As 2025 begins and school kicks back up, many of us are making New Year's resolutions, including setting goals to be more studious in 2025. If you're like me, you might have spent way too much time perfecting the ultimate study playlist to stay focused and motivated. From ambient soundscapes and lo-fi beats to soothing melodies and timeless classical pieces, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a curated list of ten artists guaranteed to take your study playlist to the next level!
Vitamin String Quartet
Known mainly for their fantastic work in the Netflix series Bridgerton, the Vitamin String Quartet brings an old timey feel to modern music. The quartet was formed in Los Angeles, California, and recruits a variety of talented musicians for their numerous projects. Their classical renditions of hit songs such as "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter and "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals are genre-shifting masterpieces. The Vitamin String Quartet have a unique ability to reimagine all types of music, and do so in a very full and robust way. Classical music is so wonderful, but it is always nice to have a bit of familiarity to the instrumentals you are listening to. If this sounds up your alley, be sure to check out Vitamin String Quartet's extensive discography.
Song Recommendations:
"Espresso"
"Strange (feat. Hillary Smith)"
"willow"
"Heat Waves"
"I Will Always Love You"
Spencer Hunt
If lo-fi is what you're craving, Spencer Hunt might be the perfect artist for you. A producer hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Hunt blends white noise and ambient sounds with vibey lo-fi tracks that he produces. His joint project Beckwith Park with frequent collaborator Takeo is the pinnacle of lo-fi excellence, featuring five songs that have all made their way onto my study playlist. He doesn't shy away from using vocal clips either, which adds even more layering to complicate and round out out these tracks.
Song Recommendations:
"Dreamscape"
"Blue Moon "
"flame jörmungandr"
"Chelsea"
"Doppler"
Camille Saint-Saëns
Even if you aren't a fan of classical music, chances are you've heard of Camille Saint-Saëns, or you've at least heard his work. His most famous work is definitely The Carnival of the Animals (Le Carnaval des Animaux), which he composed. He was also a fantastic organist, pianist, and conductor. Gaining popularity in the Romantic era of music, Saint-Saëns' French roots are clearly exemplified in his artistic work. After studying at the Paris Conservatoire, he began a career as a church organist before eventually becoming a freelance composer and creating the fantastic music we know now. If you are looking for some classical music with rich historical significance, definitely check out some Saint-Saëns work.
Song Recommendations:
"Carnival of the Animals"
"Samson et Dalila"
"Danse Macabre"
"Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso"
"Allegro"
fcj
fcj is a producer from the Philippines whose musical evolution can be seen clearly in his discography. Starting off as purely instrumental, he began to later experiment with incorporating vocals into his work. His album if you're reading this ily is a standout for me, personally, as it was my first introduction into lo-fi and electronic music. The music really transports you to a peaceful tranquil location and is great for studying or doing busy work. He is also a part of a collaborative project titled SNEAKER KIDS, who have released nine singles and one EP.
Song Recommendations:
"stars n keys"
"when the pink petals fall"
"even better"
"video dive"
"with darkness"
Minnz Piano
Minnz Piano is another artist that, similar to Vitamin String Quartet, beautifully reworks popular music into beautiful piano instrumentals. Minnz' most recent release is a soft piano version of the smash hit Gracie Abrams album The Secret Of Us , highlighting her impressive turnaround time and ability to completely transform a piece of musical work. I gravitated towards the Barbie Film Piano Instrumentals album that Minnz released. The songs transport me back to my childhood and provide a beautiful ambiance as I try to get some schoolwork done.
Song Recommendations:
"12 Dancing Princesses Theme (from Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses)"
"Right Here In My Arms (from Barbie as the Island Princess)"
"Sharpest Tool"
"Risk"
"Fifteen"
Qumu
If you were a diehard Mario, Zelda, or Animal Crossing fan, I guarantee Qumu's discography will invoke childhood nostalgia. While there is not much known about the artist itself, as they claim they, "prefer not to say much about that [their personal identity], as I’d rather be judged based on my actions and my music, rather than to have my actions or music judged based on who I am," their impeccable ability to remix and cover video game music establishes their deep understanding of musicality. They have also released some original music as well, such as "PROTO" and "Among Familiar Faces", both of which exemplify a unique understanding of music and is a love letter to the songs that Qumu has remixed before.
Song Recommendations:
"Animal Crossing: New Lead - Re-Tail [Remix]"
"Outset Island (From The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker)"
"PROTO (Original)"
"Kuma (From Super Mario Galaxy)"
"Green Greens (From Kirby's Dream Land)"
Nerum
There is not much information out there about the elusive artist Nerum. However, while the artist's identity might be largely unknown, their music is an essential for any study playlist, especially if you are someone who works best with calming, nature-inspired backing tracks for your academic experience. These songs help transport me into peaceful state... like a spa day for my brain. While Nerum may have a limited discography, I have a feeling you'll want to add every single song to your study playlist.
Song Recommendations:
"Free Winds"
"Jenna's Lullaby"
"Stop The Time"
"Blue Ocean"
"Infinity"
John Williams
Ever dreamed of studying in Hogwarts? Well, John Williams may be able to help emulate that feeling for you. A famed movie soundtrack scorer, Williams has created some of the most recognizable soundtracks in history. From Jurassic Park to Star Wars to Home Alone, Williams' diligent work has won him a staggering 26 Grammy awards, three Emmy awards, and four Golden Globe awards. While he is a New York native, he served as the primary conductor for the Boston Pops for 13 years, cementing not only his extensive knowledge in composing classical masterpieces but also his knowledge on how to smoothly direct an entire orchestra.
Song Recommendations:
"Hogwarts Forever! and the Moving Stairs"
"Main Title "Somewhere In My Memory" (From Home Alone)"
"Theme From Jurassic Park"
"To Athens"
"The Rise of Skywalker"
J0pie
J0pie is an American musical artist who utilizes dreamy keys, cheerful guitar, and grounding percussion and bass to draft lo-fi/electronic hits that'll be sure to fit perfectly into your homework playlist. Similarly to Nerum, information on J0pie's identity outside of their artistry is very limited, but their music speaks for itself. With so many lo-fi artists in the musical sphere now, J0pie’s exceptional sonic intuition and thoughtful compositions make them a standout. Despite a limited discography of only ten singles, J0pie has solidified their place as one of my favorite artists in the genre.
Song Recommendations:
"lucid"
"meadow"
"hummingbird"
"signs of winter"
"coffee break"
Bruno Major
If you’re more into music with vocals, Bruno Major is a solid pick to round out this list. He’s a UK artist who makes slow, soulful tracks that work great for studying but are also perfect for just about anything else. His song "Easily", a heartfelt track about the ups and downs of relationships and one of my personal favorites, put him on the map. With three albums full of beautifully written songs, Bruno Major really stands out––not just as study-friendly musician but also as a must-listen-to artist in general. His emotional lyrics and chill vibes make him an artist worth checking out in any setting.
Song Recommendations:
"Just The Same"
"Easily"
"Nothing"
"Home"
"Old Fashioned"
What do you want to see next on Enharmonic Magazine? Let us know.
Comments