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Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs 

Photo: Pia Riverola

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Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Finds Calm totally-enormous-extinct-dinosaurs-finds-calm-during-covid-19-new-ep-featuring-birds

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Finds Calm During COVID-19 With New EP Featuring Birds

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"I felt very uncomfortable working on dance and pop tracks at the time, almost dishonest. It was therapeutic to react to world events in real time, with music that was appropriate," the British alt-electronic artist tells us
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
May 27, 2020 - 2:11 pm

Today, May 27, left-field dance/electronic artist Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, has shared something totally new, a four-track ambient EP featuring prominent field recordings of birds. I Can Hear The Birds is a project birthed from the stress and anxiety of the coronavirus crisis, a soothing balm to calm the nerves and feel connected once again to nature, locales and people far away.

Not only is the 15-minute EP incredibly calming and expansive to experience as a listener, the act of creating it, and making something completely different from his electrifying dance records and remixes, was healing and energy-shifting for him.

As the British singer/pianist/producer/DJ, born Orlando Higginbottom, tells us over email, "I was in a general state of heightened anxiety and the idea of the music was calmness, so it gave me time to be actively calm. Also, I felt very uncomfortable working on dance and pop tracks at the time, almost dishonest. It was therapeutic to react to world events in real time, with music that was appropriate."

Learning In Quarantine: 5 Virtual Music Industry Conferences To Enhance Your Career

The seedlings for the project came not long after safer-at-home orders hit much of the world, when a friend sent Higginbottom a recording of the seemingly louder birds keeping her awake. As a fan of classical music and an artist with an affinity towards sampling field recordings to add unique texture to his electronic beats, he made a song, which would become the EP's "Islas Canarias," as a therapeutic exercise and, at the time, to simply to share with her.

"On March 22, a friend sent me a recording of the birds that were keeping her awake in the Canary Islands. It was early in this story and anxiety was high, so I took the recording and made some music to it as a present to send back, a hug, and an exercise to take my mind off the obvious. The next day I spoke to a friend in South London who like many of us was commenting on the volume of the birdsong in his garden, so I asked for a recording of that too, and he woke at dawn the next day and sent me blackbirds, house sparrows, and a great tit. I sent him music a day or two later. Working on my existing musical projects was proving difficult and so this pattern of receiving bird recordings from friends and sending them back songs emerged as a welcome practice," he explains in a press release.

"On April 15, my friend Jon Wright of Sports Banger, aware of my project, showed me a drawing a kid had done on the letter Boris Johnson had sent out to every U.K. household. On it were colorful birds and 'bum face boris bollocks;' also the words 'I can hear the birds again.' So I took that as a sign that I should finish this music, and release it as an EP called I Can Hear The Birds."

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We also asked what the biggest thing he has learned about himself and his creative process during quarantine, and his answer is rather inspiring.

"It has been a good reminder that imagination is the most important thing to me, all other aspects of music can take a step back. Connection through sound alone is still possible and valuable, but you have to throw a few industry mechanisms out the window."

How Musicians Are Staying Positive & Productive Amidst A Pandemic

Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Photo: Grant Spanier

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Bonobo Drops Debut OUTLIER Release With TEED bonobo-announces-outlier-label-drops-debut-release-totally-enormous-extinct-dinosaurs

Bonobo Announces OUTLIER Label, Drops Debut Release With Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

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"Now more than ever it feels important to be putting out dance music with deliberate acknowledgment of its history. It's great to be releasing music with Simon [Bonobo], not to mention the first release on his label," Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs sa
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 23, 2020 - 12:37 pm

GRAMMY-nominated atmospheric electronic music artist Bonobo has launched his own OUTLIER label in partnership with Ninja Tune. Its debut release is a lively throwback house track entitled "Heartbreak," a collab with fellow U.K.-born, Los Angeles-based alt-electro producer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. The track nods directly to electronic music's New York City disco roots, with a sample of Class Action's 1983 bop "Weekend."

The single premiered today as British DJ/tastemaker Annie Mac's "Hottest Record In The World" and is slated for a 12-inch vinyl release on Nov. 13, which will feature the duo's sunrise-hued instrumental B-side "6000 Ft."

bonobo · Bonobo and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Heartbreak

Related: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Finds Calm During COVID-19 With New EP Featuring Birds

The OUTLIER imprint follows the popular club shows and festival stage takeovers of the same name that Bonobo, a.k.a. Simon Green, launched back in 2016 at Brooklyn's iconic, now-closed club Output and has since held in many cities around the world.

He says the new label will "reflect the more club-focused side of what I'm building with OUTLIER. 'Heartbreak' seems like a good starting point and was the track that became the catalyst to start the label. One for the dancefloors in a time when they're dearly missed."

While Green and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs a.k.a. Orlando Higginbottom, have been playing at each other's shows and exchanging demos for a few years already, "Heartbreak" is their first release together.

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"Orlando was playing me a fairly stripped back idea he had for something last year. We spent a few afternoons in his studio trying ideas out and eventually, 'Heartbreak' was the end result," Green said in the press release.

"Now more than ever it feels important to be putting out dance music with deliberate acknowledgment of its history. It's great to be releasing music with Simon, not to mention the first release on his label," Higginbottom added.

Soul Clap Wants You To Rave The Vote This 2020 Election

Rio Cinema in London

Rio Cinema in London

Photo: Barry Lewis/InPictures/Getty Images

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UK Commits £1.57B Relief Package For The Arts uk-government-pledges-arts-relief-package-biggest-ever-one-investment-uk-culture

UK Government Pledges Arts Relief Package: "Biggest Ever One-Off Investment In UK Culture"

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Cultural institutions, including music venues, will be sharing funds from the "£1.15 billion support pot for cultural organizations in England," as the announcement states. £880 million of that money will be offered as grants and the rest as loans
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jul 7, 2020 - 1:17 pm

On July 5, the British government announced a £1.57 billion ($1.96 billion USD) coronavirus relief package for the gravely affected arts and culture sector of the country, including music venues, theaters, museums, galleries, independent cinemas, cultural institutions and freelance workers in the arts. No information on how to apply for funds—which will be distributed as loans and grants—has been given yet.

The news comes days after a coalition of over 1,500 British musicians, including Dua Lipa, the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora, urged the government to assist the £4.5 billion ($5.6 billion) live music sector with the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign.

Read: Congress Works To Improve COVID-19 Relief For Creators

"Our world-renowned galleries, museums, heritage sites, music venues and independent cinemas are not only critical to keeping our economy thriving, employing more than 700,000 people, they're the lifeblood of British culture," wrote Rishi Sunak, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the announcement. "That's why we're giving them the vital cash they need to safeguard their survival, helping to protect jobs and ensuring that they can."

"I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations. Today we are announcing a huge support package of immediate funding to tackle the funding crisis they face. I said we would not let the arts down, and this massive investment shows our level of commitment," U.K. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added.

The immediacy of the "immediate funding" is unclear, as applications and guidelines are not yet available. As Billboard reports, "Exactly how much funding will benefit the music sector, and what the process will be for allocating the funds, has not yet been fully fleshed out."

"We don't know the breakdown of how much will go to live music venues versus other sectors as applications are not open yet," the spokesperson says. "They will be soon."

Explore: Resources for Music Creators & Professionals Affected By COVID-19: Asia, Europe & The U.K.

All applicable cultural institutions, including music venues, will be sharing funds from the "£1.15 billion support pot for cultural organizations in England," as the announcement states. £880 million of that money will be offered as grants, while the remaining £270 million will be repayable loans. An additional £188 million will be allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The government will determine who the grants are allocated to in partnership with "expert independent figures from the sector including the Arts Council England and other specialist bodies such as Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute. [Additionally,] repayable finance will be issued on generous terms tailored for cultural institutions to ensure they are affordable."

Read: #TheShowMustBePaused Creators Brianna Agyemang & Jamila Thomas Talk Vision, Next Steps

As Billboard highlights, "The funding will also target employment, including freelancers in the music industry. More than 350,000 people in the recreation and leisure sector have been furloughed since the pandemic began. (The U.K. live music sector supports 210,000 jobs)."

"Eligibility for grants and loans must be as broad as possible to ensure maximum take up from across the industry from those in desperate need of help," Tom Kiehl, acting CEO at U.K. Music, told the outlet.

More Support: The Best Apps & Tools For Recording And Monetizing Music In The COVID-19 Era

For more information on COVID-19 relief for those in the music industry, please visit MusiCares useful resource page. You can also find more info on applying for a one-time grant from the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, or donating to the Fund, if you are able.

From Aretha Franklin To Public Enemy, Here's How Artists Have Amplified Social Justice Movements Through Music

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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Artists Talk Staying Grounded During Quarantine lady-gaga-naked-and-famous-bruno-major-more-artists-talk-staying-grounded-during

Lady Gaga, The Naked And Famous, Bruno Major & More Artists Talk Staying Grounded During Quarantine

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Justin Michael Williams, Mikey Lion, Cassian and Paul van Dyk also offer insight on how they're confronting these chaotic times
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
Apr 21, 2020 - 10:43 am

These days of quarantine are unprecedented, intense and have disrupted almost every facet of our daily lives as well as the global economy. While the coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone differently, it has hit people and companies in the music and live event industry incredibly hard.

Over the past few weeks, we've been checking in with artists, many of whom have not been home this long since before their artist careers, to learn what has been helping them feel grounded amidst the current state of chaos in the world. Read on to hear what The Naked And Famous, Bruno Major, Justin Michael Williams, Mikey Lion, Cassian and Paul van Dyk shared with us in recent conversations over the past weeks of quarantine. GRAMMY-winning pop queen Lady Gaga recently spoke in-depth on mental health and staying grounded during the pandemic, so we've included thoughtful quotes from her as well.

 

Kindness Matters

Gaga points out this is a traumatic time for everyone, so it is extra important to be kind. She notes this will hit those with less resources harder than someone like herself, who has means. "Being kind is the most powerful thing we can do right now; being kind to each other and being self-aware… I am in a home that is safe, I can eat sanitary food. I can keep doing my work. This is not the same for everyone and I know that. Being self-aware, I think, is very important in how we stay together."

In the conversation, the "Born This Way" singer stresses the importance of mental health care and, understanding that many people don't currently have access to therapy, shares some helpful grounding techniques from dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, which has helped her.

"In DBT, it's called 'distress tolerance skills,' which is basically the skills we use to manage our stress. And one thing I can just offer people that are watching, and to also spread as a message to others, is one thing to ground yourself if you're panicking during this time is to say, okay let me get a bare on my surroundings. So for example you can say, 'My feet, where are they? My feet are on the ground. I'm looking at my hands. I'm sitting in my living room… My children are playing. My couch is white.'

Once you start listing and naming things and looking around the room, slowly it can bring you back down into where you are, so that you can feel grounded and can feel safe because there is going to be a wave of shock and trauma people are experiencing all over the world and it's just natural because this is very scary."

11 Meditation Apps To Help You Get Calm & Centered During Quarantine & Beyond

Slow Down

These days have been a stressful time for so many of us, especially with the double-whammy of extensive uncertainty and so much more time at home with ourselves. Just as Gaga highlighted the importance of being kind to each other and focusing on the present, alt-pop artist and meditation teacher Justin Michael Williams reminds us that it's more than okay to slow down right now amidst all the chaos.

"Remember that it's okay not to be super productive and overachieving during this time. This is especially hard for those of us who have gained our value from validation and 'success.' Typically, the world asks us to do more, be more and push harder. But right now it's time to pause," the "I Am Enough" singer recently told us over email.

"Pay attention. This is the flow of the universe. The whole world is slowing down. If you can, take this moment as a sacred pause. Instead of forcing yourself to 'do' more, give yourself a chance to 'be' more—and see what arises from there. Let it be okay that you don't have the capacity to overachieve at the level you were before. You're doing fine. Trust yourself."

As Williams' wisdom suggests, taking this global pause to see what comes up when you stop doing so much can be a great way to reevaluate old habits and routines. Examining the contrast to how hard you were always working or the speed at which you were constantly moving can be eye-opening for touring artists or anyone else who travels regularly. This can be a great time to catch up on or rebalance the things that tend to go to the wayside while on the road or otherwise constantly busy.

Start & Keep A Routine

For GRAMMY-nominated mixer/producer/DJ Cassian, putting energy towards finding a new quarantine version of his routine has not only been something that's kept him grounded during all the change, but will likely result in shifts in his routine post-quarantine.

"Everywhere I go really, I'm such a creature of routine; whether I'm in L.A. or when I'm in touring in Australia, I still get to have my routine more or less because my family's out there. So it's been hard to figure out what that new quarantine routine is like. I'm trying to stay focused on figuring it out, which is what's helping me stay grounded," the Aussie artist recently told us.

"For my workouts, I used to get up super early and go to the gym every day at the same time, same gym. Now, I've been exploring the neighborhood I live in, and walking around more. I'm definitely going to be doing more of that, definitely going to be cooking for myself more. My old routine I would just get up, workout, go to the studio. I would just be in the studio all day, have dinner at the studio, then come home and just sleep. Now I'm realizing I didn't need to do that, and I've set up a little studio at home, so now I can just work from home when I don't feel like going to the studio. Also, I traveled so much and I didn't question it, and took it for granted. And [now] it's been a conversation I've been having with my team."

Recovery & Sobriety During Quarantine: Online Meetings Become Game-Changing

British singer/songwriter Bruno Major also feels centered when he has a routine he can count on, with something he can ground the days to but with enough variety to keep things interesting.

"Being a musician, I've had zero structure in my life since I was 16 or 17 because I left school. So, [typically] I go the gym every morning and make sure that I do something every day that's the same. I feel like I need routine in my life. If you don't have it, you have to create it yourself. So just make sure you exercise every day or do something that isn't just Netflix. Learn a new skill, read a book, learn the piano. Just try to vary your days up," the "Old Soul" singer shared with us over the phone.

Like Cassian, he also sees this disruption in our regular routines as something that may act as a big life lesson for so many of us who've been "too busy" to stop and reconsider it.

"I think there's a great lesson to be learned here as well. When you don't have the thing that you should be doing every day, then you're just left with the things you want to do. And you have to worry about what it is that you want. I think people are learning a lot about themselves during this period."

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Seek Balance

For Alisa Xayalith of electro-pop duo The Naked And Famous, sleeping adequately, exercising, cooking and watching cooking videos all help keep her calm and centered. "When I don't have enough sleep, I don't feel like I can focus or perform to the best of my ability. But in times where I need to feel grounded, I usually exercise."

"[Also,] I cook. That helps me feel grounded. I was on tour for the last month so I haven't been able to do that very much. Cooking and baking is something that helps me feel super grounded, which is why I have gotten into making sourdough bread and I have things that I love to cook. Just the process of preparing everything, cooking everything, and the end product is going to be delicious—it always feels good to me."

For her bandmate Thom Powers, he stays grounded with critical thinking and the balance of his partner. "I don't really have one thing that I do to stay grounded. Maybe reading. I think I am a grounded person by nature just by being very critical, by working on my critical thinking skills as a hobby. I am not a very smart person, I didn't go to university or get a degree in anything. Critical thinking is probably what keeps me grounded and realistic. Also, my partner keeps me very grounded when I get delusional, or worried about things," Powers said.

"I think when I am least grounded, I have a very unrealistic view, a very envious, jealous and comparative view because of the way music culture has shifted to this online content provider paradigm. Some days when I wake up and I feel negative, I just feel this immense pressure to be this content provider, which is something that does not come naturally to me, it's difficult. But some people, it just comes so naturally to them to put their unedited selves up on the internet."

He brings up a great point about social media, and how he sometimes feels pressure to be more engaged with it and "better" at having a social presence like other artists or influencers. Xayalith underscored that social media can be overwhelming at times for everyone who engages with it, which is why she opts to generally limit social media scrolling to watching cooking videos, which she finds "super soothing" and sometimes inspiring for her next meal.

In contrast to trying to keep up with social media, staying in touch with your friends and family over the phone and with video calls can be really nice during these times. Not only is it a great practice to have little mental health and wellness check-ins with your loved ones, catching up while apart can help with feelings of isolation.

https://twitter.com/ASStronautalexa/status/1249474085945348096

This really is a special thing they got going on over at desert hearts, all of their live-streams have been so amazing and make you feel like they’re playing just for you💙💙 https://t.co/llhdsv1kQB

— disco tits🪐 (@ASStronautalexa) April 12, 2020

Practice Self-Love

DJ/producer and Desert Hearts leader Mikey Lion echoes the importance of both self-care and staying in touch with the people you miss. "I'm really focused on staying healthy right now and exercising. Just going on walks and keeping things the more-solo parts of my normal routine. I've also been calling my friends and my family and seeing how they're doing. It always keeps me grounded and since we are all in it together, that collective group thing of getting through it and knowing and taking comfort in the fact that we are all experiencing this together. That's what keeps me the most grounded."

During quarantine, Zoom video calls have become a popular tool to gather virtually—many March and April birthday parties, yoga classes and dance parties happened (safely and remotely) thanks to Zoom. Lion shares how his crew of fellow DJs and creatives used Zoom to reconnect shortly after quarantine began. "I just took some time to call a bunch of my friends and it felt so good, we had this huge Zoom chat with 20 of our friends from our Burning Man camp. We literally had a livestream party for four hours with all of our best friends. We were all taking shots almost every 30 minutes and coming up with new games and new rules. Oh my god, it felt like we were all together, just having fun. It was this massive release and way for us to blow off steam. It was really amazing."

The Desert Hearts squad has also been sharing a bunch of live DJ sets and other content with their daily-ish DHTv livestream series, which have been a fun way for them to keep sharing music with their loyal fanbase. Many other artists have been doing regular musical livestreams as a way to keep everyone dancing and singing along from the safety of their homes, including Paul van Dyk with his regular PC Music Night on Facebook.

How Will Coronavirus Shift Electronic Music? Maceo Plex, Paul Van Dyk, Luttrell, Mikey Lion & DJ Manager Max Leader Weigh In

The creativity, generosity, kindness and love so many people have shown each other during this global crisis, especially where their nation's leaders and systems fail them, is quite powerful. For legendary GRAMMY-nominated German DJ/producer Paul van Dyk seeing this love and compassion as people care for each other gives him hope right now, and the partnership and love he feels with his wife helps him feel grounded.

"It's love on all levels. It's the love to your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your wife, your husband; in my case, obviously, my wife. It's the love and caretaking that people have for each other and how we all stand together. This is something that I see that I feel is a little bit of a positive out of all this that. We as a species, have to survive this and have the possibility to come out of it stronger."

Now more than ever, this is the time, as Gaga said, to be kind to each other, and as van Dyk's and Lion's comments highlight, to really appreciate the people in our life who are there for us—and to be there for them to. And there is no time like now to create a personal dancefloor in your living room and for artists to share some tunes with their internet friends to keep everyone grooving.

Jewel On Advocating For Mental Health In The Age Of COVID-19

meditating

Photo: Madison Lavern/Unsplash

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11 Meditation Apps To Find Your Calm 11-meditation-apps-help-you-get-calm-centered-during-quarantine-beyond

11 Meditation Apps To Help You Get Calm & Centered During Quarantine & Beyond

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With more time at home and a lot of craziness in the outside world, it's a great to build healthy habits—here's some apps to help you find a meditation practice that works for you
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
Apr 7, 2020 - 5:23 pm

With the normal flow of life upended for most of us at the moment, you may be finding yourself with more time on your hands and perhaps a bit more stress or anxiety, given all the new uncertainty in our lives and the world around us. One of the silver-linings of quarantine is a lot of our routines and habits are getting a big-old reset. If you are looking for tools to help you stay calm during these crazy times, and new habits to bring into your life, meditation may be a good place to start.

There are a lot of styles and approaches to meditation, but the basics involve building awareness around your breath and checking in with your mind and body. It can involve music, can be guided by a meditation teacher and can even involve visuals. There are plenty of mobile apps out there to help you find a style that works best for you, as well as a guide you towards a less-stressful daily flow. Read on to learn what 13 popular meditation apps can offer you, and at what price (many offer free trials to give you an idea if you want to commit).

https://twitter.com/calm/status/1247509451948597250

“when the world comes crashing at your feet
it’s okay to let others
help pick up the pieces” — @rupikaur_ pic.twitter.com/l0uQ9sNWOt

— Calm (@calm) April 7, 2020

1. Calm (iOS & Android apps)

One-week free trial as well as limited-access free version; Premium costs $70/year

Calm is currently the top-rated app in the Health & Fitness category in the Apple App Store and is loved by its many users for its themed daily meditations, sleep stories and calming music library. Much of the meditations, which are typically about 10 minutes, are guided by meditation teacher/musician/writer Tamara Levitt, who brings inspiring quotes and real-world lessons into each session. In addition to the rotating daily meditation, the app offers many more on-demand meditations around practical themes like confidence, soothing pain, reducing anxiety and even training your mind with with Lebron James. For help relaxing and falling asleep, calming music collections from Moby, Sigur Rós, Sam Smith add flair to a packed library of nature sounds and celebrity-narrated bedtime stories. The sleep stories are great for all ages; Calm also offers meditations tailored for kids and teens, if you have young ones at home.

2. Headspace (iOS & Android apps)

One-week free trial as well as limited-access free version; Plus costs $70/year or $13/month

With cute animations and tailored meditations to your goals, Headspace is another hugely popular meditation app. Similar to Calm, they also offer meditations centered around themes like reducing anxiety and stress, as well as sleep-focused stories, meditations and music. The biggest difference between the two apps seem to be the approach, with Headspace being more goal-oriented and less rooted in Eastern philosophies like Buddhism. They also offer a special section for kids.

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3. INSCAPE (iOS app)

One-week free trial; $10/month or $59/year

As explained by Oprah Magazine, the Inscape Studio in New York City is filled with "sound and smellscapes designed to instantly transport its members to tranquility," with the app bringing their ethos to your home. In addition to offering guided meditations and sleep offerings personalized to your needs, Oprah Mag highlights their unique playlists, with short, melodic meditations to address "Tinder Troubles," "Overcoming Your Fears" or to get into a productive "Study Chill" mode.

4. Insight Timer (iOS & Android apps & online platform)

Many free meditations, plus one-week free trial for MemberPlus, which costs $60/year

Insight Timer has an extensive free offering (40,000 free meditations!) and gives its users access to guided meditations and deep-dive mindfulness courses from mindfulness teachers around the world, like Elizabeth Gilbert and davidji. The platform also offers an extensive calming music collection, including mantras and recordings from musicians around the world as well. You can follow the people whose offerings you love and find content aimed at beginners, kids, for sleep and more, meaning it's easy to find exactly what you need.

5. Meditation Studio (iOS & Android apps)

Some free meditations; Premium (iOS only) is $50/year or $8/month. Limited Android app is $4 (one-time cost)

Meditation Studio is all about ensuring your meditations are exactly what you need, with themed collections and customizable open-ended ones. For the latter, you choose your duration, background music and the sounds that will open and close the unguided sit. The extensive collections are grouped by practical themes like eating ("Mindful Eating Practice" and "Love Your Body"), calm ("Releasing Anxiety" and "Slow Down") and creativity ("Fire Your Inner Critic" and "Make Space").

6. Mesmerize – Visual Meditation (iOS app)

Free three-day trial; $60/year

Mesmerize offers something totally different from the rest of the apps—trippy, kaleidoscope-esqe visuals to sooth you and meditate with. As their website explains, their approach is based in the Focused-Attention meditation technique. Like many of the other apps we've mentioned, they offer guided meditations for stress, sleep and more, but instead of closing your eyes, you keep them open and softly focused on the paired visuals. Citing scientific research, they claim this method helps with cognitive performance and other brain functions. The app also offers "psycho-acoustic music" tailored to relaxation.

https://twitter.com/chopracenter/status/1247509512547971077

Today's #meditation: Reigniting the spark of hope ✨Join us so that #HopeGoesGlobal: https://t.co/t8OK7umQMy 💛 pic.twitter.com/HwC9hhDVtf

— Chopra (@chopraofficial) April 7, 2020

7. Oprah & Deepak's 21-Day Meditation Experience (iOS & Android apps & online platform)

Current series is free; past courses are available for purchase

A powerhouse inspiration and mindfulness team, Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra have been offering 21-day mediation courses for years now. With their mobile apps and online platform, they offer free access to several series a year for those who follow along. If you miss it or want to dive into one of their past offerings, they offer each for purchase á la carte, for yourself or as a gift. Their current offering, which you can join for free now, is incredibly timely, called Finding Hope in Uncertain Times. Each day comes with an audio mediation clip, opened by Oprah and led by Chopra, paired with journal prompts to help you dive into the daily theme and mantra.

8. Shine (iOS & Android apps)

One-week free trial plus limited free content; Premium costs $54/year

Shine is female-founded app is aimed at helping users manage and reduce stress and anxiety. The "Daily Shine" serves up short, tailored meditations and paired in-app journal prompts to check in with yourself and add some calm each day. In addition to more on-demand meditations, the premium version allows you to look back at your journals and check-ins to track your moods and connects users with a community to support each other through the journey. Shine is also offering a free coronavirus anxiety toolkit online.

9. Simple Habit (iOS & Android apps)

One-week free trial, plus some free content, $12 monthly, $90 annually

Simple Habit, was created by Silicon Valley's Yunha Kim for people who are "too busy" to meditate. With meditations ranging from one to 20 minutes, this app focusing on quick breathers to help you find a moment of stillness and breathing in your packed schedule. The meditations, the majority of which are just five minutes, are broken up into practical topics like reducing work anxiety, one minute breaks, falling asleep and even moving on after a breakup.

10. Smiling Mind (iOS app & online platform)

FREE

Not only is Smiling Mind completely free (they're an Aussie non-profit org), it is designed by psychologists and educators with "evidence-based" meditations tailored for kids and schools as well as adults and workplaces. They have recently launched the "Thrive Inside" program to help combat the stresses many of us are facing specific to the coronavirus quarantine.

11. Ten Percent Happier (iOS & Android apps)

One-week free trial, plus limited free content, Membership is $100/year

The Ten Percent Happier app was created by Dan Harris, who wrote a New York Times Best-selling book with the same name six years ago. The app, like the book, hopes to show people that meditation can be for everyone, even those who "get fidgety just thinking about it," as their website explains. The app connects you with world-renown meditation leaders like Anushka Fernandopulle and Sharon Salzberg, to teach you how to meditate.  In response to the COVID-19 crisis, they are also offering the Free Coronavirus Sanity Guide, as well as free app access for health care professionals—to share with anyone who could benefit.

MusiCares COVID-19 Fund: MCR's Frank Iero, Rita Wilson & Naughty By Nature, Ellie & Drew Holcomb & More Support With Livestreams & Beyond

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