Inside emeraldwave’s Pursuit Of Purpose-Driven Music [Interview]

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Blake Davis.

In a world where stress, burnout and anxiety have become increasingly common, one Nashville-based music label is exploring how sound can be used for more than entertainment.

emeraldwave, a wellness-focused label under Sun Label Group, creates music designed to help listeners relax, focus and reconnect with themselves. From calming ambient tracks to projects built around specific sound frequencies, the label’s releases are intended to support everything from anxiety relief to better sleep and concentration. Unlike many wellness platforms, emeraldwave’s music is available on major streaming services, making it accessible to anyone looking for a moment of calm during a busy day.

“We wanted to make music that had a purpose,” Blake Davis, General Manager, Green Hill Music, shares with MusicRow.

That purpose has shaped many of emeraldwave’’s releases. While some projects offer listeners relaxing background music for everyday activities, others are built around specific wellness goals. The label has released collections focused on anxiety relief, depression support, trauma recovery and ADHD, incorporating techniques such as frequency-based sound design and bilateral stimulation, which alternates audio between ears to encourage relaxation and focus.

The company’s roots trace back to Green Hill Music’s extensive catalog of instrumental and ambient recordings. According to Davis, the company had long produced music that listeners often associated with relaxation, including the instrumental and ambient recordings frequently heard in spas, resorts and other public settings. As the team considered how to better define that catalog, they began to see an opportunity to create a brand centered specifically on wellness.

That vision took shape around the same time the COVID-19 pandemic increased conversations surrounding mental health and self-care. Rather than creating another subscription-based wellness platform, Davis said the goal was to develop music that anyone could access through the streaming services they already use. The result was emeraldwave.

One of emeraldwave’s most distinctive offerings is its collection of frequency-based releases, which are designed around specific wellness goals. Davis said the label researches frequencies and sound-based techniques that have been associated with various emotional and mental wellness benefits before developing projects centered on those concepts.

“I started researching different hertz and then going, ‘What is this used for? How does it help people?’ And that’s really what kind of informed what project was coming next,” Davis shares.

That research has inspired a variety of releases aimed at addressing common challenges listeners face in their daily lives. The label’s 432 Hz project focuses on anxiety relief, while 528 Hz was created for listeners dealing with depression. More recently, emeraldwave released a bilateral stimulation project designed to help listeners with ADHD, using audio that alternates between the left and right ear to create a calming effect when heard through headphones.

Rather than simply creating relaxing music, Davis said the team looks for areas where listeners may need additional support. “What would be most helpful for what we hear people are dealing with?” he says. “We’re so fast-paced all the time. How often are you truly taking time to yourself?”

Accessibility has remained a key part of emeraldwave’s mission. According to Davis, the decision to integrate into existing streaming platforms was intentional, allowing listeners to access emeraldwave’s catalog without additional memberships or commitments.

“We wanted stuff that anybody could use. They don’t have to wait for a class. They can do it in their car, their office, on their phone, wherever. There really is something for everybody,” Davis says.

The catalog includes playlists built around activities ranging from exercise and meditation to cooking and studying, as well as the label’s “Rock Me Gently” and “Rock Me Classical” series, which reimagine familiar songs through calming instrumental arrangements.

emeraldwave remains deeply connected to Nashville’s music community. According to Davis, many of the label’s projects are created by local musicians, producers and arrangers who have spent years working throughout the city’s music industry.

Producer Ron Sorbo has helped shape many of emeraldwave’s frequency-based releases, while artists such as Grammy-nominated composer David Arkenstone and pianist Jim Brickman have also contributed to the label’s catalog. Davis noted that many of the musicians involved have extensive experience performing, recording and arranging music across a variety of genres.

“There’s plenty of people here in Nashville that are really good at it,” Davis says. “A lot of people probably don’t realize that this kind of music is being created right here.”

Looking ahead, emeraldwave has several wellness-focused releases planned throughout the year, including projects centered on reducing stress and tension, emotional healing and nervous system support. Davis said the team continues to identify areas where listeners may benefit from intentional wellness-focused music and develop projects around those needs.

While emeraldwave’s catalog continues to grow, Davis said the label’s purpose remains unchanged.

“Here’s something that’s created in Nashville, from a Nashville label, using real Nashville musicians, and is really intentional about wanting to help people,” Davis says.

Whether through frequency-based releases, curated playlists or instrumental recordings, emeraldwave aims to provide listeners with accessible tools for relaxation, focus and mindfulness. As conversations surrounding mental health and wellness continue to evolve, the label remains committed to its mission of “nourishing the human spirit through sound.”

Lauryn Sink
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