10 Synthwave and Ambient Songs for Swimming
Paired with the proper music—synthwave and ambient electronic tracks—our next visit to the pool can transcend exercise into a meditative reconnection with embodiment.
Music Features
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MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2026
In March’s best metal, Neurosis make their surprising return, Bekor Qilish descend to extreme avant-garde paths, and Cruel Force mature their thrash.
Morrissey Returns to the Wilde
The admissions in the songs on Morrissey’s Oscar-Wilde-influenced Make-Up Is a Lie converge to create an intimate and candid portrait of the duality of self in the quagmire of celebrity.
Javier Nero Blends Modern Elements with Big Band Jazz
Javier Nero’s Alkebulan is state-of-the-art big band jazz, which he discusses with us. Nero uses the large ensemble for color, contrast, power, and momentum.
Jorge Drexler Performs His Homecoming Dance
Internationally renowned artist Jorge Drexler returned to his native Uruguay, but this time he came to dance and tell us about it.
Shawn Colvin’s ‘Whole New You’ Is a Revelation at 25
Shawn Colvin knows who she is, and she wasn’t about to start chasing someone else’s pop dreams. That’s what makes Whole New You so captivating still.
The Curious Connection of the Beatles and Nixon at Disney World
The story of how the radically different historical figures the Beatles, Richard Nixon, and Disney World intertwine is one of fascinating coincidence.
Bruce Springsteen’s Vietnam War Songs Defy American Amnesia
Aspects of Bruce Springsteen have endured his many incarnations, perhaps none more significant than his refusal to allow himself, his listeners, or his country to forget the men who served in Vietnam.
Sweet Pill on Burning It Down and Finding the Glow
Philadelphia band Sweet Pill’s sophomore release is a cathartic journey through writer’s block to rediscover resilience and optimism.
Joni Mitchell’s Turbulent Indigo and Taming the Tiger
Joni Mitchell’s Turbulent Indigo and Taming the Tiger show an artist in full command, at home in herself and her work, replacing 1980s gloss with intimacy.
“Paul McCartney Is Dead”: The Hoax That Just Won’t Die
The “Paul McCartney Is Dead” hoax is so familiar to the public that it is taught in psychology courses to illustrate confirmation bias. Why won’t it just die, already?
SXSW at 40: The Music’s Still Worth the Trip
SXSW has changed, but it still provides plenty of good music. The internet is full of old-timers who complain that the fest is not what it used to be.