Heathrow eases anxious flyers with new ambient music initiative

Between check-in and take-off, airports can really feel like a chaotic symphony of clinks, clanks and fixed bulletins. For some, it’s a part of the fun of journey, however for others, particularly these delicate to noise, it may be overwhelming. Whereas in-flight leisure presents a welcome distraction when you’re on board, it’s these essential pre-flight hours spent navigating the terminal that always set the tone for the journey.

Music for Heathrow

In a bid to ease pre-flight nerves and assist travellers kick off their getaway with the proper temper, Heathrow Airport has teamed up with Grammy-nominated musician and producer Jordan Rakei (who lately grew to become the primary artist in residence at Abbey Highway Studios) to create a soundscape constructed completely from the sounds of the airport – from the rhythm of luggage handlers’ strain units to the mild hum of escalators.

‘I hung out in each a part of the airport, recording so many sounds from baggage belts to boarding calls, and used them to create one thing that displays that complete pre-flight vibe,’ Rakei explains.

He continues: ‘Percussion was made out of the sounds of passports being stamped and luggage hitting the belt, a water fountain supplied atmosphere and ASMR [autonomous sensory meridian response], a jet taking off was reworked right into a synth, whereas a baggage management siren was reworked right into a comfortable synthesiser.’ The piece is comprised of 4 tracks that mirror the airport journey, a nod to Music for Airports (1978) by Brian Eno, who popularised and coined the time period ‘ambient music’.