Music While Working Remotely?n Awana Employees Share Their Picks

We’ve all made remarkable adjustments to our schedules over the past few months, haven’t we? For some, change can feel tiring and overwhelming. For others, change brings motivation and drive to embrace a new beginning. Both ways of coping require routines and strategies that allow us to thrive in the midst of what we’re experiencing! 

During this quarantine season, our entire staff shifted to working remotely. While this was normal for many of our out-of-state teams, it was a major adjustment for our local Streamwood, Illinois staff. We creatively used what we had to fashion makeshift home offices and readjusted our routines to ensure a successful work-from-home (WFH) experience. For many, music was critical to that success! So, we asked our staff to share with you their favorite music genres that they found encourage focus and efficiency in their work. They threw in a few of their favorite artist’s songs, too! 

Who is your favorite artist to listen to while you are working? 

• I have very eclectic musical tastes, so I will listen to a variety of things. But when working I have to have it be a little more mellow. So it’s classical, or low key classic rock like Sting, Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles. Sarah H.
• At the moment I’m listening to Lord Huron, Rainforest Band, Beethoven (Symphony #9), Toby Mac, and select episodes from Live from Daryl’s House. Carla H.
• Yoke Lore. Their songs are fire! Monica W.
• I listen to Good Weather for an Airstrike mostly while working from home. John B.
• Tauren Wells or Imagine Dragons Tyler O.
• Leon Bridges Lauren W.
• Ella Fitzgerald. Spotify made an Ella WFH album that’s six+ hours long ::swoon:: Michelle A.
• Sasha Sloan Sarah D.
• Worship music, Sister Hazel, or a good ‘70s rock or Broadway station on Spotify Melanie H.
• Zach Williams is my go-to. His voice reminds me of my son! Brian R.

What genre of music do you turn on when you need to focus? 

• Classical, though I have favorites like Mozart’s Requiem or Duruflé’s Requiem. Sarah H.
• When I’m working in spreadsheets it needs to be something fun, most often ‘80s music. When I am writing, it’s going to be something more mellow, usually without words (classical or smooth jazz). Carla H.
• Ambient/atmospheric music, like Explosions in the Sky, and lo-fi hip-hop, like Hoogway or Psalm Trees, helps me to focus without being boring or grating. John B.
• Movie scores, any and all! Love the artistry of movie scores. Lauren W.
• Vocal Jazz and Soul on most days, but especially on a rainy day; or some indie surf/garage rock when it’s sunny. Also I’ve really been into some disco when I’m working late—old and new. Michelle A.
• Composer Thomas Newman (He scores a lot of Pixar films.) Monica W.
• Alternative/Indie Michelle A.
• Anything instrumental, but my favorites would be classical or light rock Melanie H.
• Anything acoustic Kevin O.
• Classical, with piano and strings Robin C.
• It really depends on what type of work I’m doing. Creative (i.e. conceptual): instrumental or jazz; creative (i.e. doing the work): classical, piano or guitar; executive function (i.e. emails, writing, etc.): folk or acoustic. Mike H.

Do you have a favorite artist or genre of music you listen to while working from home? Please share your recommendations in the comment section, below.