Student Special - The Art of the Study Playlist: Jonny Greenwood, Nine Inch Nails, ABBA

You’ve heard about the science behind classical music boosting brain activity, so we won’t bore you with statistics. The fact of the matter is this: the more lyrics in a tune, the more likely you are to compulsively burst into singalong mode. Except you’re in the library, it’s nearly midnight and that’s exactly what you shouldn’t do.

If Chopin isn’t your forte, we suggest turning to your favourite movie soundtracks – the less vocals, the better. For an laidback atmosphere, check out the score of Phantom Thread (2017), composed by Jonny Greenwood, which melds ‘50s jazz numbers into soft, orchestral compositions. If you’re the brooding academic type, may we suggest The Social Network (2010), composed by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Rose.

If you’re not a film buff, give ambient music a shot. Irish talent such as Paddy Mulcahy and Fintan McKahey offer a lush array of sonic textures, feeding your brain with happy soundwaves.

Your chosen ‘brain power music’ should take up 30-45 minutes of your study playlist, but we suggest leaving at least an extra 15 at the end for a deserving detox. Get up, stretch out that study hunchback, and let loose to some amped-up tunes. Anything ABBA is a sure-fire mood booster, but some high energy rock (try ‘Teenage Kicks’ by The Undertones) will also fit the bill.

Once you’re through, simply repeat the cycle as many times as you can. And when your classmates ask how you managed to score the midterm top grade, well, you can credit us!

Read more of our student special in the new issue of Hot Press, out now.