The soundtrack to a reduced frame of mind and an expanding resource to encourage better self-care. Explore the archive.
Students of early hip-hop may be aware of the small print on the back sleeve of LL Cool K’s 1985 album Radio: “Reduced by Rick Rubin”, in homage to his pioneering minimalist arrangement. It’s with Rick’s same approach to musical minimalism that this series emerges: stripping sound back to its most transcendental, restorative and atmospheric textures to block out the noise and aid focus, attunement and relaxation.
Discussions have come a long way in recent years, but there still remains a taboo around not being okay. To accompany each audio presentation, we’ll speak to the creator about their experiences with self-care and, if they’re comfortable sharing, mental health. We’ll unpack personal processes, explore the nuances of self-care across cultures and raise awareness of charities with a personal connection. We hope this will grow into an evolving resource of knowledge and experience to provide solace, inspiration, reassurance and company in difficult times.
For the fifth episode, we welcome Edinburgh producer Neil McDonald. Operating as Lord of the Isles, he takes inspiration from Scottish history and the wild landscapes of the Highlands (see his collaborative Mac-Talla Nan Creag album with Forestry Commission Scotland) to present warm, intricate and earthy textures, ranging from ambient to trance.
Neil describes his 90 minutes Reduced mix as “some of my favourite pieces of music to fall asleep to, especially when I was travelling a lot. I hope listeners would feel relaxed during and after listening. If they have not fallen asleep, I’d hope they would have felt some sense of escapism.”
Lord of the Isles – Glisk Science EP is out early December on Beats in Space – buy from RVNG Intl.
We now premiere all our mixes a week early on Mixcloud. Subscribe to our channel to listen first, download all mixes, and ensure that the artists included in each one gets paid. Read more about our decision here.
First off, what does self-care mean to you?
Good sleep, exercise and a healthy diet.
What does your daily or weekly self-care routine look like?
Doing something physical outside every day, as much sleep as possible, and at least one weekly long walk in nature. Music exploration and painting/drawing. Keeping in touch with friends and family helps me feel connected to what’s important in life.
Can you tell us about the outdoor location you’ve photographed where you go to find tranquility.
I tend to gravitate to any wide-open wild spaces for tranquility. Most likely a direct response to having to spend long hours indoors for my work. I feel very lucky to live in a country where wilderness is relatively easy to find. This spot is not that far from Edinburgh. It’s a nature reserve and there is a fair walk before you reach the beach. Because of this, it tends to be really quiet. My favourite time to visit is dusk.
What benefits has self-care brought you over the years?
I think keeping a constant base level of physical fitness has helped me a lot over the years. It helps me work through any frustrations and also to switch off mentally.
Are there any specific techniques you favour or come back to more frequently?
Not really, I think different techniques for different times, depending on how I’m feeling. Healthy eating and good rest would be the constants for my optimum wellbeing.
Are there any self-care techniques that are native to your community or heritage?
I’m not sure, although my parents and grandparents always instilled the importance of fresh air, eating well and early to bed in us all. “ The hours before 12 are worth double”, stuff like that.
What advice would you have for anyone who is either sceptical about the benefits of self-care, or is new to it and feels intimated by the wealth of options available.
Take your time and find what works for you. You’d be surprised how little effort can make a big difference. Our attention is constantly being pulled in so many directions with technology these days, that it’s more important than ever before to just stop and make a conscience effort to relax or switch off. I think it’s very important to recognize this as a real hazard to your wellbeing.
What was the idea behind your Reduced set?
This mix includes some of my favorite pieces of music to fall asleep to, especially when I was travelling a lot.
I hope listeners would feel relaxed during and after listening. If they have not fallen asleep, I’d hope they would have felt some sense of escapism.
How would you advise listening to your set?
Any activity where you want to relax or fall asleep. Might be a nice soundtrack to a book. I remember reading The Algebraist by Iain M Banks listening to the GAS box set Nah und Fern. I love how these two disparate works are now engrained in my mind as a single entity.
Lord of the Isles – Glisk Science EP is out early December on Beats in Space – buy from RVNG Intl.
We now premiere all our mixes a week early on Mixcloud. Subscribe to our channel to listen first, download all mixes, and ensure that the artists included in each one gets paid. Read more about our decision here.
