Work From Home Music

This is a playlist for working from home. It’s music for the front line workers, those building on the assembly line, delivering packages to our doors, repairing our utilities, healthcare providers on break. It’s a playlist for getting the laundry done. It’s background music for all the conversations we get to have with friends and family now over a video call. This is music to work out to. Music to dance around your house to. Music to write to. Music to draw to. Music to study to.

People are struggling right now, and we all need a little something to keep us motivated. There’s a lot of work to be done. While some have been given the opportunity (and challenge) of spending more time with their families or finding ways to be creative, many people are finding their work hours expand rather than contract. We’re working to feed others, to sustain crucial physical and technological infrastructure, to organize our communities to effectively respond to this moment.

I hope that this playlist can be a bit of fuel that keeps us all focused on what matters most. More than ever we need to come together to support each other, to cultivate the world we want to see, to plant victory gardens, to speak up and advocate for human rights, to learn from our mistakes, to care for our own mental and physical health and that of others. As Arlo Guthrie says:

“When times are good, it’s hard to make a big difference, but when times are hard, it’s really easy.”

So when the work gets hard, here are three hours of instrumental music to keep you going.

Press play or listen below.

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1. Nate Smith – “Skip Step” (2017)
2. Bonobo – “El Toro” (2010)
3. Broken Social Scene – “Pacific Theme” (2002)
4. Air – “Mike Mills” (2004)
5. Tycho – “L” (2014)
6. Aphex Twin – “Flim” (1997)
7. Röyksopp – “Boys” (2005)
8. Young Wonder – “A Live Mystery” (2012)
9. Suren Unka – “030” (2017)
10. Lettuce – “Mt. Crushmore” (2016)
11. Pretty Lights – “Yellow Bird” (2013)
12. Joey Pecoraro – “Sour Sweets” (2017)
13. L’Impératrice – “Vanille fraise” (2017)
14. RJD2 – “Peace of What – Instrumental” (2016)
15. The Funkees – “Abraka” (1975)
16. Marco Benevento – “Greenpoint” (2010)
17. Disclosure feat. Fatoumata Diawara – “Ultimatum – Edit” (2018)
18. Jurassic 5 – “Canto De Ossanha” (2006)
19. Luis Peixoto – “Cavatronica” (2018)
20. Zammuto – “Smolt” (2016)
21. Ratatat – “Mandy” (2010)
22. fox capture plan – “Stand My Heroes” (2020)
23. Nosaj Thing – “Snap” (2013)
24. Emancipator – “Father King” (2006)
25. Blockhead – “Seven Tease” (2017)
26. Kokolo – “Soul Power (Lack of Afro Mix)” (2008)
27. Kodomo – “Concept 1” (2008)
28. Ancient Astronauts – “I Came Running” (2009)
29. El Ten Eleven – “My Only Swerving” (2004)
30. Inf – “Day Dreaming” (2009)
31. Richard Terry & Company – “Instrumental #1” (1973)
32. The New Mastersounds feat. Jeff Franca & Jason Mingledorff – “Permission to Land” (2019)
33. The Lushlife Project – “Wurlitzer” (2005)
34. trentemøller – “Gravity – Instrumental Mix” (2013)
35. Orsten – “Fleur Blanche” (2011)
36. Vulfpeck – “Dean Town” (2016)
37. Nine Inch Nails – “29 Ghosts IV” (2008)
38. J-Walk – “Yesterday’s Crowd” (2014)
39. Booka Shade – “Body Language – Interpretation” (2006)
40. Medeski, Martin & Wood – “Walk Back” (2009)
41. Aydio – “Deltitnu” (2010)
42. Little People – “Above the Clouds” (2006)
43. Speedometer – “Rubberneck” (2010)