A Dublin drum ’n’ bass producer has composed a bespoke album from children’s instruments designed for babies to “rave and sleep to”.
Graham Smyth’s ‘Music For Babies To Rave And Sleep To’ is streaming on Bandcamp now, an eight-track album that has been made primarily on toy piano and kalimba. It was released last month and you can check it out here.
The inception of the project came to the DJ and broadcaster while he was trying to compose lullabies on the piano to share with his newborn nephew, which he then attempted to recreate on the children’s instruments.
Smyth began researching the effects of sounds and frequencies on the cognitive development of young children. After consulting with child psychologists, he learned that babies’ heart rates are typically 50 per cent higher than adults, which is now reflected in the fast pace of the music on the album.
Working with ambient producer Gareth Quinn Redmond on the project, the album is made up of two distinct halves – one at a high BPM drum ‘n’ bass pace and the other at a more peaceful, sleep-inducing ambience.
Speaking to District Magazine, Smyth said: “The album is intended to introduce children to the different aspects of electronic music, from building up to the peak time rave all the way down to placing the head down for a snooze.”
“Babies’ heart rates are 50% faster than adults so the music should reflect this, hence the drum ‘n’ bass inspired beats on ‘Toy Pianonono (For Raving)’,” he added. “The percussion is even influenced by how young children interact with instruments.”
On his Bandcamp page, he has said the album is “aimed at parents who love music and want to share that love with their little ones in full primary colour”.
“Graham hopes that ‘Music For Babies To Rave And Sleep To’ could be the gateway record for young children to develop the same passion and fascination for music that their parents have,” it adds.
