As a genre term, “ambient” is as malleable as the music itself. On one hand, there is a clear timeline of artists who originated the genre. The most notable of these is Brian Eno, the British artist whose 1970s-’80s solo albums like ‘Discreet Music’ and the ‘Ambient’ series, and collaborative albums with Laraaji, Harold Budd and Jon Hassell, laid the blueprint for ambient music as we know it.
Eno was, in turn, inspired by experimental composers such as LaMonte Young, John Cage, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Morton Feldman. From the 1960s onwards, these aforementioned composers and myriad others worked in disciplines such as electro-acoustic music, cinema and field recordings. Alongside more academic styles of composition, ambient music took off in the ‘70s as a counter-cultural style of music that tapped into the mystical, as a soundtrack to a world grappling with rapidly developing technologies, globalist politics and urbanization, and collective yearning for something deeper to connect to.
On the other hand, ambient music is not just a genre tag — it’s also, for want of a better term, a vibe. In drawing from an artist’s awareness of themselves and their everyday surroundings, ambient music draws from the natural world without seeking to control it; if done well, it also gives the listener space to consider their own role in the natural world, too.
In this, ambient music has always walked a fine line: it can be music as a backdrop, but it’s not background music per se; it folds into your surroundings, but it’s not to be ignored, either. It can be a companion piece to therapeutic activities like yoga, but also a guiding force for deep listening and meditation. The malleability of ambient has allowed it to fold into multiple genres over the decades — from post-rock to techno and more — and thanks to the development of modular synthesis and more readily accessible models of electronic keyboards and synthesizers, artists soon had a stronger, more diverse palette of machines to work from. During this period, groundbreaking music was made by composers such as Laurie Speigel, Pauline Oliveros, Suzanne Ciani, Steve Roach and Hiroshi Yoshimura.
As the ‘80s rolled on, sub-genres such as New Age — which focused on emotional transformation through connection the body to nature through music — captured the public imagination and informed popular music, too. Acts like Enya, Vangelis and Tangerine Dream broke into the charts and were featured on major film soundtracks, such as “Blade Runner” and dozens of others.
Soon, ambient music began something of a gravitational pull. German krautrockers like Can and Cluster, Japanese minimalists like Midori Takada, and experimental pop groups like Yellow Magic Orchestra all moved into ambient realms. By the ‘90s, dance music culture was sold on it: The KLF’s ‘Chill Out,’ Aphex Twin’s ‘Selected Ambient Works’ volumes, Autechre’s ‘Amber’ and The Orb’s discography all became iconic releases in this style. As acid house raves became more commercial, and designated “chill out” rooms to give dancers the headroom to reset and breathe, ambient music became more closely tied to mindless respite. For some, it had become an anodyne backdrop.
In the underground, though, forward-thinking artists kept pushing ambient music to its jagged edges. Notably, psychedelic-leaning shoegaze bands like Stars of the Lid and Slowdive, Wolfgang Voight’s Gas project, Scottish electronic producers Boards of Canada, organists Sarah Davachi and Kali Malone, label curators like Spencer Doran of Visible Cloaks and American composer William Basinski — whose 4-part ‘Disintegration Loops’ is hailed as a modern classic — have all innovated in this space.
Today, ambient music is increasingly diverse, experimental and multi-disciplinary. Tapping into ambient’s original intentions of inviting listeners into the natural world through sound, the genre has come hugely back into vogue as a balm; a sonic buffer or translator between ourselves and the chaotic buzz of 21st century life. Legends like Brian Eno are still producing, collaborating with younger artists. Live musicians are using modern recording techniques to put their instruments to their limits. Electronic styles like techno, house and acid get put through an ambient wringer, expanding the potential for dancefloor listening, and the resurgence of interest in ‘90s genres like trip-hop and shoegaze continue unabated, in acts like james K and HTRK.
Dive into this collection of tracks — featuring Priori, Lyra Pramuk, Brandee Younger, Jonny Nash, KMRU, rRoxymore and many more — and discover more about the contemporary state of ambient music.
LISTEN TO THE NEW ERA AMBIENT PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD
Brian Eno, Beatie Wolfe, “Big Empty Country (Edit)”
Taken from their third collaborative album, 2025’s ‘LATERAL,’ legendary British artist Brian Eno collaborates with self-described “musical weirdo” Beatie Wolfe.
Fergus Jones, “Helma” feat. Huerco S., james K
Scottish producer Fergus Jones brings together American lo-fi artist Huerco S. and rising vocalist and musician james K for this track on Jones’ 2024 album, ‘Ephemera.’
Pavel Milyakov, “flutes of doom”
The artist also known as buttechno works ominous woodwinds into this track from his 2025 album ‘HEAL.’
Rival Consoles, “In Reverse”
London producer Rival Consoles dropped his latest album, ‘Landscape From Memory,’ in summer 2025.
Priori, Loidis, “Silicate Tusks (Loidis Reconfiguration)”
Montreal’s Priori teams up with Huerco S. side project Loidis for this 2025 single.
rRoxymore, “Am I Human?”
A French DJ/producer based in Berlin, rRoxymore dropped her latest album, ‘Juggling Dualities,’ in 2025.
Elijah Fox, “134 West”
This sparkling track features on the LA-based producer’s 2025 album, ‘Ambient Works for The Higheys of Los Angeles.’
Lyra Pramuk, “Oracle”
The American, Berlin-based artist fuses spirituality and experimental vocals into her electronics; her latest album, ‘Hymnal,’ dropped in 2025.
Nala Sinephro, "Continuum 1”
The jazz-inspired multiinstrumentalist explores ambient electronics and harp-playing on her albums for Warp Records.
Nils Frahm, “Canton”
Celebrated ambient artist and pianist Nils Frahm released his latest album, ‘Night,’ in 2025.
Tin Man, “Arriveé”
Austrian producer Tin Man works acid-tinged electronics into the ambient fold. This track is from his 2023 album ‘Arles.’
Sleep D, “Green Thumbs”
Australian duo Sleep D blend elements of hip-hop, jazz and house into ambient music. This track is from their 2025 album, ‘Big Sky, Liquid Sun.’
james K, “Idea.2”
New York-based DJ/producer james K operates between ambient, trip-hop and shoegaze. This single dropped in 2025.
HTRK, “Swimming Pool”
Known for their balance of sensual and sentimental, Australian group HTRK dropped this single in 2025.
Laraaji, “Holom 1”
A contemporary legend of ambient music, American musician and vocalist Laraaji was discovered by Brian Eno while busking on the street.
Polygonia, “Crystal Valley”
Polygonia, a project of Munich-based electronic artist Lindsay Wang, dropped this fizzing track on her 2025 album, ‘Dream Horizons.’
Felicia Atkinson, “Green”
Felicia Atkinson is a French electro-acoustic composer and visual artist. On her 2025 album, ‘Promenades,’ each track is titled as a color.
Jonny Nash, “Rain Song” feat. Satomimagae
A long-time producer in the ambient space, Jonny Nash released this collaborative track with Satomimagae on his 2025 album, ‘Once Was Ours Forever.’
Brandee Younger, “Reflection Eternal”
American jazz harpist and composer Brandee Younger gets deep on this track from her 2025 album, ‘Gadabout Season.’
Loscil, “Bell Flame”
Vancouver’s Loscil blends techno and ambience to brooding effect. This track features on his 2025 album, ‘Lake Fire.’
Biosphere, “The Way Of Time”
On the title track from his 2025 album, Norwegian ambient artist Biosphere continues to be inspired by his Arctic Circle surroundings.
Kieran Hebden, William Tyler, “If I Had A Boat”
The artist also known as Four Tet and William Tyler cover Lyle Lovett’s track of the same name. taken from their collaborative 2024 album ‘41 Longfield Street Late ‘80s.’
Nadah El Shazly, “Kaabi Aali”
Egyptian vocalist and producer Nadah El Shazly brings a deep knowledge of Arabic and North African music to her dramatic ambience.
Purelink, “Circle of Dust”
Chicago-raised, Brooklyn-based band Purelink released their latest album, ‘Faith,’ in 2025.
KMRU, “Natur 1”
Nairobi-born, Berlin-based ambient artist KMRU devised his 2024 album ‘Natur’ after being struck by the “relative silence” of his new home city.
Kara-Lis Coverdale, “Daze”
Montreal’s Kara-Lis Coverdale blends piano and organ work into her ambient music. This track features on her 2025 album, ‘From Where You Came.’
Fennesz, “Laguna”
One of ambient music’s most revered producers, Austrian artist Christian Fennesz has been making experimental electronic music since the 1990s.
Hiroshi Yoshimura, “Flora”
The late Japanese artist Hiroshi Yoshimura’s 1987 album ‘Flora’ was first released in 2006, and recently reissued by Temporal Drift.
Chuck Johnson, “Ground Wave”
Based in Oakland, California, Chuck Johnson released this soaring track on his 2024 album, ‘Sun Glories.’
Brendan Eder Ensemble, Yorkshire Modular Society, “ABSTRACTION III (Edit)”
This track is the final movement in a three-part 2025 album, made with acoustic woodwind instruments, by LA-based Brendan Eder Ensemble and Yorkshire Modular Society.
Elori Saxl, “It Will Be Gone”
Brooklyn-based music composer and filmmaker Elori Saxl dropped her score to ‘Texada’ in 2025.
Cole Pulice, “After The Rain”
Cole Pulice is an Oakland-based electro-acoustic composer and saxophonist. This track features on her 2025 album, ‘Land’s End Eternal.’
Eiko Ishibashi, Jim O’Rourke, “Pareidolia”
Japan’s Eiko Ishibashi and Ireland’s Jim O’Rourke continue their collaborative relationship with this four-part record, recording live on tour for Drag City.
Ibukun Sunday, “Of The Armies”
Ibukun Sunday is a violinist and electronic composer from Nigeria. This track is the lead single from his 2024 album, ‘Harmony / Balance.’
Mark Barrott, “In The Stillness Of Space And Time, Truth And Love Still Reside”
British DJ/producer Mark Barrott released his 2025 EP, ‘Epilogue/One Year Later,’ on Anjunachill.
Nate Mercereau, Josh Johnson, Carlos Niño, “Openness”
2025’s ‘Openness Trio’ — the debut album of guitarist and producer Nate Mercereau, saxophonist Josh Johnson and percussionist Carlos Niño — was recorded in different outdoor locations across California.
Liai, “One for Blue”
This track features on New York-based Liai’s 2024 album, ‘Pastoral Stills From Every Age.’
DOVS, “Vernal Fall”
DOVS is the project of Vienna’s Tin Man and Mexico City’s AAAA; this track is on their 2025 album ‘Psychic Geography.’
Pavel Milyakov, Lucas Dupuy, “Room”
Buttechno links up with London-based artist Lucas Dupuy for this sprawling 2025 track.
Hammock, “Drugs and Religion”
A post-rock duo from Nashville, Hammock dropped this song on their 2024 album ‘From the Void.’
LISTEN TO THE NEW ERA AMBIENT PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD
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