Still Earth Sounds

Ambient · Classical · Electronic · Nature

The Art of Sound. The Science of Feeling.

Ambient, classical and electronic music, alongside carefully captured natural soundscapes. Created with intention, inspired by nature and informed by the science of listening.

The Science of Sound

Artists

Explore by Feeling

Explore our artists and playlists.

0of 20 min

Make time to listen

20 minutes a day, however you choose to listen.

Why 20 minutes?

In studies of time in nature, stress hormones fell fastest in the 20 to 30 minute window. Hunter et al., 2019 ↗

The Science of Sound

There’s more to listening than meets the ear.

Sound doesn’t just surround us. It interacts with our minds and bodies. From the calming qualities of natural soundscapes to the emotional power of music, scientific research is helping us understand how listening can influence the way we feel.

A waterfall falling through mist

01 — Nature & Stress

Nature Can Help Us Unwind.

28%lower stress and annoyance

Bringing together experimental studies, researchers found that people who heard natural sounds reported less stress and annoyance, and better health and mood, than people in comparison conditions. Water sounds showed the strongest link to health and positive mood.

About this research
The study
Buxton et al. (2021), a meta-analysis in PNAS. 36 publications reviewed; 12 studies contributed to the stress and annoyance result.
What was measured
Self-reported stress and annoyance, plus health and positive mood.
Compared with
No sound, noise, or fewer natural sounds, depending on the study.
Worth knowing
The 28% is the authors’ conversion of a standardised effect size (Hedges’ g = −0.60). It is a relative difference between groups, not a 28-point drop on a scale. Most studies took place in labs, and results varied between them.
Buxton et al., 2021 · PNAS ↗
Soft pink flowers reflected in water

02 — Music & Emotion

Music Moves More Than the Mind.

104randomised trials, 9,617 people

Across more than a hundred controlled trials, music interventions reduced stress, both in how stressed people felt and in how their bodies responded. Heart rate showed the clearest physical change.

About this research
The study
de Witte et al. (2020), two meta-analyses in Health Psychology Review.
What was measured
Psychological stress (such as anxiety and tension) and physiological stress (such as heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol).
Compared with
Control conditions without music.
Worth knowing
Average effects were small to moderate (Cohen’s d = 0.55 psychological, 0.38 physiological). Studies ranged from simple listening to music therapy, across very different settings.
de Witte et al., 2020 · Health Psychology Review ↗
A full moon behind dark leaves

03 — Sound & Sleep

A Better Way to Wind Down.

2.8points better sleep quality, on a 21‑point scale

A Cochrane review found that adults with insomnia symptoms who listened to music reported better sleep quality than those who didn’t. The evidence was rated moderate certainty.

About this research
The study
Jespersen et al. (2022), Cochrane systematic review. 13 randomised trials, 1,007 adults.
What was measured
Sleep quality on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (0 to 21, lower is better): a mean improvement of 2.79 points across 10 trials and 708 people.
Compared with
No treatment or usual care.
Worth knowing
Participants knew whether they were listening to music, which can influence self-reported results. Evidence that music helps people fall asleep faster is low certainty.
Cochrane review, 2022 · Music for insomnia in adults ↗
Close-up of green foliage

04 — Birdsong & Wellbeing

Small Moments. Measurable Effects.

6 minof birdsong reduced anxiety

In an online experiment, six minutes of birdsong reduced anxiety and paranoid thoughts. Six minutes of traffic noise did not, and increased low mood.

About this research
The study
Stobbe et al. (2022), Scientific Reports. 295 adults, randomly assigned to one of four soundscapes.
What was measured
Anxiety, paranoia and low mood, using standard questionnaires before and after listening.
Compared with
Traffic noise of similar length.
Worth knowing
The reduction in anxiety was moderate to large (d ≈ −0.7). There was no silent comparison, effects were measured straight after listening only, and participants did not have a clinical diagnosis.
Stobbe et al., 2022 · Scientific Reports ↗
The control room seen from behind the mixing desk, looking across to the lounge, guitars and synth wall

The Studio

Control room with immersive speaker array and oak mixing desk
Control room
Tiered oak stand holding synthesizers beside the lounge
Synth wall
Four guitars hung above a green velvet sofa
Lounge
Patched modular synthesizer with red and orange cables
Modular
Large-diaphragm condenser microphone in the vocal booth
Vocal booth
Curved banquette and walnut table under a cone pendant
Reading room
Travertine lamp beside a sunburst bass
Details
Writing desk in an oak-panelled nook with brass lamp
Writing room
Close-up of modular synthesizer modules
Modular
Waldorf, Korg, Moog, Prophet and Mellotron keyboards on oak shelves
Synth wall

About · Est. 2021

A World Worth Listening To.

Still Earth Sounds is an independent record label dedicated to exploring the relationship between sound, nature and the way we feel.

Through ambient, classical and electronic music, alongside carefully captured natural soundscapes, we create listening experiences that inspire stillness, encourage discovery and offer moments of connection.

We believe music is more than something we hear. It can shape our surroundings, evoke emotion, influence our state of mind and change the way we experience the everyday.

Our approach brings together artistic expression, scientific curiosity and an unwavering commitment to exceptional sound quality.

From the quiet complexity of the natural world to the limitless possibilities of electronic composition, every release is an invitation to listen a little closer.

Made with intention. Inspired by nature. Grounded in sound.

Why we listen

SoundChangesThings.

A familiar melody can transport us to another time. The sound of rain can create a sense of calm. A single note can change the atmosphere of a room.

These experiences feel intuitive, but a growing body of scientific research is helping us understand the relationship between sound, the brain and the body.

Studies suggest that natural soundscapes can support recovery from stress, while music-based interventions can influence mood, anxiety and physiological responses.

At Still Earth Sounds, we’re fascinated by the meeting point between what we feel and what science can measure. We draw inspiration from this research, combining scientific curiosity with artistic expression to create music and natural soundscapes worth making time for.

Read the Science of Sound

Because listening isn’t simply what we do. It’s part of how we experience the world.

The control room, with PMC immersive monitoring, guitars and a synth wall

Our craft

Every Detail Matters.

We believe extraordinary listening experiences begin with extraordinary attention to sound.

From the first note of a composition to the smallest detail captured in a natural environment, our work combines artistic curiosity with technical precision.

Our nature recordings use carefully designed multichannel microphone techniques to capture the depth, movement and spatial character of the world around us.

Our music is produced and finished with the same philosophy, combining expressive composition with contemporary recording, mixing and mastering techniques.

Through Apple Digital Masters, high-resolution audio and Dolby Atmos, we aim to preserve the clarity, detail and intention behind every release.

Mastering
Apple Digital Master certified studio
Mixing
7.5.4 PMC Dolby Atmos system
Field Recording
Our custom multichannel field recording set-up captures in spatial at source
Formats
High-resolution lossless audio and Dolby Atmos
Finishing
Meticulous mixing and mastering, checked by ear

Technology is part of our craft. The listening experience is what matters.

Contact

Licensing, sync, demos and press.

Enquiry