My First Rave Album – Drum & Bass For Babies

The audience to drum & bass related content seems to be getting younger & younger. Back in 2001 we reported on a children’s book ‘My First Book of Drum & Bass’, but now Dublin-based DJ and producer Graham Smyth has released his debut album aimed at an even younger demographic, Music For Babies To Rave And Sleep To, a playful mix of dance floor energy and sleepy lullabies designed for both parents and their little ones. It’s an album that deliberately blurs the line between adult electronic music and children’s songs.

The concept was born when Smyth began composing lullabies on his family piano for his newborn nephew. He quickly discovered that babies’ heart rates are 50% faster than adults’, a fascinating fact he decided to incorporate into his music. He told District Magazine, “the music should reflect this, hence the drum ‘n’ bass inspired beats on ‘Toy Pianonono (For Raving)’.” The album is not just a creative project; it’s also informed by scientific research showing the positive effect of music on a baby’s developing brain.

The eight-track album, crafted using a toy piano and kalimba, is split into two distinct halves. The first half is high-energy, with tracks designed for “peak time rave.” The second half features softer, more ambient tracks for winding down. The intentional structure, Smyth explained, is to “introduce children to the different aspects of electronic music, from building up to the peak time rave all the way down to placing the head down for a snooze.” The song titles themselves, like “Toy Pianonono,” are even inspired by how children naturally pronounce words.

The album’s title is a nod to Brian Eno’s classic record, ‘Ambient 1: Music For Airports’, showing that even though it’s made for babies, it has a serious musical heritage. Smyth’s unique record fills a gap in the market, allowing parents and children to “bond over a micro rave and a nap.” This is one rave where the dance floor is a crib and the after-party is a nap.

Music For Babies To Rave And Sleep To