Author: Bridget Benevides
Isn’t it strange how the smallest moments, the ones you thought would go by in a flash, end up being ones of overwhelming beauty? The ones that may very well define your existence?
Experiencing the shock of my sister Shella’s cold toes as she wiggles her way into my bed and snuggles herself close to me in attempt to absorb some heat.
Holding the very small hand of my six-year-old cousin Guy as he guides my ear towards his chubby face and whispers “Listen… listen, you are my best friend and I love you.”
Feeling the breath of my foster dog Darcy. calm and slow against my side when she knew she was finally safe; when she knew she could trust me.
These are the moments; the moments that define me. The moments I tell people about when they ask me who I am. But recently, I have come to realize that these moments have a soundtrack, one that makes them all the more powerful. In moments like these that music never fails to intensify my feelings of love and happiness.
This month I am feeling golden, despite my seemingly never-ending exhaustion. The sun is on my side and the birds chirp at all hours of the day and the wind takes my breath away. I am focusing on the beauty that blossoms around me, all the while listening to the sweet and powerful tunes of Vancouver Sleep Clinic.
Australia’s Vancouver Sleep Clinicis the solo project of ambient electronic singer/songwriter Tim Bettinson. Born in 1996, Bettinson grew up in Brisbane listening to his father’s classic Fleetwood Mac and Eagles records before discovering more modern artists like Bon Iver and Sigur Rosin his teens. Inspired, he began writing his own songs, recording with a keyboard and computer. In 2013, he uploaded the song “Vapour” online, and it caught on, drawing thousands of plays.
Tim Bettinson chose Vancouver Sleep Clinic as his project name because, as he told online publication Tomatrax, “When I first starting writing for this project, I felt like it could be the type of atmospheric music that people could fall asleep to.” I wouldn’t necessarily categorize his music as sleep music, but you can be the judge of that when you listen to his music. As for the Vancouver bit, he picked that because, “it looks like a beautiful place”. His songs are more introspective, designed for isolated meditation not public celebration, but I think that is the beauty in them—he creates such beautiful and unique melodies.
In my admissions essay to Seattle University, they asked me to name my top five songs and why they made the list. “Vapour” was one of them, and easily one of my top give favorite songs of all time. Check out Vancouver Sleep Clinic on Spotify or YouTube to see for yourself.
Tim Bettinson is only 21-years-old and already influencing individuals worldwide. His music is what I listen to when I stargaze or need a minute to decompress. Vancouver Sleep Clinic activates the dopamine in my brain and slows my breathing. In a life/world/society where we are moving so fast and continuously focusing on what is to come, Vancouver Sleep Clinic puts me in the now, only paying testament to his talent and one of a kind music.
I think we all need a little bit more of that, wouldn’t you agree?
BRIDGET BENEVIDES | “We all need someone to stay” | KXSU Music Reporter