Sonic escape
Hear from the CEO who finds focus when he drowns out digital noise.
It seems fitting, that of all people, Samuel Cyprian’s mind goes into laser-like focus when he tunes out the world.
“I find my best inspiration when I put on headphones and turn on the music. I’ll also walk around the office or go for a 15-minute walk outside,” explains the CEO of Soundscape, an app that lets you adjust audio to match your mood, task, or level of distraction. “It helps my mind drift away so I can connect the ideas I have together much faster.”
A sense of sound
Shaping our surroundings through sound is about understanding how our human senses form perception. “If you think about the senses,” Samuel says, “your eyes can see things that might distract you. But when you focus, your eyes tend to fixate on something, right? It's different with hearing.”
He continues: “Hearing is a passive sense that's always open, always taking in input. So, for me at least, that's why I feel it's essential to have music on to get into the zone and block out all distractions.”
It’s an insight that resonates with anyone who’s struggled to concentrate in the middle of a loud space. Unlike sight, which lets us filter out disruptions by shifting our gaze, listening offers no such solace.
Music matters
Grasping what our brains need — and creating a harmonious habitat for thinking — is precisely what led him to this point. For many of us, turning on a song and eliminating interruptions sounds like a simple solution. But the kind of music we put on matters too.
“If I need to do any type of repetitive work, music that’s more upbeat works better,” he says. “Then, if I want to focus and be a bit more creative, I go for some kind of lo-fi beat in the background.” All in a day’s work.
“It’s like flipping a switch — telling your brain it's time to get into the song and focus,” he adds. And as the noise fades, we’re finally left with space to hear ourselves think and create in peace.
