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For folks like me, that love our delicious leaf water, we really love our tea water and tea-themed music. From black tea or Earl Grey to rooibos and green tea, there are many different tea leaves to love.  Read below for some more fun facts and a tea-themed playlist. An Intro to My Love of Tea When sitting at my desk, I love to have a cup of tea beside me. Green tea or a strong cup of black tea helps wake me up and prepare me for the day. Many people have asked me what my favourite type of tea is. And although that is a tricky question, I do have an answer. As long as I can remember, I’ve loved the subtle taste of green tea. It is an acquired taste for some, but I adore it. No matter how you give it to me, I love green tea. Matcha lattes, iced green tea, green tea ice cream, green tea refreshers, and even overstepped bitter cold tea are delicious. Enough about me and my preferences, you are here to read about tea music and tea statistics. And that is precisely what we are here to provide. Tea Statistics Photo by NIKOLAY OSMACHKO on Below we have compiled a list of statistics about tea, tea drinkers and the impacts that tea has on our daily lives. These statistics have been sourced from a lot of sources from industry leaders like celestial seasonings , Artful Tea, Statista , David’s Tea, Tea Association and Tea USA . Read below and share which fun facts are your favourite Celestial Seasonings Started In 1969. In 1969, a new company was made. This is the year that Mo Siegel makes his first blends from wild herbs picked by hand in Colorado, which will eventually become the brand we all know and love, Celestial Seasonings ( Celestial Seasonings) . Honestly, the morning thunder and lemon zinger have been my personal favourites since I was a child! Green Tea Is Used In Many Dermatological And Cosmeceutical Applications. Green tea has been incorporated into a variety of products, including face wash, shampoo, conditioners, face masks, and even skin treatments, due to its anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. A topical ointment containing green tea extracts was approved for treating external genital warts in the USA in 2010 and, more recently, in Europe ( JDDG: Journal Der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft ). Tea Is One Of The Leading Drinks In The World. In terms of preference, tea and water are remarkably similar. Tea is the second most popular drink in the world, with water in the first place. When people say that tea is too close to water, let them know that that is not a bad thing ( Statista ) Herbal teas are a huge umbrella term. But it is not just herbs. It’s intriguing to learn that herbal tea contains more than just herbs. Infusions from herbs and spices to fruits and nuts are typically caffeine-free ( Harvard ). In general, tea is low in calories, sodium, and sugar and almost calorie-free. Usually, when adding a delicious tea bag to water, which is the case. The sodium, sugar, and calorie content of any additions, including flavourings, milk, sugar, cream, honey, and even infusions in the tea bag itself, can increase ( Tea USA ) The word tea comes from the Chinese word T’e. This word refers to the plant from which the tea leaves originated and is used in the Amoy dialect from the coastal province of Fujian. Along the same travel routes as tea, the word for tea also spread ( Eisa Tea Co ). “The distribution of the different forms of the word in Europe reflects the spread of use of the beverage. The modern English form, along with French thé, Spanish te, German tee, etc., derive via Dutch thee from the Amoy form, reflecting the role of the Dutch as the chief importers of the leaves (through the Dutch East India Company, from 1610)” ( Etymology Online ). The term Chai Cam comes from the Mandarin word Ch’a. Consider the word “chai.” Turkish çay, Arabic shay, Greek tsai, Russian chai, Persian cha, and Arabic cha originated in China from Mandarin ( Etymology Online ). Black Tea Is One Of The Most Popular Options. A considerable amount (84%) of all tea consumed was black tea. Then 15% was green tea, and the small remaining amount was oolong, white and dark tea ( Tea Association) . Iced Tea Is A Highly Popular Drink In America. Approximately 75 – 80% of tea consumed in America is iced. Ready-to-drink iced teas such as those from Pure Leaf, Lipton, Honest Tea, Snapple, Sweet Leaf, and Arizona, among others, are becoming more popular as a sweet drink instead of pop or energy drinks. Despite competition from other beverages and effects of the covid pandemic, the ready-to-drink (RTD) tea category growth is estimated to be 3 to 5 percent ( Tea Association) . Drinking tea can reduce your risk of heart disease Tea flavonoids may have advantages for cardiovascular health, according to some research. Adults who drink 2-3 8 oz. cups of tea daily can lower their risk of dying from heart disease by about 8–14% ( National Library Of Medicine ). Improve your cholesterol and blood pressure with a daily cup of tea. According to recent research from the American Journal of Medicine and other research institutions, tea consumption may have significant advantages for heart health. The incidence of cardiovascular events is decreased, disease progression is slowed, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, is decreased, and overall blood pressure is improved. With just one cup and up to six cups per day, these advantages can be experienced (The American Journal of Medicine) . China Is the Biggest Global Producer of Tea. As tea originated in China, it makes logical sense that they are currently the most significant global tea producer. China provides nearly 29% of the world’s total tea. That is a lot of tea! ( Tea Bloom ). Tea-Themed Music Photo by mikoto.raw Photographer on It’s time for the music, this is what you’re actually here for. Grab your favourite type of tea, a London fog, a matcha tea latte, an iced tea from Starbucks, or even a black tea with two cream and two sugar. Now that we have whetted your appetite, here is a list of tea-themed songs to get you through your next steaming cup of delicious leaf water. “Afternoon Tea” Covered By Blake George , Originally By The Kinks “The Wellerman” Collaborative Cover By Caleb Hyles , Pelle K , Jonathan Young , Ten Second Songs, Natewantstobattle Originally by Nathan Evans ‘Tea In The Sahara” Cover By Bob Head Originally By The Police  “Hilarious ‘Proper Tea’ Rap,” A Rap By Doc Brown ‘The Boston Tea Party Song’ parody by Jam Campus , originally ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams Let us know which tea-themed songs you’re adding to your playlist! Which is your favourite? Concluding Thoughts Photo by Thought Catalog on Who knew there was so much knowledge about tea? We enjoy giving you great song recommendations and tidbits of trivia. We appreciate your visit to another Switching Styles article today. Check out some of our other fun facts articles on Casey Jones Costello , Music Piracy During Covid-19 , Polyamory , or sign up for our email newsletter to receive the most recent information on music and random facts.

Working from home has been an experience for everyone. Whether it’s a good experience or a bad experience is up to the individual employee and employer. Introducing The Concept of Working from Home Since the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home has become increasingly prevalent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the covid-19 pandemic resulted in over a third of companies increasing work-from-home arrangements for their employees.   Photo by fauxels on Benefits Of Working from Home What are some of the benefits of working at home? Here are some of the pros of working from home: Lower commute ( Indeed ) Cheaper costs related to commuting, drinks, and food ( The Muse ) Increased comfort for the employee ( Indeed )  People who work from home have a better work-life balance ( Owl Labs ) More flexibility in hours and scheduling ( Owl Labs ) More time spent with friends and family ( Indeed ) Optimize ( and decorate ) home office space for maximum productivity ( Business News Daily ) The flexibility that remote employment offers its employees is its main appeal. A greater diversity of adaptability and accessibility ensures greater workforce diversity. Struggles of Working from Home What are some of the downfalls of working from home? Here are some of the cons of working from home: Social isolation and loneliness ( Owl Labs ) Difficult to stay up to date with colleagues and coworkers ( Forbes Advisor ) Increased costs related to home energy bills ( Tech Target ) Communication and collaboration can be a challenge ( Owl Labs ) It is hard to separate work and recreational activities ( Forbes ) Difficult to create and maintain a company culture ( Forbes Advisor ) Increased IT security risk concerns ( Open VPN ) Increased privacy concerns ( LinkedIn ) Many of the difficulties associated with working from home come from the fact that, unlike an office building that has been ergonomically designed, most homes are not built or structured for a home office. “Many people have little experience with a work-from-home lifestyle and may not have gone into this with an ergonomically designed, dedicated workspace,” says  Eric K. Holder, MD , a Yale Medicine physiatrist, a doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation . He says, “Workstations that were quickly put together may have felt comfortable initially, but they can cause problems with extended use if not appropriately designed. Often, this is due to poor body alignment, leading to imbalances in posture and microtrauma overuse injuries, which can result in aches, pains, and “strains.” Fun Facts About Hybrid Models of Work Environment Do you need more information about working from home? Below, we have compiled some fun facts about the hybrid system, which combines working from home or in the office in some capacity. Remember that each type of hybrid system differs slightly as you read these statistics. Depending on your commute, eliminating a typical 45-minute commute could save 1.3 years. Many employees work an hour away from their place of employment or must endure an hour of morning and evening traffic (Great Work Life ). More than half of employees (56%) who claim their jobs can be done primarily from home say they frequently use online platforms to connect with coworkers. Remote work continues to be an option for many Americans. According to a January 2022 Pew Research Center survey, most of these employees say they are OK with how much time they spend on video calls, but about one in four claims that it exhausts them ( Pew Research Center ). These decisions are now driven by a preference for working from home rather than worrying about the coronavirus. Nearly 76% of employees with access to their workplace prefer to work from home. This is a significant factor in why they currently telework all or most of the time. Next, 7%  of those who work from home say there is no reason, while another 17% say it is a minor factor. The proportion citing this as the primary cause increased significantly from 60% in 2020 ( Pew Research Center ). Another example is the Canadian Bank of Montreal, which reported that 80% of its staff members could and will probably continue working from home even after the pandemic ( BNN Bloomberg ). Remote work helps business leaders cut overhead costs associated with maintaining an entirely in-person workforce and increasing employee productivity. The typical business could save $11,000 annually for each remote employee ( Open VPN ). Professionals want flexibility but miss their colleagues. Most professionals (81%) either don’t return to the office or would prefer a hybrid schedule in the future, while 61% would like to work from home a couple of days a week. Less than a third (27%) prefer to work full-time from home, while 18% prefer to work in an office again ( Harvard ) Did you know parents with children at home want to return to work full-time more than parents who do not? ( Harvard ) Did you know that married and common-law couples want to return to work full-time more frequently than single people? ( Harvard ) Comparing company profits with prior years, a nine-month Stanford University study of 16,000 employees found that working from home increased business productivity by 13% ( Standford University ). More than half  (56%) of IT professionals  say remote workers pose a greater security risk than traditional workers. A drawback of remote work is the rise in cybersecurity risks on various personal and public networks and devices. These concerns also include privacy risks for the individual employees’ access to internal information from the organization ( Open VPN ). More than 70% of folks preferred hybrid work, but non-binary employees were 14% more likely to like it ( Mckinsey ). Employees who identified as LGBQ+2 were 13% more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to prefer hybrid work ( Mckinsey ). Share these fun facts during your next Zoom meeting to show off your smarts. All sources are linked, so you can also expand your knowledge. Working From Home Playlist One of the best aspects of working from home is listening to any music I want while working. Celebrate the difference between a home office and an in-person office. Here’s some music to listen to while you work from home. Female cover of ‘Feed the Machine’ by Justine M. & Friends, Originally by Poor Man’s Poison “Joker” Remix B” Skydxddy Originally By Dax “Buttercup” Earthbound Chiptune Cover By Mixandmash Originally by Jack Stauber ‘Handleba’Handlebars’step Cover By None Like Joshua , Originally By Flobots ‘The Fine Print’ By The StupendiumBased On Outer Worlds Concluding thoughts Switching Styles has compiled a playlist for everyone working from home to help your day run smoother and more excitingly. This article was made possible by readers like you. It means a lot to Dylanna Fisher, the founders, and all our guest writers and featured artists, most of whom work from home. Thank you for taking the time to read this article and supporting the Switching Styles readership. Photo by Monstera Production on

With all switching styles articles talking about immersion, there isn’t much explaining how it’s used when it’s more than ambience. Here are more details on employing immersion in your RPG, board, or card games. Whatever story you’re leading your characters through, music and sound effects can make the game seem more real. That’s what immersion is. Below we dive into the story of Lilja Dalgaard, a barbarian bear created by Switching Style’s primary writer, Dylanna Fisher, for a GURPS game played with her family and friends. Photo by Dagmara Dombrovska on Introduction To Immersion A game’s immersion draws you in. Immersing yourself in something or having a profound mental interest is called immersion. It’s not only about playing the game and getting lost in the dream. It’s about being inside the world itself. Whether in a world of fantasy and magic or science fiction and robots, some sound effects and tunes make it seem all that more realistic. We know it’s just a game, but they’re called escapes from reality for a reason. Music is a perfect example of immersion. We’re using a direct example to get a deeper look into using music to immerse your players into your game. Here’s a character’s (Lilja Dalgaard) first-person perspective of the first game of the story arc. She’s never met these other people before, but fate has brought them together for a reason. Accidents don’t happen in her mind. Photo by Fernando Cortés on We’ll go through her adventure and add points to change to a different ambience or soundscape. This is a story for Lilja Dalgaard, which will be other than your stories and characters. Remember, these are just suggestions inside of a particular example. Make sure that you tell your story your way. Let us know your playlist by tagging us on social media!! Lilja Dalgaard’s Prayer in The Tower to Freyja A generic fantasy setting or a quiet night with crickets is a beautiful place to start. Some fantastic options include “A Forgotten Path 🍃 Chill Lo-fi Beats” By The Bootleg Boy, “Misty Forest ✢ Acoustic Celtic Harp Lullaby – Binaural Rain And Thunder And Ambience” By Blissful Existence Or “Relaxing Zelda Music With Campfire Ambience” By Sam Cisco. Our favourite is “Position Music – Fantasmagora” By Trailer Music World I . In the following write-up, we’ve added some background music where there is a change of scene. This is one of Lilja Dalsgaard’s very first travels. I placed the symbols of Freya by my head. As I kneeled, I began to recount my past adventure to her. I told her of the great storm brought down by Thor. At the time, I grumbled over the inconvenience. I admitted to Freya that it was an extraordinary occurrence. Without the intervention, I would not have begun this new journey. At the time, I was between contracts. I was heading east, in the wind direction when the storm hit. It was abrupt and got very violent extremely fast. It forced me to abandon my previous journey and head south. I kept going through the storm, attempting to reach a town before it got too bad. There was a run-down tower ahead of me. It was sketchy, and I was sure I could make it to a town in one piece. “Relaxing Ambience Music – Fire Camp at Midnight” By Musiki Something changed my mind. I strode towards the crumbling building. While there, I met four very odd, different characters, an elf and three humans. All short compared to me. I still can’t remember their names. I am sure I will in time. At first, I was unsure what to think of the small ones the most. Besides me, she was the only other woman. She was tiny and made me feel of Loki. She makes me a bit nervous. Not that she is unhonourable, merely mischievous. The elf didn’t share much about himself; however, neither did I. The next male came in with a lavish cloak. He was obviously of some wealth. I was not surprised when he shared that he was a well-to-do merchant. The other human was excitable. It reminded me of my brother when he was younger. I chuckled at the Comparison. “Medieval Lo-Fi Vibes” By Llamaloops Later, he would perform a sleep spell on me. I only picked up the ring by chance. He assaulted me even though I had no intention of keeping it for myself. I was not outraged that he had assaulted me, but rather why he had attacked me. In retrospect, I might have been too harsh on him. He later informed the shopkeeper that he had misplaced the ring. It didn’t matter to me who possessed the ring, but I was concerned that the short man lied about its whereabouts. Of course, I shall treat him courteously, but how can one be honourable if he lies? “Mighty Vibes Vol 5: Zephrah Radio” By Critical Role We weren’t there for long before a group of rats attacked us. There was one for each of us, plus a few. I took one out with one hit. It made a smear on the stoned walls. It was admittedly an underwhelming attack. The event wasn’t all bad, though; I had a hearty laugh. One of the rats had spun around and attacked one of its own. I shook my head at them and giggled. Next, I helped the elf barricade the door at the tiny girl of Loki’s suggestion. My battle axe took the elf a bit off guard. I chuckled to myself. I barely noticed the merchant’s absence until I heard a scream. If I hadn’t shoved past the only other female, I would have thought that she was screaming. I burst into the room where a lesser vagul was attacking him. I shoved the shocked man to the ground, not causing too many bruises and attacked the beast. It, like the rats, was finished in a moment. “ D&D/RPG Combat Music ” By Michael Ghelfi Studios At that moment, I was coming down from Berserker. Of all things to ask at a time like that, the merchant offers me a job as a bodyguard. Even funnier than that was his face at my response. I felt no foolishness as I laughed aloud at the memory. Next, we travelled down a corridor and were face to face with a pair of hobgoblins. They barely readied their short swords before I attacked. It took one hit to topple the couple of them. Above us was their camp. They had escaped the storm just as we had. These were all stories of great strength, but there was no bravery or cunning. Then I sighed; we came upon the undead bugbear. This is a genuinely worthy story of your Valkyrie. We attacked the massive beast head-on. I was content using my human form to banish this creature back to the depths. Then he made an insult to my mother, and I could no longer take it. I bashed my chest and turned into a massive bear. Then I attacked. I took two attacks, and he retaliated. He wounded me. Victory was close. I was a few swings away when I felt a sharp pain from a backstabbing arrow. I fell to the ground as the sounds of battle raged around me. The worst part was that I knew I could have defeated him with only more time. “Gladiator | Tranquil Ambient Soundscape with Iconic Music from The Epic Film” By Ambient Worlds Then I launched an assault. I took two attacks, and he replied. He hurt me. Victory was within reach. I was only a few strokes away when I felt a stinging ache from a backstabbing arrow. As the noises of war erupted around me, I slumped to the ground. The saddest thing was that I knew I could have defeated him if only I had more time. “D&D Ambience – Generic Dungeon” By Sword Coast Soundscapes I could tell that he did not intend for his arrow to pierce my pelt. He looked genuinely apologetic. Instead of scaring him like I did to the magic user, I merely called him a runkisse. My mother used to scold me for my mouth. I have learned that there is a place and a time for cursing. Using a bear mouth for human speech is usually tricky, but I had a lot of childhood practice. I chuckle at the memories of Yorick and Karine. As siblings, we would have many play fights where we would taunt each other in bear form. I chuckled “Nordic Mythical & Pre-Viking Ancestral Ambient” By Paleowolf I pawed and felt the blonde handprint on my head. I knew what had happened that day. The Valkyrie did not choose me. You came down as Val Freya. As a goddess with seidr, you respun my destiny. My life was changed. With that handprint permanently on my brow, I will continue to gather stories that can compare to the best of your Valkyrie. The stars are out now, Freya. Soon, I will speak to you again. I finished my prayer and opened my eyes. That’s when I came face to face with the small girl. She attempted in vain to make me a pillow, but I refused. She kept insisting. Eventually, she was satisfied with my undershirt as a blanket. I turned into a bear and snuggled against my cloak for a long night’s sleep. “8 Hrs Soothing Lake Waves & Birds Chirping for Relaxation – 4k Summer Ambience at Mt St Helens” By Nature Soundscapes Like these immersive soundscapes? We’ve got more for you to check out if you’re interested. We’ve got a lot of fantastic genre soundscapes like fantasy , science fiction , cyberpunk , horror , relaxation , bizarre , steampunk , and so much more ! Concluding Thoughts on Lilja Dalgaard Let me know what you think in the comments below about these examples of immersive background music for the adventures of Lilja Dalgaard. Do you have a favourite song to suggest to us? Thanks for reading switching styles today! It means a lot to the writers. Follow the blog on WordPress or our social media, and never miss an update or contest! Photo by Thomas Brenac on

Flighted Freedom Poetic Lyrics by Dylanna Fisher. These are merely lyrics to a poem by our very own writer, Dylanna Fisher . What music would you put to these words? Photo by Philippe Donn on Flighted Freedom Lyrics I want to become a bird If I could Flying would be my superpower If I were super If I had power A majestic creature so small But size doesn’t matter When you’re on top of the world I want to be beautiful With shimmering feathers With shining eyes That can see what I can’t I want to away fly  To cover vast time, space Until they blur as one I want to escape  To something more I want to go so badly So far away from here I want to go Liberation freedom something more Something that’s not here  I want to see something more than the sidewalk To regain my vision  I want saving from concrete It will be for me, myself, mine I want anything  Anything, anything, anything I want to be a bird To fly away from you But I can’t leave I can’t fly I only have feet and these stairs Final Thoughts Photo by Pixabay on What music would you put behind this poem? Do you think one genre over another would be best? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Discover Casey Costello and his Enchanting Covers. With beautiful voices of princes, princesses, villains and sidekicks, there’s so much musical wonder in the world of Disney. From the musical notes of Literal Disney Lyrics , Hakuna Matata in different languages, Sleeping beauty cover songs, Disney medleys, Hellfire cover songs, and much more! Casey Costello with The Voice of a Prince Follow the movie magic with these soundtrack covers and his magical TikTok account @ caseyjcostello . We first saw Costello in Switching Styles in an article about Disney’s snow white soundtrack. The article “Disney and Dreams: Snow White Cover Songs” included his work. Here’s the beautiful cover song that he did of “Some Day My Prince Will Come”. In this profound and powerful duet, Casey Jones Costello and Yunjin Audrey Kim blend their gorgeous vocals with Yunjin’s stunning piano talents. Introducing The Music Of Casey Costello “As you might have guessed from my performance of “Some Day My Prince Will Come,” I love to perform a variety of Disney songs, and my repertoire includes Disney songs from different eras, from the 1930s through today. However, I perform a large repertoire of songs in different styles as part of themed programs that I do, and I also compose original songs.” Casey Costello explains. Casey Costello Disney Covers He has a great amount of music on his YouTube channel right here. We’d love to showcase some of Switching Styles’ favourites of Costello’s Disney parody songs. Let us know in the comments below which one is your favourite. Switching Styles has compiled a list of fantastic and nostalgic music created by Costello. Let It Go Originally From “Frozen” Love Is a Song Originally From “Bambi” Part Of Your World Originally From “The Little Mermaid” Fixer Upper Originally From “Frozen” When You Wish Upon a Star Originally From “Pinocchio” Part Of Your World Originally From “The Little Mermaid” Piano Karaoke with Lyrics How Deep Is the Ocean Make Them Hear You Originally From “Ragtime” Concluding Thoughts Thank you for reading our beautiful writings about Disney and Disney nostalgia. We are always updating our articles with new and exciting themes. Don’t hesitate to follow our email newsletter or our social media to connect with our Switching styles community.

Warning – there are limited spoilers in this article where Dylanna Fisher writes a Ravenous Devils Review, the fantastic and gory game by Bad Vices Games.  Trigger Warning – this game and the resulting article discuss gore, murder, cannibalism, avoiding the authorities, and tax evasion. Click here to go somewhere else . Photo by Lisa Fotios on Introducing Ravenous Devils For those who don’t know about this game, it’s a fantastic game reminiscent of the musical Sweeney Todd. It’s a twisted, creepy, and eerie game where you play a couple starting a new business in a new town. The husband is a tailor that lures victims in and murders them for scrap fabric to sew. He then resells the material to other patrons in the second-floor tailor shop. On the other hand, the wife takes the corpses and cooks them into various meals to sell in the pub on the main floor. That’s the main storyline. You’ll have to play the game or watch playthroughs for the specifics. Ravenous Devils Review 9/10. This game was a lot of fun to play overall. Bad Vice is known for amazing games, including Ravenous Devils, Sexual Void, and Hippocampus. Despite the extensive and explicit gore, this game is delightful. Loved the game. I’ve grown up on simulation games such as cake mania, diner dash, and roller coaster tycoon. I adore the fast-paced style of simulation games. The commerce aspect is a great small-time goal with regular and obtainable upgrades. This game is great if you want something casual but are tired of boring idle games. Shout out to Steam for the achievements and trading cards that appeal to my completionism. And before you ask, yes. I have completed all the achievements but haven’t gotten all the trading cards. That being said, I’m still in the process of beating the game’s endless mode. Whether there’s an actual beating of it, I’m not sure. But right now, the goal is to go through the infinite way and purchase all the upgrades without being caught by the police. The ambience is fantastic, with the background soundscapes of a pub in Victorian England. The audio also includes sound effects, which seem very on point. It adds to the eerie aspect and the queasy nature. Don’t play this game if you have a weak stomach. As someone who loves musicals like Sweeney Todd and Repo! The Genetic Opera, I like my spooky with some musical scores for the immersion . For those that want to continue the ambience, I’ve compiled a list of ambient music to keep the eerie and energetic vibe. The inspiration for this playlist has come from Ravenous Devils. Let me know in the comments which ones you like the best. “Tim Burton Vibes” By Sundew Baggins “Fantasy Bard/Tavern Music Compilation” By Celestial Draconis “Dark Music Of Gothic Castles And Fallen Lords” By Cryo Chamber “VICTORIAN AMBIENCE: Victorian London Thunderstorm (Horses, Bells, Walking On Cobblestone)” By Autumn Cozy “Ambience/ASMR: Sherlock Holmes Parlour, 221B Baker Street (Victorian London)” By Ambience Of Yesteryear “Victorian London” By The Vault Of Ambience “RAIN OVER INNSMOUTH | 10+ Hour Dark Lovecraftian Thunderstorm Ambience” By The Tale Master “Dark Ambience – Horror Background Music” By Relax Cafe Music “ATMOSPHERIC GOTHIC HORROR READING MUSIC | H.P Lovecraft, Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe” By TINTIN MIX “I See You…. 👀🔪 | Extreme Thriller, Suspense & Fear Background Ambience” By Ambiensis Concluding Thoughts Thank you for reading Switching Styles articles and reviews. Make any event a dramatic musical moment with notes of danger and risk. Support Switching Styles and share song suggestions everywhere. Follow us on our email newsletter on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Share your favourite song suggestions in the comments below. Want some other curated soundscape playlists? We’ve got a lot of fantastic genre soundscapes like high fantasy , science fiction, cyberpunk , horror , space western , supernatural , steampunk , haunting , and so much more! Photo by Athena on

Immersion can be hard to master. However, with practice, expertise, and the proper tune for background music, it becomes simpler. Music or sound effects to increase the ambience are one factor that adds to the overall immersion . Background sounds to add to your game’s immersion. A survey shows that nearly all of the larping respondents felt that background music and sound effects increased their overall sense of immersion ( the computer games journal ). Use these scene and music changes to improve your game. Photo by Craig Adderley on Top Ten Tips for Immersive Background Music We’ve compiled a list of the top ten tips for adding immersive music to any kind of game. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Set the playlist up ahead of time and just click play to start and next when the next scene change comes up Putter on forums related to TTRPGS or social groups on social media. You don’t need to be active in the groups to learn more tips, tricks, and background music or soundscape suggestions. Change it up each game to keep your players on their toes Try having scene-specific soundscapes. If your players are inside a rowdy tavern, play a soundscape that’s crowded and noisy. Find new sounds. Try different styles, or artists when compiling your playlists. There’s always something new to add to your games. Listen to them beforehand to anticipate any changes in volume or loud bursts of noise. Consider your audience’s preferences and take their advice. The playlist is for immersion for you as much as it is for your players. Collaborate with your players to find new and exciting music. Branch out. It may seem counterintuitive but try different genres for your game. Your western style game could benefit from some spooky soundtracks during a specifically scary night scene. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. If the song doesn’t work at the moment or isn’t vibing with your players, take it as a learning opportunity. It’s not a mistake if you learn from it. Follow switchingstyles.ca to get updates on fun and quirky music to add to your game. Immersive Soundscape Playlist Here are some ambient playlists, soundscapes, and background tracks to make your game as immersive as possible. “Jurassic Park Music & Ambience – Amazing Soundscapes and Music” By Ambient Worlds “Full Hour of Avatar the Last Airbender and Korra Amazing Soundtracks!” By Red Life “11 HOURS of Rainforest Birds in 4K – Colorful Breathtaking Birds with Sound” by Nature Relaxation Films “ Uncle Iroh Plays Tsungi Horn For 20 Minutes ” By Saimo “ Deep Ocean: 10 Hours of Relaxing Oceanscapes ” By BBC Earth Last Thoughts Additional immersion information, recommendations, and methods may be found at switchingstyles.ca. Let me know in the comments what your favourite music recommendation was! Thank you for taking the time to read today’s update! It means a great deal to the writers. To never miss an update or a contest, follow the blog on WordPress or our social media! Photo by cottonbro studio on

Read below for the Inspiration Songs of my Were-Bear Barbarian GURPS Character! I created a character that’s as fierce as a mama bear and twice as big. This is her story and the music that she uses for inspiration. Introducing Lilja Dalgaard My name is Lilja Dalgaard. Some people call me half-fish. I was born in the north in a village called Oland. It had short harsh winters, mild summers, and long rainy seasons. I remember playing in the rain as a cub. Our village bordered a river. We had an abundance of ships and an almost endless supply of fish. My mouth waters just thinking of a great white tuna. I know that it may seem as if we just open our doors to pillaging, but what can I say we welcomed a challenge. Our village is one of were-bears. We weren’t concerned. Since we are all bears, we have a sense of community that no other Norse village could have. We belonged and were understood with more than just mere understanding but a twin-like empathy. Photo by lil artsy on Family Life They say home is where the heart is and with our village it couldn’t be truer. I lived in the longhouse with my parents and my siblings. My brother, Yorick, is just as strong as I am. We are about the same age give or take a few moon cycles. We always got along like we were best friends. He is the darkest were bear of our family, with a pelt as dark as cold molasses. My father says that he gets the color from his father. My sister has a light tan coat just like my father. She has proven herself as a skilled archer. She is the baby of the family, for now. On my last visit home, my parents told me they are preparing for another baby. The child should be born in about four moons from now. My mother and father met during one of my father’s pillages. He went Viking and came upon her village. Their eyes met and it was love at first sight. She went with my father willingly, and they have been madly in love ever since. I and my mother share the same deep red pelt. Father says that her deep red is one of the things that he fell in love with. My mother, Ronia, and my father, Henrik, are the best that I could ever have asked Odin for. Photo by Erik Mclean on I chose to leave my village, not because something was wrong with it, but because I wanted more. I found less and less challenges and inspirations. Freya and Thor aren’t impressed with meagre stories of an easy victory. I needed a new spark. That spark came at the ceremony of my second decade. Celebration of my Second Decade There were many others in the village celebrating their second decade. The whole village gathered around the fire and had a feast. We took turns telling stories while we passed around delicious food. It came time for my parent’s story of me. Story Time: The Monster Under My Bed When I was little, I was convinced there was a monster under my bed. I was a bit afraid, but I was mostly annoyed. My parents went back and forth, telling the story. They finished each other’s sentences. They spoke together, with one voice. I found this fascinating. I wanted a love like that; I was convinced I would not find it here. Anyway, my father had tried to tell me there was nothing there; he tried to scare it away. Still, I was sure it was there. My mother then came in and sat down and told me about a place to the south where girls are told they are weak and need to be protected by men. She laughed and said that we are not those women. We will be handmaidens of Freya and we can’t be afraid. They left and I was alone. Unknown to me at the time, they had stayed by my door to see what I would do. They heard me talking to the monster, telling it to get out from under my bed because it was bothering me and my brother’s sleeping. I put my hands on my hips and told it that if it didn’t stop bugging us, I would turn into a bear. So, I did, I turned into a bear and growled at my bed. With the minster vanquished, I went to bed in bear form. The circle roared with a chorus of chuckles and cuteness noises. I was a bit embarrassed but there were worse stories. On The Way Home While we were on our way home father handed me a leather strap. Dangling from the strap was a large cleric gobbling tooth. It was polished and tattooed with goblin magic runes. He said that when I was a wee babe, a large party of goblins raided the village. In the heat of the battle, I was separated from my mother, who was pregnant with my brother. They found me after the fight was over. I was contently sitting between corpses. holding the tooth and one of the eating knives from that night’s feast. There I was, waving them around, and occasionally sticking the dagger hilt in my mouth. He told me that this was the first of many Freya-worthy stories. From then on, I knew that I wanted to gather honour and victories. Unfortunately, I did not know where. Starting my Adventures I had heard of adventurers of distant lands, but I didn’t dwell on them. One day that changed. I met a traveller one day; he was in the inn of our village. We had taken a liking to him even though he was a foreigner. He told such grand stories; the entire inn was listening. I heard tales of ferocious creatures I had never encountered. I had found a spark. There was a land beyond our borders full of stories worthy of Freya and I was going to get them. Photo by Dagmara Dombrovska on Inspiration Songs for Lilja Dalgaard, my Were-Bear Barbarian GURPS Character There’s a long list of adventuring music that all adventurers share. There are battle songs and clerical hymns that all characters can relate to. But we’re not talking about any adventurers here. The playlist below is curated for a hardened Norse barbarian with everything to prove. “If I had a heart” by Colm McGuinness “Surface Pressure” By Our Last Night Originally By Jessica Darrow “My Mother Told Me” by Peyton Parrish “Wolf Totem” Originally by the Hu “Carry on my Wayward Son” covered by Anthrax Originally by Kansas “Far over the Misty Mountain Cold” by Geoff Castellucci “The Call” Originally by Regina Spektor Final Thoughts Photo by Erik Mclean on What are your thoughts on these songs? Are these the songs of a Were-Bear Barbarian GURPS Character? Whose battle ballad held the most pizazz for you? Let us know in the comments below!

Whether you’re a bard in the middle of combat or a barbarian enjoying a late-night campfire, here are songs to belt out during a LARP game. Here is some Bardic Inspiration with examples of Bardic Songs. Photo by Nothing Ahead on Sing Bardic Inspiration Aloud for Your Guild. When it comes to any kind of traditional Roleplaying game be it D&D, GURPS, Pathfinder, Quest, Coyote and  Crow, there’s a bard or a bard-like class. They are the ones that are typically oozing charisma with entertainment. Usually, this is musical entertainment. Bards also appear in many LARP games. Take Refuge LARP or Underworld LARP for example, these two Canadian LARPs have a fantastic and creative community including bards. Why Would You Sing At A Roleplaying Game? Photo by Ryan Klaus on That’s honestly a good question. Singing randomly can seem like a weird thing to do that only happens in Disney movies, musicals and that one episode of Buffy the vampire slayer. Despite the love for musical theatre, there are a few varied reasons you’d sing at a LARP. Singing is something your character would do. Performing in real life adds to realism. Impressing the party, the dm, and the plot team with your singing and improv skills. Engaging with the other characters and with the plot. Help your character stand out. This could be either a good or a bad thing. Acts as an excuse to add in a musical number. Finding The Song for Bardic Inspiration Fantasy songs for folks to sing during a D&D game or a LARP can be hard to find and even harder to perform. We’ve compiled a list of fantasy songs perfect for your bard! Here are some lively songs to sing around the campfire. Don’t worry, we’ve provided links to the lyrics to help you practice before the game. “Sunshine” by   Charles Mitchell and Jimmie Davis Want to convince your players that you’re less evil than they think you are? Sing a song like “that can make even the most roguish character seem trusting and in touch with their emotions. “ Holding Out For A Hero ” by Bonnie Tyler . Don’t hesitate to stick with the classics. They’re classics for a reason. There will be both Bonnie Tyler and Shrek fans in the audience. you’re sure to have a few folks singing along. It’s a great idea to add in-game immersion for everyone. Listen to it on Spotify . “ Here There Be Witches ” by Creature Feature . Here’s another beautiful and heartfelt classic that’s not just for the bards. Show off your cleric or paladins’ pipes while singing out loud and making all the magic users around nervous. Listen on Spotify ! “ Wellerman ”by Nathan Evans When it comes to classics, there’s nothing wrong with giving the audience what they want. I promise you someone will want this song whether they specifically request it or not. Sea Shanty’s rule. Save it on Spotify or Deezer . “ Save My Soul “ by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Just because it’s a new song doesn’t mean it won’t work for a medieval fantasy setting. Check out this fantastic modern swing revival band from Southern California. “ Give That Wench a Sonnet ”  by The Poxy Boggards The combination of Irish folk singing, lively instrumentals, and iambic pentameter makes this song a perfect fit for your bard. especially if they’re very charismatic if you catch my drift. “ Come Little Children ” by Erutan Now this song is quite simple and sweet. Around the campfire, this is an ideal song to lull the characters to sleep or into a false sense of security. Either way, “Come little children” is a hauntingly beautiful song. “ Mariner’s Revenge Song ”, by The Decemberists Listen to it on Spotify . Ready to go into battle? Not without singing about your motivation, you’re not. Take it from me belting out a woeful song before the war is as effective as an orc barbarian war cry.  “My Mother Told Me”, an Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Cover, by Alina Gingertail It’s not only bards that could benefit from singing. Consider your lonely barbarian that just happens to have a lovely baritone singing voice. Give them a chance to shine with a song already from within a game. From   Assassin’s Creed Valhalla , this song is sure to give everyone goosebumps or chicken skin. ‘ Misty Mountains ”, by Glenn Yarbrough ,  Rankin And  Bass From The Movie ‘Hobbit’ If you didn’t expect this song to be on the list, then I don’t know what to tell you. Of course, it’s on the list, it’s from Tolkien, one of the main fantasy authors that inspired characters to this day. Now we only had room for 10 because our writers thought that nobody would read to the bottom of a list of 176 fantasy-inspired songs. Nonetheless, here are our honourable mentions for your listening (and singing) pleasure. Bardic Inspiration Conclusion Make any event a spontaneous musical. Whether you’re heading into battle humming one of these or providing a healing word to a tune or even running into battle shrieking music at the top of your lungs, it adds to the immersion of the event. Support Switching Styles and sharing our song suggestions far and wide. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, on our email newsletter. Share your favourite song suggestions in the comments below.

The SPN fandom still has a way to engage with the Winchester family with Supernatural soundscape and ambience audio. Check out some of our favourites in the article below. Introducing Supernatural the series Supernatural, the series has been a topic of conversation throughout Switching Styles. Partly because our main writer thoroughly enjoys the SPN fandom. Seriously, check out her work over at medium.com with essays like, “ Fandoms Saving the World One Altruistic Step at A Time; Online Activism Within the Supernatural Fandom ”. The SPN Family specifically is known for being active. This fan community is more like a family, a sentiment that started when Jared Padalecki referred to the fandom as his family (Fitzpatrick, 2017, para. 9). There are several authors writing about the way that the Supernatural Fandom is as close-knit as a family including Mary Frances Casper or Zubernis and Katherine Larsen. These authors discuss how fandom is akin to a family because of the interactions and connections between not only the fans themselves but between them and the cast and crew (Casper 2014; Zubernis and Larsen, 2012). Those interactions and relationships have merely become stronger as the show continues (PicklePegg, 2011, ch. 5, para. 32). The SPN Family is described affectionately and accurately as the SPN Family. Comparative to others, the Supernatural Fandom goes beyond and has become an altruistic force in a way that other fan cultures haven’t (Casper 2014, Jackson 2015; PicklePegg, 2011, ch. 5, para. 31–32). The ideals of the show Supernatural transfer to the fans, “It’s this unshakeable commitment to family, regardless of circumstance, which resonates with fans and creates the fandom’s underlying personality” (Casper 2014, pg. 79). Dylanna Fisher, 2021 – Medium.com Headed by the Winchester boys, Sam and Dean are played by Jared Padalecki, and Jensen Ackles, respectively. This series is a story of adventure but most importantly family. Did you know that the actors from the show have started several charity organizations over the decades? The most prominent projects are Random Acts, GISH WISES, Always Keep Fighting, T-Shirt Campaigns, and the SPN Family Crisis Support Network. ( Supernatural Wiki ). Winchester Audio Atmosphere Photo by Sami Aksu on Have you ever thought to yourself while watching Supernatural, ‘man if I could study beside Sam Winchester, I could ace this final exam’? That’s exactly what we’re here to provide. Need a super chill environment to study for your learners? try out the Supernatural Ambiance by Annelies Mohle. It’s designed to be relaxing. Want to focus specifically on academics like Sam Winchester before Season 1? Here’s the audio and soundscape from Bobby’s Cabin. Need something with a bit of excitement? Listen to the atmospheres of Crowley’s Personal Office! Switching styles has compiled an extensive list of supernatural ambiances for your various focusing and relaxing needs. Motel Soundscape/Ambience | Supernatural ASMR (With Talking) By Adri’s Ambience Witchcore ◈ Autumn Forest 🍂 Good Witch Cabin By ASMR Weekly Cozy Fall Coffee Shop Ambience: Relaxing Jazz Music and Rain Sounds For Studying, Relaxation, and Sleep By Calmed By Nature Supernatural Ambience Sound ASMR | Research at Bobby’s House By AmbientcatSupernatural ASMR || In the Bunker with Sam, Dean, Cas and Charlie By Adri’s AmbienceResearch At Bobby’s House | Very Subtle Talking From Other Room By SammitchesSupernatural Destiel ASMR | Driving Home From A Hunt With Castiel and Dean (Rain + Talking) By Moonlight ASMR AmbienceLibrary Sounds | Study Ambience By The Guild of AmbienceHaunted Church Ambience 👻⛈️ By The Dea d of NightSupernatural Wayward Sisters Ambient By Moonlight ASMR Ambience

Christmas cover songs by Jason Greiner are here to save the day. Read these switching styles articles to get the most out of your Christmas playlist. Article Contains Paid Content. Learn more Christmas Music Christmas is just around the corner, but Christmas songs have been in our heads for weeks. If you’re wishing for something else, anything else, you’re not alone. Photo by Tim Mossholder on Fun fact: According to Spotify, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, Andy Williams, and John Lennon were all among the top 10 songs of 2018 along with Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé. A Spotify-backed firm called Soundtrack Your Brand polled 2,000 individuals in the US and the UK this fall about their thoughts on Christmas music. It is not at all unexpected to hear that 25% of British and 17% of US consumers “actively” dislike Christmas music. Switching styles isn’t surprising but what do we do about it? Change it up. Once your popular Christmas song has become a meme for predictability, it’s probably time to try something else. We’re looking at you, Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé . Although this typically is a time for jolly tunes until they start getting repetitive and become a meme that nobody wants to share. Isn’t it time for some quirky Christmas covers? We think so!! Alternative Christmas Songs Switching Styles is back with some holiday covers to change up your Christmas playlist. We’re not telling you to add these to your work playlist right at this very second. But we’re not telling you not to. Fun fact: Since 2020, Christmas music has grown even more in popularity. In comparison to other years, holiday music on Spotify increased by 25% during the winter of 2020. Photo by cottonbro studio on What could be better than some original Christmas cover songs throughout the holiday season? Jason Greiner has been a musician for a while. has created innumerable covers, some of which feature these wonderful Christmas melodies. You have a variety of tunes to choose from, including “Santa Claus Is Blitzed Tonight,” “Jingle Bell Spock,” “Frosty the Glow Man,” “Circlin’ around the Parking Lot,” and “Silver Hair.” Comedy Christmas covers We’re thrilled to present Jason Greiner’s Christmas covers. He is not just a frequent musician but also one of our guest authors. For suggestions to include in your Spotify Christmas playlist, see the selections below. “I Want A Lobotomist For Christmas” (Parody Of I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas) “Frosty The Glow Man” (Parody Of Frosty The Snowman) “Fleas On My Dog” (Parody Of Feliz Navidad) “Jingle Bell Spock” (Parody Of Jingle Bell Rock) “Silver Hair” (Parody Of Silver Bells) “I Got A, A Leaky Faucet” (Parody Of Mele Kalikimaka) “Circlin’ Around The Parking Lot (Parody Of Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree) “Holiday music is one of the many things that come together to give people the full and wonderful experience of the season. Decorations, food, gift giving, they all have their part and music is no different,” explains Jason Greiner. Greiner isn’t the only person to notice the importance and prevalence of Christmas Music. Katherine Wiles explains in an article from Martkeplace.org, “Christmas music is a major component of the season. And with  seemingly every artist  putting out a Christmas album (Snoop Dogg’s “ Christmas In The Dogghouse ” anyone?). It’s a reliable money-maker. After all, the best way to spread holiday cheer  is singing loud for all to hear .” Happy Holidays!! Which Christmas cover is being added to your holiday playlist?

Christmas is nearing, but that doesn’t mean you only need to listen to upbeat, joyous Christmas cheer every second of the day. For Humbug Day, let’s enjoy some anti-Christmas songs. Be warned that some of these holiday humbug days anti-Christmas songs have some profanity and mature themes. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Fun Fact: Did you know that most countries turn up holiday tunes by the end of November ? Thanks to Christmas music research by Spotify, we know when to expect the holiday tunes to start. You’ve been warned. Why is there so much holiday music for Christmas? It’s once again that time of year. All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” by Michael Bublé, “Santa Tell Me “By Ariana Grande, and “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber are a few of the most popular Christmas songs in both Canada and the United States. Not everyone gets into the holiday cheer by singing carols. Some folks need something different. Some folks would rather listen to anything else. You are aware of it. We are aware of it. Kids pick it up. Everyone acknowledges that Christmas has a monopoly on festive music. Michael Buble doesn’t perform any songs about offering thanks during Thanksgiving. During the Labor Day long weekend, Mariah Carey is not selling records. If you’re ready for Christmas music that’s not quite Christmas music, then read on! Christmas music for days for hours on end. Let’s break the cycle. Here’s a playlist of our favourite anti-Christmas songs for your listening pleasure. “ Christmas Celebration ” By Weezer “ Christmas Is A B!Tch ” By Rudy Mancuso “ Christmas Carol ” By Tom Lehrer “ December Is For Cynics ” By The Matches “ Hallelujah ” By No Resolve , Originally By Leonard Cohen “Don’t Shoot Me Santa ” By The Killers “ The Night Santa Went Crazy ” By Weird Al Yankovic “ Not Another Christmas Song ” By Blink-182 “ Disco Christmas” By Universal Robot Band “ Dear Santa (Bring Me A Man This Christmas) Cover ” By Alaska, Courtney Act & Willam Originally By The Weather Girls “This Christmas” By Set It Off And our holiday favourite – Set It Off’s Christmas melody, “This Christmas (I’ll Burn It To The Ground),” is our primary writer’s, Dylanna Fisher’s favourite Christmas tune. Very humbug if you ask me. Happy Humbug Day!! Photo by George Dolgikh on Want more wonderful anti-seasonal music? To kick off the anti-holiday celebration, check out these incredible tunes !