you might expect. Even if youre able to fall asleep easily, caffeine can interrupt brain signals that promote sleep quality. If going without your afternoon or evening coffee fix is hard for you, dial back your caffeine intake gradually. You could start by setting a 3 p.m. cutoff, for example.

Get some movement every day

Along with sleeping well, consistent exercise works wonders for our mental and physical health.Try to fit in some kind of workout routine for at least 20 minutes a day. It could simply be a walk, a short run, or even some stretches or strengthening exercises at home. The important thing is to make sure you move! Research shows that by exercising regularly, youll benefit from seven more minutes of restful sleep a night. As Dr. Van Cauter says: If you have more activity in the daytime, particularly physical activity, it will help you sleep despite anxiety. Personally, I used to like to exercise (often with weights, or cardio on the treadmill) as soon as I got up. With the increased intensity since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I moved my workout to the end of my workday. I found this helped me transition to a calmer evening.

Set yourself up for comfort

What you sleep on matters, and having the right bed is important. Make sure it is comfortable and supportive for your individual needs. You should look forward to bed, knowing it will give you the deep, restorative sleep you need. At Sleep Number, our 360 Smart Beds effortlessly adjust throughout the night, sensing every movement to keep individuals (and couples) comfortable for their highest quality of sleep. We are obsessed with individuality!

It may sound trivial, but research shows that people who make their beds are more rested than those who dont do this simple task. A bed thats been made is much more inviting. It makes the room feel serene and calm; its like a mental pathway or bridge to a good nights sleep.

Its also very important to have the right pillow to support your head, neck, and spinal alignment. If you havent been fitted for a pillow, go to a Sleep Number store and do so. It is a complimentary service and a great opportunity to better understand how to support your body for the best nights sleep. You should also love your sheets, comforter, and pajamas! Invest in quality, as all of these components will set you up for a wonderful and peaceful experience in your own sleep sanctuary. Quality sleep is life-changing.

Express your gratitude

Everyone whos familiar with my personal approach to life knows that I am a big believer in the power of gratitude. It cant be underestimated. Studies have found that people who express gratitude tend to be more fulfilled. I begin and close my day by reflecting on what I am grateful for in my life, like my family, my health, and my work. When I open my eyes in the morning to see the promise of the sunrise, I feel hope, peace, and gratitude. The skyline is magical and feels like a gift every morning. And equally, I am thankful when I look up into the sky every night, at the stars, planets, and the moon. Theres a sense of wonder and curiosity, evoking all the possibilities of life, and stories yet to be told. Its calming to think that life has more to offer beyond our present circumstances. Those reflections help me drift off to sleep and prepare for the future.

Practice mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness prayer, meditation, or breathing exercises can help you relax and fall asleep. It can also help you fall back to sleep if you wake up in the middle of the night. Many people struggle with worrying, and right now there are so many additional concerns about health, finances, jobs, and racial injustice. Amidst so much uncertainty, mindfulness helps us to be present for the life we do have today, right now the only reality that we are certain of.

Sleep well, dream big, Shelly

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7 Steps for Getting Enough Sleep During the Coronavirus Crisis and Beyond - Thrive Global

The newly released Wave Redux is something of a spiritual successor to developer Thomas Janson's hard-as-nails Wave Wave. The key difference between the two is that Redux is aiming to offer a chilled-out experience, while its predecessor specialised in extremely demanding twitch action.

Even looking at videos of Wave Wave being played makes me feel woefully inadequate. Its electric use of colour, sound, and shifting perspective appears equal parts exciting and nauseating, though it absolutely seems like the type of game that you can sink into and become utterly entranced by.

By comparison, Wave Redux is slower, friendlier, and seemingly a whole lot easier. You'll move around a series of elaborately constructed mazes while collecting little boxes and generally just have a nice time. That being said, there are two different modes to try: Chill Mode and Hype Mode.

The former is intended to be a calming experience with relaxing music, and the latter introduces a new control scheme while throwing more challenging obstacles your way. For me, this is a great idea, and I can totally see myself running to Chill Mode whenever Hype Mode leaves me in tears.

PG alum Peter Willington reviewed Wave Wave back at launch in 2014, saying "Wave Wave is excellent, basically, and if you're the sort who gets off on testing your hand-eye coordination to its limits, then you should buy it," before awarding it a Silver Rating. Janson was also behind last year's Death Hall, which was a hardcore platformer with a strong sense of style.

If you fancy giving Wave Wave a go, it's currently available via mobile game subscription service GameClub. And you'll of course find Wave Redux up for download now as a free-to-play game from over on the App Store.

Link:

Wave Redux is a stylish chill-out game from the creator of Death Hall and Wave Wave - Pocket Gamer

Due to the multifaceted consequences of the pandemic, numerous people are losing jobs or facing crisis in their career and family lives. As the educational institutes are closed, many students are getting addicted to technology, like virtual gaming on smartphones, which is disrupting their daily life activities and diet. All of these problems are causing depression and anxiety in people which is eventually leading to sleeplessness. Chronic sleep disorder or insomnia can make your body more vulnerable to the life-threatening COVID19 disease. Read this article to know how to sleep well during the pandemic.

Still today, the immunity system is your only weapon to fight against the attack of Coronavirus. Solid sleep at night can strengthen the natural immune system of your body; but how?

Research shows that sleep can foster T Cell production in the human body. T Cells are a kind of white blood cell that controls how your immune system is going to respond when any virus enters your body. Sleep deprivation can prevent 'T Cells' from responding efficiently which eventually makes it more difficult for the immune system of your body to kill the antigen virus and fight back against illnesses.

Furthermore, when you can successfully complete the four sleep cycles, your body can effectively produce and release a kind of essential protein substance called cytokine that can assist your immune system to respond against antigens quickly.

When you get good sleep, your mind can work better in doing complex thinking, learning, memorizing, and decision-making. For both kids and adults, regular sound sleep not only enhances mood, and prevents anxiety but also keeps the energy level high and helps them stay sharp.

Your internal circadian rhythm which is also known as sleep/wake cycle or biological body clock can naturally regulate the feelings of sleepiness and wakefulness throughout the day. If you can maintain a regular routine of bedtime and wakeup time for 7 days in every week, it can help your body clock work accordingly. Try not to break up the routine on weekends. Thus, you can have sound sleep every day amid pandemic.

Try to spend some time under bright sunlight during the morning. If you are locked down inside your home to prevent the virus contraction, then keep your windows opened to expose yourself to sunlight for at least the early hours of the day. This can improve your mood and help to regulate your circadian rhythms or body clock.

In addition to this, to have a better sleep at night, you need to limit the light exposure in the evening, especially from electronic devices, like a laptop, desktop, or Smartphone. It would be more effective if you can change the brightness of your device by activating night mode apps or features. This simple trick can reduce the lags of your brain preventing disturbances in your body clock. Thus, you can improve your sleep in the long term.

Due to the body clock (circadian rhythm), the adults may feel sleepy at day time at 2 or 3 pm and fall asleep at late night around 2 or 3 pm. To maintain a healthy sleep routine, you must avoid taking short naps during the afternoon or other periods in the day time.

However, if you have a very little sleep on the previous night, you can make an exception to break the routine. Regular daytime naps can reduce your bodys necessity of sleep can lead to insomnia.

ReadCoronavirus Tips: Immunity Booster Herbal Teas to Prevent Infection.

As health experts are encouraging people to stay at home and maintain social distancing, the normal pace of life has been hampered. Many people are avoiding their respective regular outdoor physical activities like walking, jogging, swimming, playing or going to the gym and investing more time on screen for watching TV, Netflix, or checking social media, which is hampering their sleep time. If you can do some indoor physical exercise or Yoga every day, it would help you to build up enough body fatigue to fall asleep quite easily. Thus, you can enjoy better sleep.

ReadWhich Type of Yoga Should You Try?

Watching regular news to know how many people are getting affected or dying of COVID19 can enhance your worry. It can not only hamper your daily activities but also disturb your sleep on a regular basis. To avoid negative news you can limit your news exposure. If you are experiencing anxiety, do not hesitate to share your problems with family members, friends, or doctors.

You need to strengthen your bonding with family members to uplift your spirits and reduce anxiety. Besides this, you have to accept the fact that you may not have good sleep every night. Therefore, do not push yourself for sleep; rather try to manage your anxiety in a proper way.

ReadHow to Handle Your Coronavirus Anxiety during Home Quarantine?

A healthy diet can improve your quality of sleep. Try to avoid drinking tea or coffee during the evening or night hours, as the caffeine can stimulate your nerve and delay sleep in the night. However, if you cannot avoid caffeine after sunset, you can opt for organic teas like Chamomile tea which can naturally enhance the quality of your sleep. Furthermore, eating heavy meals before going to bed can also hamper your sleep.

ReadPost Meal Bad Habits: Things You Must Avoid Right After Eating Meal.

The human brain works like a computer. Usually, the brain tends to relate to bed and darkness with falling asleep. This function of the brain can be disrupted if you engage with any activity like video games, physical activity, or surfing the internet before bedtime. To sleep like a baby, you need to avoid those devices at least 90 minutes before your scheduled sleep time. However, if you have an important office or business task, try to set them aside from a minimum of 30 minutes before going to bed.

However, if you cannot feel sleepy within 15 to 30 minutes after going to bed, try something soothing, like reading a book or listening to relaxing music until you fall asleep.

See more here:

Coronavirus and Insomnia: How to Sleep Well during COVID19... - United News of Bangladesh

Is the new Apple iOS 14 just Android in disguise?

Apple made a slew of announcements last month at WWDC 2020, its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The company unveiled the newiOS 14and a redesigned iPhone home screen with newwidgets, along withiPadOS 14, MacOS Big Sur, and updates to TVOSand WatchOS.

While many of these iOS 14 features might feel new Apple iPhone users, those familiar with Android devices could be feeling deja vu. Here's a list of all the new Apple iOS 14 features that Android already had.

With iOS 14, Apple introduced a new Translate app that's designed for use in real-time conversation. It can translate between 11 languages, including English, Mandarin Chinese, French, German and Korean. As of March 2020, Google's 14-year-old dedicated translate app could transcribe conversations in eight languages in real time.

Apple's Translate app in iOS 14.

With the new operating systems, the revamped iPhone ($699 at Apple) and iPad ($299 at Back Market) home screens will includewidgets, which let you see information like the weather on your home screen at a glance. Prior to the announcement at WWDC, iPhone users could only have apps on the iPhone home screen. But widgets, which contain more information and are more functional than app icons, have been a mainstay feature on Google's Android since its inception in 2008.

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App Clips in iOS 14.

Apple's App Clips let users preview "small parts" of apps quickly without downloading them. This can come in handy when trying to pay for takeout or parking, since App Clips is compatible withApple Payand Sign In with Apple. Google introduced a similar feature,Instant Apps, in 2016. Instant Apps gives apps their own URL so users don't have to download an entire app for a single transaction, like buying concert tickets for example.

Another part of Apple's redesigned home screen is an App Library that organizes your apps into groups and lists. With the new home screen in iOS 14, users can also "hide" apps from their main home-screen. This is similar to Android's app drawer, sans the grouping features.

The updated Apple Maps app will provide ways to travel in a more eco-friendly fashion in iOS 14 andWatchOS 7. The dedicated Cycling option will help users find bike paths while taking into account elevation, whether the route you take its busy or quiet, and if you'll encounter any stairs. While Google Maps doesn't factor in stairs, there has been the option to select "cycling" since 2010. When I tried it on my Pixel 3 ($474 at Amazon), the step-by-step directions offer a look at elevation on a trip, too.

Apple's cycling directions in Apple Maps.

Apple also announced a new picture-in-picture feature coming to iOS 14, which will allow users to be able to watch a video while using other apps. The video will shrink and be able to float anywhere on the screen. It can also be swiped away and the video's audio can still play. While the audio doesn't continue to play if the video is swiped away, Android phonesalready have the ability to float videos over other apps.

Apple's Wind Down mode in iOS 14.

Another new feature announced was a Wind Down mode that helps users get ready for bed. The feature, which works for iPhone and Apple Watch ($399 at Apple), lets you set a desired bed time and wake-up time, and puts your phone into Do Not Disturb mode. There are also options to add shortcuts for meditation or playing relaxing music. Google doesn't have a dedicated app for this, but there is a way to set up a bed time routine through the Google Home app.

For more, check out everything announced at WWDC 2020.

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All the iOS 14 features coming to iPhones that Android had first - CNET

My livestreaming thing and the music thats come from it have really helped me to stay sane through this whole thing, Mike Shinoda tells NME of how passing time on Twitch in lockdown led to his latest ambitious solo album, Dropped Frames Vol. 1.

Having taken suggestions and feedback on the direction of the music from fans who tuned into his Twitch livestreams, the Linkin Park musician ended up creating a project based on pure collaboration. Its a piece of work thats just as much about the live channel as it is about the album. After originally asking fans to guide him through the best way to finish off some demos on Instagram, he soon found himself asking them to submit vocals for the track Open Door, before taking to Twitch each and every morning to work with his followers on a constant flow of music.

There are a number of different things that I get out of it, says Shinoda. Its a nice anchor for my day and my week in that I can tell what time and what day it is, which isnt easy in lockdown! I can make so much cool stuff.

We were about to say that it beats wasting hours on Animal Crossing, but even that made its way into the record somehow. To celebrate the release of Dropped Frames Vol. 1 this week, we Facetimed Shinoda for a quick chat about people power, listening habits, the upcoming 20th anniversary of Linkin Parks seminal debut Hybrid Theory, and the recent release from Chester Benningtons former band Grey Daze.

We came up with a way to do fan recommendations where they challenge me. They earn points through watching the channel, then they can redeem them with things like choosing the style of the song from what we call The Bowl Of Destiny. Ill pick out more than one style, like mashing up a Red Hot Chili Peppers-style song, a Prince/Morris Day And The Time-style song, and the sound of a wombat. Or something crazy like Final Fantasy style video game music, mixed with horror hip-hop, Mariachi and N-Sync early 00s pop.

Some days Ill be at odds with what the fans want to do. Sometimes theres a friction, and sometimes that makes it worse and sometimes that makes it better. Its OK that some of these experiments fail. The last song on this album is a joke. Its called Booty Down and it has these vocal samples in it. The fans challenged me to make a song in the style of Panic! At The Disco. I tried, I hated it, it was boring, it was stupid, so I basically said, This is a failed experiment and we need to do something else to clear our palette. I started jokingly picking through these vocal samples called Booty Up and Booty Down, so I made a Miami bass dance track out of it.

Mike Shinoda (Picture: Press)

Its spontaneous. A lot of the time with music I feel like I channel whats happening in the moment. This stuff sonically comes from when its being created. We archived all of the Twitch episodes on Youtube so you can go back and see where it came from. Iknow that when the Black Lives Matter protests were starting, the track we made that day was sombre and soulful. It was sonically appropriate for the kind of day that it was. That track didnt make it onto this album, but it will be on a future volume.

Maybe! When I was in college I listened to a lot of instrumental music like DJ Shadows first couple of albums, Aphex Twin, UNKLE, Massive Attack. I love records by J Dilla, Flume and Flying Lotus. Theres a poetry to putting music out with no words. I like that, Ive never done that with my whole focus. Its a lot of fun.

Yeah, I love that. Once in a while on my stream, Ill play Animal Crossing. Its relaxing, like meditation. The fans and I named my turtle, it was nice. The mayor of your island on Animal Crossing is a guy called Tom Nook. All the voices are very similar and weird, and I found a plug-in on my keyboard where it will play Tom Nook vocal sounds. The fans still ask for it every day.

I was working on really random stuff. I still am, because Im a little slower in quarantine. Theres a song for myself here, a song for someone else there. Im still experimenting and trying to figure out what Im trying to do next. I feel like Im going down 20 different roads at once. If theres ever anything to talk about, Ill talk about it on my stream.

Its really fun to work with new artists because of the variety that it brings into the creative situation. Shes super young, but knows what shes doing with her music. This would be the moment where she throws in a self-deprecating comment, but my instinct is that shes got a tonne of raw talent and Id love to see where she takes that. The biggest challenge for any artist in her position is to really unlock her voice and a unique way to communicate their intention. Ive been listening to her a lot.

No, I havent. For every record Ive done, there are tracks in varying degrees of completion with vocals on them. Releasing them isnt on the schedule.

Linkin Park perform live. CREDIT: Getty

Were all aware that this year is the 20th anniversary of Hybrid Theory, so were planning to do something for that. I dont want to give anything away, so Ill just leave it there.

I havent heard it. They did it on their own. I cant listen to it. I dont want to hear his voice. Its hard enough for me to listen to Linkin Park albums. It has to be on the right day. I did watch some of his son Jaimes video, though. I got through two minutes of it before it became a little too much for me.

Everything! Griselda, Hayley Williams, Joji, Denzel Curry, Caribou, Jay Electronica, Renforshort, Jessie Reyez, RAC, 99 Neighbors, the new Jack Garratt, Run The Jewels, that Trash Talk record that Kenny Beats produced. Theres so much good new music.

Mike Shinoda releases Dropped Frames Vol. 1 on Friday July 10.

The rest is here:

Mike Shinoda on writing an album on Twitch, 20 years of Hybrid Theory and Chester Benningtons voice - NME

Try these tricks on your Amazon Echo today.

You rely on your Amazon Echo to play your favorite songs and playlists, but there are so many more music commands you can give Alexa when listening to Amazon Music on your smart speaker.

For example, you can ask Alexa to start announcing each song it's going to play with the hidden Song ID feature. You can also tell Alexa which songs you like so that it can get a better idea of what you want to listen to, and request music for specific activities.

Here's how to start using these Alexa music tipswe found for your Amazon Echo.

Our weekly newsletter puts the best Amazon smart speaker tips right in your inbox.

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When you're listening to a new song you've never heard, it can be annoying to interrupt the song by asking Alexa what it's called or who sings it. However, with a feature called Song ID, Alexa will announce the artist and name of the track before playing the song. To enable, say, "Alexa, turn on Song ID."

Make your mornings more exciting by setting your alarms by mood, lyric, song title, playlist or genre. As an Amazon Music subscriber, you can ask Alexa to set a song as your alarm by saying a few lyrics from the song or by genre. For example, you can say, "Alexa, set an alarm at 7 a.m. to We Are the Champions" or, "Alexa, wake me up with relaxing music at 7 a.m."

Set music alarms on your Echo speaker.

If you're not sure what you want to listen to, ask Alexa for help by saying, "Alexa, help me find a playlist." Alexa will ask questions about genre, occasion, mood and tempo and will offer a preview of selected playlists. You can let the voice assistant know what you do and don't like by saying, "Alexa, I like this song" or, "Alexa, I don't like this." This will help the voice assistant to better understand your music preferences.

If you're subscribed to Amazon Music Unlimited (three months free and then $8 per month after), you can ask Alexa to play the song of the day. This feature includes Alexa giving facts about the song before playing it, and when the song is finished you'll get suggestions for what to listen to next.

If you're performing a specific activity, like meditating, sleeping, doing a home workout or eating, you can request to hear a specific playlist that Amazon has curated for your activity. Try, "Alexa, play peaceful music for sleeping," "Alexa, play pop music for running" or, "Alexa, play classical music for cooking."

For more tips to get the most out of your smart speaker, here's how to simultaneously stream music across all your Amazon Echo devices, how to turn your Echo speaker into a free TV speaker and four top Amazon Echo features to perfect and improve now.

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5 surprising music hacks to try with your Amazon Echo - CNET

6 July 2020, 13:04 | Updated: 6 July 2020, 13:09

The best programmes and music weve got coming up on Classic FM this week...

Let the warming company of Tim Lihoreau and his selection of joyous classical pieces help you wake every weekday morning.

Tim has just the right rise and shine music to accompany the start of your day, as well as his Breakfast Serial at 7.25am and the Home School Run at 8.15am.

Listen from 6am and get in touch with Tim on 61812 or via the Classic FM website here hed love to hear from you.

Read more: Only diehard classical music fans can pass this quiz >

John Brunning is here every weekday to provide the most relaxing classical pieces as you head into the evening.

From 4pm to 7pm, John has three hours of old favourites and new discoveries including his Discovery of the Week at 6.20pm (find out this weeks album at the bottom of this article).

Then from 7pm, theres an hour of music chosen specially to help you unwind at the end of the day.

Read more: The most relaxing pieces of classical music >

Every weekend on Classic FM, theres a selection of fantastic programmes lined up to keep you company. And we feel Sundays and Classic FM go particularly well together.

Whether its enjoying that crucial first cup of coffee in the company of Aled Jones (7am-10am) or Bill Turnbull (depending on how much of a lie-ins person you are...), or enjoying a traditional Sunday lunch while Catherine Bott (1pm-3pm) plays worlds greatest music in the background.

John Humphrys (3pm-5pm) and David Mellor (5pm-7pm) bring their passion for, and expertise in, music all afternoon before Smooth Classics at Seven with Charlotte Hawkins. Charlotte plays the most relaxing music to wind down any week right, and also introduces an inspiring Young Classical Star every week.

And at 10pm, let Myleene Klass help you drift off with Smooth Classics...

Chart-topping mezzo Katherine Jenkins presents a collection of unforgettable songs from some of the worlds best loved movie moments including Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffanys and Tonight from West Side Story, featuring fellow Welsh star, Luke Evans.

The album title is taken from Ennio Morricones song from the soundtrack to the 1988 Italian film of the same name. And, poignantly, Jenkins album comes out on the same day as the great composers death at 91.

Full track listing from Katherine Jenkins Cinema Paradiso:

1. When You Wish Upon A Star from Pinocchio 2. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Somewhere Far Away) from Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence 3. Cinema Paradiso featuring Alberto Urso from Cinema Paradiso 4. Never Love Again from A Star Is Born 5. Moon River from Breakfast At Tiffanys 6. Singin In The Rain from Singin In The Rain 7. West Side Story Somewhere/Tonight featuring Luke Evans from West Side Story 8. O Danny Boy from Memphis Belle 9. Schindlers List from Schindlers List 10. The Rose from The Rose 11. May It Be from Lord Of The Rings 12. Heres To The Heroes from Dances With Wolves

Click here to find out more about this weeks Album of the Week.

Alexander Armstrongplays a track from his featured Album of the Week at 10.15am every weekday.

Conductor Edusei and the superlative Munich Symphony are back for their next instalment of Symphonies from great Romantic composer Schubert.

Edusei has been widely praised for bringing drama and tension to orchestral works, and champions German music from the early Romantic period and early 20th century particularly.

Schubert is known so well for his songs (lied), but was a prolific composer of orchestral music, including the nine symphonies (one unfinished, the eighth) that he wrote.

Click here to find out more about this weeks Discovery.

John Brunningplays a track from his featured Discovery of the Week at 6.20pm every weekday.

More here:

This weeks on-air highlights including Album of the Week and Discovery - Classic FM

The most relaxing music I know my musical go-to place for when the world is too much with me is Music for 18 Musicians, the warhorse of Classical Minimalism composed by Steve Reich in 1976. Some of you may find this improbable. Those who think of Minimalism as a four-hour dial tone by Philip Glass, for example. Or my sister, for whom Reichs piece is the equivalent of two Styrofoam blocks rubbed together and who has to leave the room the house, the state whenever I put it on.

But heres the trick: If the first time you listen to this hourlong progression of pulsing musical cells, you actually listen to it, you may go around the bend like my sister. The piece is constantly changing, but slowly, like a gradually revolving sphere. (It may help to think of it as sonic sculpture rather than music, in fact.)

Instead, put Music for 18 Musicians on any recorded version, there are many and dont listen to it. Do something else. Light housework. Meal prep. Balance your checkbook. As background, this ensemble work for strings, reeds, pianos, mallet instruments, and the human voice is a shimmering latticework on which to hang your thoughts. Its left-brain music that frees up the right: Ive written articles and entire books to 18 Musicians, and I dont have to give it attention when its providing me focus. So by the time you do choose to actively listen, Reichs masterpiece may feel familiar and welcome a chiming refuge from the worlds relentless forward momentum.

Ty Burr can be reached at ty.burr@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @tyburr.

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This Minimalist composition is a shimmering latticework on which to hang your thoughts - The Boston Globe