The people who make Lexus cars are meticulous in their attention to detail and this includes developing and improving the sounds that Lexus cars make. Even the sound of a door closing is optimised to have the most pleasing sound. It is well-known that sounds can influence our mental wellbeing and can improve and encourage a positive mood. With this in mind, Lexus has produced a range of music tracks to aid mindfulness practice while in or out of the car.
Instead of using musical instruments, the tracks consist entirely of carefully crafted sounds from a variety of Lexus cars that were recorded in a studio and then mixed. Seatbelt clicks, tailgate warning bells and adjustable seat motors are among the sounds that take the place of drums, cymbals, percussion and keyboards to make up the tracks, which can be downloaded for free from Spotify.
Christoph Spiessens is a certified mindfulness teacher and a learning and development professional and coach who has been helping people cultivate calm and confidence with meditation and workshops for more than 15 years. He has been working with Lexus on projects for several years and provided guidance on how the music can help promote mindfulness.
He explains: “Music has the power to stimulate emotions, affect blood pressure and heart rate and improve mental alertness. Mindfulness practice helps us become aware of our immediate reactions and judgements, and this increased awareness creates a helpful pause; a space from which we can choose to respond instead of react. The Lexus mindfulness tracks, through a huge array of interesting sound effects and melodies, provide the opportunity to notice our initial reactivity to these intriguing soundscapes as well as the tendency of our mind to label these sounds or be carried away by the music. These extraordinary compositions offer a refreshing way to befriend our minds and thus enhance our wellbeing. They can be used while driving, to practise ‘mindful listening,’ but of course they should not be used for mindfulness meditation when at the wheel.
“A beautiful foundational attitude from the world of mindfulness is called a ’Beginner’s Mind‘ (“shoshin” in Japanese, from Zen Buddhism),” says Spiessens. “By bringing a beginner’s mind to the experience of listening to any of these tracks, we make a conscious choice to listen with an open and curious attitude, making a commitment to approach our experience as if we are hearing these sounds for the first time, with full awareness of our preconceptions which will undoubtedly crop up. This enables us to discover new things and become aware of the reactivity of our minds.
- Notice what mood or frame of mind you are in right now?’ This is about music as a vehicle for self-awareness.
- Notice your eagerness to play a track. The mind is always making predications, it wants to know. Think about your breathing for a few moments. Mindfulness is, in a way, “heartfulness,” (‘Nen’ is Mindfulness in Japanese and teaches us to ‘stay in the moment’) and means establishing a connection between mind and body.
- When the music starts, notice the mind’s reactivity. Can you “be” with the raw experience of these interesting sounds; the sensory qualities, such as pitch, loudness? How about your emotions, do they change during the track? Are you able to keep focused on the music or does your mind wander? All these questions are at the very core of mindfulness practice: non-judgemental noticing and present-moment awareness.
Read more: On the road to mindfulness using a car diffuser
I am interested in this car 🚘
Hello Jay, thanks for your comment.
The model featured is the Lexus LC, our flagship coupé and we are very pleased to hear that you are a fan.
You can take a closer look at the model and its features here: http://fal.cn/4XWl.
Thanks.
the car looks great.
The sounds are not to play while driving as you would fall asleep.
Very odd, not sure what the point of this music is.
Hello Verity,
It is well-known that sounds can influence our mental wellbeing and can improve and encourage a positive mood.
With this in mind, we have produced range of music tracks to aid mindfulness practice while in or out of the car.
Thanks.
Very innovative. Great stuff!
Hello Carolyn,
Thank you for your kind words.
We hope you enjoyed the mindfulness music.
Thanks.
My Lexus car I loved was stolen on October 7 2021. Driven away at night by Tech Savvy Thief/Thieves. Surely, is it still about trying find a needle in the Urban Haystack or plain stupid that in 2021 Car manufacturers shamefully allow that to happen?
Your music innovation is crap!
Oh yes! Why not add another tune when Lexus mysteriously disappear😂
Hello Simon,
We are really sorry to hear about this.
If you would like, we can collect some more details so our Customer Relations team can investigate for you.
Please let us know if you would like to continue with this.
Thanks.
I studied and believe in the benefits of Transcendental Meditation. This belief was dented when the masters of “TM”claimed to be able to levitate and also to become invisible.
Now my love and belief in the brilliant purity of Lexus is dented by the ridiculous concept soundtrack. Make nice music but don’t test the intelligence of Lexus owners with such ridiculous associations of sounds of tailgates and infotainment operations etc. really???
You sound like most urbanites, aggressive,rude a victim of life and by the sound of it gullible (Transcendental Meditation)….. We were selling these people magic carpets in the 70’s, they were flying of the shelves. Happy Christmas everyone!
very nice smooooooth comfy , wooooooooooooooooow luxurious beautiful.
Hello Dennis,
Thank you for your kind words.
Do you currently own a Lexus?
Thanks.
Lexus make the Very Best Cars in the World Without Exception.Once you Drive ANY Lexus you will Never want any other type of car. I have a Lexus IS250 and these tracks sound GREAT on my Lexus sound system.Love it 10/10 and thank you.++++
Hello Roy,
Thank you for your kind words.
Which track is your favourite?
Thanks.
Hi I realy like them all and the Great work done by all the Team at Lexus but if I had to choose one track as my favourite it would be the” Lexus Infotainment ” track..I like the beat and the very catchy rythm I play it with low Treble and plenty of Bass
Kind Regards…Roy
I own a LEXUS IS 220 D I’ve had it a long time but it’s still as good as new ..unfortunately I’m 78 now so probably this is my edit car
But if I was younger I’d be more than interested in the new models they look and sound fantastic
Hello George,
Thank you for your kind words.
We are glad to hear that your IS 220D is still serving you well.
Thanks.
Well what can I say about your music! not my taste unlike my RX450 great car,
Advice keep making great cars and please look at the security to prevent these innovative thieves, in my opinion their was nothing wrong with a good old fashioned key,
Let others produce the music, and you can concentrate on what you are good at Making quality cars.