Why does sound move us? (with Funktion One's Tony Andrews)

Vibration is sound, and sound and frequency are the most fundamental aspects of music. In fact, this is true of life itself and, indeed, the whole universe. Some scientists have suggested that fluctuations caused by sound waves after the Big Bang gave our universe the structure we see today.

Tony Andrews is the visionary behind @funktiononeofficial, the iconic high performance loudspeakers that have become ubiquitous in clubs and festivals. Through his unique speaker designs, Tony’s life mission is to achieve the cleanest, most comforting sound possible. Here he shares some of the key secrets behind the power of sound…

PURE SOUND
Reproduced sound should be as pure and transparent as possible to maximise its power. The purer sound is, the more comfortable and enjoyable it is. The more comfortable people are, the more the sound engages with them emotionally and elicits a positive response.

TIMING & RHYTHM
Timing is a crucial aspect of the power of sound. A good sound system has to be spectrally in time within itself, and the effect of that engages us on a deeper level. On the flip side, when it’s out of time, the mind and body find it jarring both consciously and subconsciously. Rhythm and timing provide comfort, from being rocked to the feel of a heartbeat as a baby, to the repetitive beat of a good dance track.

EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL IMPACT
Beautifully arranged notes or chords will affect your emotional state. Bass impacts us because it literally shakes our molecules. Sound and vibration move the mind, body and spirit, and that can be a powerful agent for change and transformation.

DANCING & TOGETHERNESS
Dancing can give us the strongest feelings of liberation. The freedom and unity sparked by music and communal dancing can be very powerful. Music is a vehicle for that potent sense of unity. When people get together with music, there’s the possibility of doors opening to bigger places.