Insomnia: Iconic Faithless anthem is remixed into 27 minute sleep track

It’s taken 27 years, but British electronic band, Faithless, has finally figured out how to get some sleep—by releasing the iconic 90s dance anthem, Insomnia, as a 27 minute sleep track.

Created by The Romans with CBD brand, OTO, the release marks the first time the band has re-written Insomnia since its original release in 1995. Contrary to its name, however, the new track is designed to lull listeners into a deep, restorative sleep, and has been informed by sleep science and new research into the state of the nation’s sleep habits.

Created specifically to help us all fall asleep more soundly, the duration of Insomnia: Blissful Sleep Remix is 27 minutes—the average amount of time it takes Brits to ‘drop off’. Fusing science with sound, OTO and Faithless also enlisted the support of sleep expert James Wilson (AKA ‘The Sleep Geek’) to help develop the track.

Incorporating elements of sleep science and key insights from James, Insomnia: Blissful Sleep Remix, features:

A reduced tempo of 100 beats per minute, which aligns with the normal resting heart rate for sleep in adults, and is therefore optimal for inducing sleep
An orchestra of 15 musicians (encompassing strings, woodwinds and percussion) re-create the original Insomnia riff, mimicking a rhythmic pulse similar to isochronic tones, which are often embedded into music to help sync brain waves to their frequency
ASMR via an updated reprise of the iconic lyric ‘I can’t get no sleep’

Discussing the project, Sister Bliss said: “It’s hard to believe we produced Insomnia 27 years ago in a garden shed. Being in there all day and then DJ-ing at night was like having permanent jet lag, so I came up with the title ‘Insomnia’, because I literally couldn’t sleep. Once released, the track became an anthem for a generation of late night clubbers who, as the lyric goes, were also getting ‘no sleep’. With that legacy in mind, the opportunity to collaborate with OTO on the creation of a Sleep Remix was one I couldn’t turn down. I can’t wait to get the track out there and help a nation of bad sleepers finally get the rest they’re craving.”

Sleep expert James Wilson added: “When creating the right conditions for sleep, it’s important to feel emotionally and physically secure, as a feeling of safety will allow the nervous system to relax. Music can help calm the mind by creating a state of relaxation. It’s also something that many people have a strong emotional connection to, so if there is a level of familiarity in the music to an earlier period in your life, this adds to that feeling of safety that can help us fall asleep.”

“The existing research into sleep and sound clearly shows that music stimulates chemicals in the brain that improve our propensity for a good night’s sleep and help us to relax. Couple this with OTO’s Sleep Drops, and you’ve a winning pre-sleep formula to ensure your night’s slumber is as restful as possible. Sister Bliss has done an incredible job of incorporating sleep science into the new remix of Insomnia - from dropping the tempo to the match the resting heart rate BPM to the incorporation of AMSR-style spoken word Insomnia: Blissful Sleep Remix has all the ingredients to guide you towards a blissful night’s sleep.”

Gemma Colao, OTO’s founder said: “Sound and sleep have always been at the heart of our brand - the name ‘OTO’ means sound in Japanese. As someone who has always been a bad sleeper, I have a personal connection with lack of sleep and what that can do to our minds and bodies.”

“Working with an artist that would resonate with a generation of adults experiencing huge changes to their sleep routine was integral to this project, and we’re absolutely honoured to have been on this journey with Faithless. Insomnia is such an iconic track so it’s fantastic to be able to bring new meaning to the music in this day and age when getting better sleep is so important for people’s wellbeing. Our mission from the very beginning was to help people find their calm and discover the power of CBD - this track, alongside our blissful sleep drops, will no doubt do that.”

Those looking to drop off into the gentle night more easily can fall asleep to 27 minutes of Insomnia: Blissful Sleep Remix on SoundCloud, and purchase OTO Sleep Drops here.