A soft passage to sleep

Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, people live, work, and push through each day. But late at night, some find themselves lying in bed, wide awake. Their minds race with unfinished tasks, memories of lost friends and lovers, or the worries of their children's school struggles.

It is during those seemingly endless silent nights that they may notice the "rainbow" lamp light refracting on the TV screen across from the bed, hear the gentle hum of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould in his iconic interpretation of the Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria, or drift into unspeakable thoughts. In those quiet moments, they may even recall Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Li Bai compared moonlight to "hoary frost on the floor".

As anxiety over sleep grows, insomnia becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, one that leaves people starting their day groggy and drained.

With more and more people grappling with sleep issues, as shown by growing public conversations and increasing reports of disturbances, the appeal of ambient music is rising.

When British musician and producer Brian Eno released his pioneering album Ambient 1: Music for Airports in 1978, he introduced a genre that could be actively listened to or just fill the background. This music fosters an environment of introspection and calm reflection.

Inspired by Eno's therapeutic vision, electronic music producer Wang Lu and his circle of sound artist friends have been exploring ambient music's aesthetic appeal and healing potential for years.

"We're not seeking silence," Wang says. "Silence can be deafening — the mind rushes in to fill the void. But gentle sound can provide a sense of safety. It can ease stress, loneliness, and gloom."