I always thought that after listening to tens of thousands of lo-fi tracks, finding something truly new and fresh would be nearly impossible. It seemed all the formulas were known, and all the harmonies had been solved. Yet, every day I’m surprised by the mastery and creativity of musicians who manage to step outside the familiar frame.
Today, I want to share a discovery with you—a track that is actually quite difficult to find. It is “Trouble Falling Asleep” by the talented American producer Canaan Sharón.
Turn it on, and you’ll instantly feel that naive, slightly childlike mood. A distant nostalgia. The entire magic is built upon a sequence of warm, gentle guitar chords. They sound like a tale being told, like a bedtime story. The track vaguely reminded me of Eels – “I Need Some Sleep”, but the mood here is, of course, much lighter.
As I mentioned, Canaan Sharón uses several guitar playing techniques, creating a wide variety of sensations. But listening closely, you notice that the role of rhythm here is incredibly delicate. The typical lo-fi beat is barely noticeable. Its function is taken over by a soft percussive palette that subtly creates the pulse. And then I noticed the light tinkling bells, like an old music box playing in a darkened children’s room. This is that naive, gentle layer that transports you back to a time when “trouble falling asleep” was the biggest issue of the day.
These compositions are unique precisely because their melody is very simple, often performed with just one instrument. Yet, it sounds so beautiful and masterfully done. This proves that to create such a masterpiece, using, roughly speaking, only a guitar, one needs not just talent, but something more—sincerity.
And this sincerity brings you back to that very moment in life when you are completely safe, and the only thing that matters is warmth.
P.S. If you enjoyed this soothing guitar atmosphere, I also recommend checking out another review where we explored healing chillhop: Sparks of Life: Healing Chillhop by Resonant Circuits & Vybeshift. Dive into a new dose of warmth!
