Drone

Welcome to the world of Drone music, a genre that often leaves people wondering if they’ve stumbled into a sound installation or simply forgotten to change their CD. Originating in the early 1960s, Drone music emerged as an avant-garde genre that took inspiration from minimalism and Eastern music traditions; it delights in long sustained sounds, tones that stretch and hold in placidity like that one dinner invitation you never responded to.

Pioneering figures such as La Monte Young and his famous work 'The Well-Tuned Piano' paved the way for what would become a sonic experience yearning to be understood, whilst primarily being savoured in contemplative silence. As the years plodded on, the genre waxed and waned, dipping its toes into various spheres and spawning unique subgenres, all whilst maintaining that lengthy, sustained sound that can feel as timeless as your grandmother’s Christmas pudding recipe.

The landscape broadened in the 1990s and 2000s, with artists like Sunn O))) and Earth blending drone with elements of metal, creating a heavy wall of sound that one might describe as mesmerizing; if they were feeling particularly generous. Meanwhile, the likes of John Cale played a pivotal role in integrating Drone into rock, conjuring dreamy soundscapes that were as infectious as their love for children’s ice cream.

Today, Drone music sits comfortably amongst the musical elite, often seen as a deep meditation tool and an exploration of the ambient, proving that sometimes, less is indeed more, especially when it comes to lyrics. It exists in galleries, festivals, and living rooms, where it invites you to lose track of time whilst sipping a cup of tea and wondering aloud why we even need to label music in the first place.