Jump to content

Ambience


Go to solution Solved by The Praetorian of Inwit,

Recommended Posts

I'm looking for ambience to play when I'm scrying. My standards aren't particularlly high. If it doesn't put me in that zone it just needs to support what I'm doing. It used to be easy to find decent ambient music. It seems to be a lot harder to find these days.

 

I'm looking for hobby background music that isn't corny power metal or awkwardly generated. What do you typically have playing in the background while you're modeling, painting, playing, reading or writing? 

 

 

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/
Share on other sites

Mostly, I do not listen to background music when I am doing something that involves concentration. That said, when doing routine work like cleaning miniatures, I may listen to radio news and documentary programmes (to educate myself a bit).

 

If I had to think of some calm background music, I would probably look for music from small instrumental ensembles playing renaissance or chamber music. This kind of music does not usually feature anything too dramatic that would interrupt your concentration. But you may need to dig a bit around to find material.

 

Classic symphonic orchestra instrumental music is probably much easier to find, but not so useful as a calm background music as the composers tend to insert all sorts of dramatic moments to draw attention.

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190452
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Karhedron said:

Gloryhammer

 

Please notice the original mission description: "isn't corny power metal". Can we try to stick with that for a little while?

 

If we want to discuss about "the grim darkness of 1992" and about fighting for "the king and the hammer and the ring", then how about starting a new thread for the corniest power metal to listen while painting? I can probably contribute a few passable candidates (even though none of them involves submarines flying in space).

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190458
Share on other sites

There's a guy on YouTube and Spotify. Dream Clinic. He runs these 40K-inspired tracks on a loop for about an hour, and if I recall correctly, puts up the single-loop tracks for those who prefer a change every few minutes. They're a bit... I'd say basic sometimes but they're nice for background music. Maybe mood music. He uses AI for the album covers, which originally threw me off a bit, but I did a little looking and it seems the music itself is entirely human-made. Good stuff. 

 

If you'd like any specific recommendations to try out, Dream Clinic's Witchseeker is particularly good for 40K. It's got a kind of Gothic Gregorian Chant sound I really like, so if you like that part of Warhammer it's a good place to start. 

 

Another thing I listen to (though it's not music) is the 40K Lorecast. It's on Spotify and I think it's a few other places too - anyway, lot's of fun to listen to a couple of old fellers jawing about Warhammer lore and ye olde dayes of 2nd edition. 

 

There's probably more (which would be more generally accepted) but I'm not sure it would meet the criteria here. Hope you like it, or at least enjoy some exploring: )

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190462
Share on other sites

There's no real guard rails here, if it's good post it. I have mixed feelings about synthetic music these days. I think synth is over saturated much like AI productions. Everyone is synthing, it's not just Jeremy Soule anymore. 

 

Here's something that puts me in that zone when I'm ready to hobby. The trouble is, is that it's too repetitive. Needless to say I don't listen to the 10 hour version. 

 

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190465
Share on other sites

I normally stick on a Black Library audiobook. I try to theme it to the force I’m painting so if I’m painting Custodes it might be master of mankind or if it’s White Scars it could be path of heaven etc.

 

I find it helps keep the motivation going during the boring parts of painting :)

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190797
Share on other sites

I tend to listen to doom metal while painting, it's a great accompaniment but I appreciate not everyone shares that proclivity. The rogue trader RPG soundtrack is very good and is up there as one of the best soundtracks for 40k vibes I think:

 

https://youtu.be/nHi-LjQ4528?is=aXKDgEWrAQRqOA9L

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190812
Share on other sites

I turn on a movie I've seen a hundred times for background sound.

 

The odd bit is that I have specific movies that I put on for different armies. I'm sure there's some deep psychological reason for these...

 

Imperial Guard: Zulu, Sharpe's Sword (Eagle, Gold, Battle, etc.)

 

Dark Angels: Star Trek - First Contact, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

 

Adeptus Custodes: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Pacific Rim

 

 

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190823
Share on other sites

Ah, music! I love it, it's magnificent. I hate it that I never learned to play some musical instrument and I'm SO jealous of people who know how to do it.

 

When I'm painting and my wife uses my computer to kill peasants in Age of Empires, we usually listen to either true crime podcasts or audiobooks. We've listened to H.P. Lovecraft's full collection, a BBC audio drama called 'The Lovecraft Investigations' and we're now just past the Weathertop, where the Witch King of Angmar stabbed Frodo and they hurry him to Rivendell.

 

When I'm sitting alone, and the wife doesn't want to lose any audiobook or true crime new episode, then my slightly autistic nature dictates that I have to listen to either minimal Dungeon-Synth stuff, such as Hole Dweller for example, or heavy industrialised Retro-Synth, like Master Boot Record. Give them both a try, it's a rabbit hole from there:

 

Music | Hole Dweller

 

MASTER BOOT RECORD - SPREAD THE CODE

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190882
Share on other sites

On 10/8/2026 at 1:56 AM, Tawnis said:

I often listen to Two Steps From Hell while painting. Very epic vibes to this stuff.

 

Yeah, like every song sounds like it's a video game trailer, right?  And all vocals are like chants, less distracting.

 

I got an alternative take.  I listen to documentaries while painting, like BBC Nature ones.  Sir David Attenborough.

 

"The Genestealers have a reMARKable adaptation..."

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190992
Share on other sites

There once was a great internet platform called Radio IO that streamed a ton of different genres & ambient was one of the tops for me.  It was hosted by Forrest (I believe he goes by DJ Forrest now) but you can pick up his old playlists on Spotify  under Starstreams ( I think) it runs over 24hrs so plenty of tunes to keep you moving. 

Nightride FM plays mostly Cyberpunk/Cyberwave or whatever you wish to call it but does play more ambient style music Friday nights after 9pm (Canadian (Ontario) here so not sure on world time slots) , there is a ton of stuff streaming on Yourube, Chillwave, Chill Music Lab, Chillsynth....ect

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6190997
Share on other sites

I listen to synthwave, particularly dark synth such as Gost, Perturbator, Carpenter Brut, and Daniel Deluxe when I’m painting. That was my soundtrack when I built and painted my Chaos Knights back in the day and I still put it on (all the time honestly) when I’m painting my AT / LI stuff. 

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6191167
Share on other sites

Adrian von ziegler has done good  stuff

 

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCJU_n-HbwmQntgeMeIe3nXg?ra=m


lindsay stirling

 

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCyC_4jvPzLiSkJkLIkA7B8g?ra=m

 

Maromaro

 

https://m.youtube.com/@maromaro1337?ra=m
 

All instrumental stuff. I also recommend game soundtracks, like dragon age, oblivion etc

 

Seconding gloryhammer though because I can’t help myself;)

 

For stuff with lyrics Solene is nice. Sorta Jessica rabbit meets cyberpunk but definitely something that could play in one of the classier seedy nightclubs on some imperial hive world

 

https://m.youtube.com/@SoleneVelvet?ra=m

 

Also a cyberpunky but in a trancey way. Something gangers in necromunda could listen too as they head to slice each other up that isn’t glorious power metal;). Jessiquoi, particularly pyschoglow is recommended 


https://m.youtube.com/@That_Certain_Jessiquoi?ra=m

 

Anywho, hope some of this is useful. They’re all on spotify and most other streaming platforms too, all real artists with no ai used as far as I am aware. 


edit: good link for jessiquoi channel

Edited by Arikel
Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/388630-ambience/#findComment-6191571
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.