Now, I don’t know what hue sirens or obnoxious neighbors count as, but I do know that ‘colours noise’ currently has over 186 million posts about it on TikTok, and people the globe over are promoting a whole rainbow of sounds as the secret to helping them sleep. Even better, experts believe the colours noise trend could improve your focus, too – and it’s as easy as putting on a playlist. Colours noise is essentially a nondescript soundtrack of what you might otherwise call background noise, that has no words, lyrics or other song-like qualities. Of all the hues in the color noise trend, white is possibly the most well-known. A go-to for sleep-deprived parents hoping to lull their infants into slumber, and instantly recognizable to anyone who owned an analog TV set and accidentally flicked to the wrong channel, white noise is a background sound akin to television static or the whir a fan or your air conditioning might make while switched on. “It contains all audible frequencies in the sound spectrum at equal intensity and mixes them to create a steady, humming sound. It may be perceived as high-pitched because the human ear hears high frequencies louder Similar to white, pink noise is a steady background hum. “The key difference to white noise is that it uses deeper sounds and lower sound waves, making it smoother and more relaxing Also called ‘azure’, blue noise is described by Pickens as “all treble and no bass” and works best when played at a lower volume, as otherwise it can sound too harsh. While blue noise may evoke an image of soothing raindrop sounds, don’t be deceived. This divisive noise colours is most similar to the sound of rushing water or a cascading waterfall crashing into a pool below. Personally, it’s one of my least-favorite colours noises, but it’s supposed to be great at drowning out other, more distracting noises, which can help with focus. Brown noise has a base-like tone that provides a more palatable background sound than other, higher-frequency noise colours, making it perfect for both chilling and thinking as it removes audio distractions and helps our brains to relax and focus. Unlike its harsher, hissing blue counterpart, green noise delivers exactly what you might expect from the name: calming nature sounds like a gentle breeze or babbling brook. Pickens says that green noise works by “focusing on the mid frequencies found in nature”, which should help you to feel relaxed and ready for sleep. The names of the tracks on the Green Noise playlist on Spotify certainly sound like locations from a children’s bedtime story – choose between options such as “Rolling River”, “Prairie Sunrise” or “Olive Oasis” and prepare to drift off.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2025