Listening to classic lullabies as a new mom is chill, but it can get old fast. I’ve delved a little into classical composers, like the ones playing from my daughter’s swing on repeat, but even those start to wear after the seven hundredth time. Where are the modern equivalents of calming instrumental music that will calm my baby, but not bore me to death?

Thank goodness for modern composers. As someone who covered rock music for a long time, I wasn’t aware of the work of these modern composers until I started covering dance companies and making playlists for yoga classes. Max Richter was one of the first that I became interested in. His work Infra was used in the first contemporary program that I covered at the Joffrey Ballet. You may also recognize his distinct sound from the HBO series “The Leftovers,” and spots in movies like Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

Ludovico Einaudi is another composer I’ve recently been listening to. His latest album, 12 Songs From Home, was recorded at his home, aptly, since being under quarantined in Italy.

Spotify has also recommended instrumental versions of pop songs and well known nursery rhymes that have been refreshing to listen to. In fact, part of my daughter’s bedtime routine is a playlist of four songs that set the mood for sleep, including calming instrumental versions of “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and Disney’s “How Far I’ll Go” (a fave from Moana). Yes, in a way I’m trying to Pavlov my baby, but we can all find benefit in consistent routine!