Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Times did an interview with music label founder Nicholas Gunn. Gunn’s label, Gemini Sun, specializes in what he calls “lifestyle music” that is sold to spas, hotels and fitness centers across the globe. So what exactly is “lifestyle music?” Its closest genre companion is New Age music; Gunn’s artists are popular mainstays on Billboards New Age charts. But Gunn asserts that his label of spa tunes carries influences from a variety of sources including Celtic, ambient and even Native American music.
Usually, the role of music in a spa is to set the mood during a treatment. Music helps create a soothing, tranquil environment for patrons. Fridrik Karlsson, a musician from the UK who recently signed with Gemini Sun, also spoke with the LA Times. Karlsson’s opinion is that spa music should be inconspicuous, “the more successful it is, the less you notice it,” he said.
Next time you are getting a massage, or taking a yoga class, you might be getting a taste of Nicholas Gunn’s relaxing compositions. And if he did it right, you might even forget its playing.