With the all-too-frequent bustle and rush in the world around us, our minds and bodies crave solace, rest and "me time" to recharge, refocus and ideally find some inner peace. The downtime enables us to re-emerge and presumably thrive in our daily lives with a refreshed perspective. Immersing oneself in music is a common way for many of us - myself included - to escape for a little while and find that perspective. If you're looking for a reflective soundtrack to 'getting away

I've always been a follower of ambient, instrumental and experimental music. During my graduate school days, I have clear memories of getting some of my best work completed, accompanied by the background sounds of instrumental, experimental and pioneering artists the likes of Dome, SPK, Recoil, Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil, Pieter Nooten, and Michael Brook, to name a few. This was music that provided a release and subtle motivation to enable creativity and concentration.

I truly treasure the atmospheric, introspective music of neoclassical Sardinian composer and pianist Stefano Guzzetti, and am continually impressed with each new collection of his compositions. Dedicated to his sister Francesca: "a beautiful and lovely tiny paper ship," his new album, Short Stories. Piano Book Volume Two, is the proper sequel to At Home. Piano Book (Volume One), his equally-as-stunning debut masterpiece from 2014. This is the music I save for sunny and snowy

Erudite Stoner is the instrumental musical project of Brazilian composer and classical guitarist Matheus Novaes. His stunning, self-titled debut album is one of the most refreshing listens I've taken in recently - this is music for the ears, mind and soul that will transport you to another time and place, where the weight of the world seems to lift from your shoulders, the further you wander into Erudite Stoner's captivating musical landscape. Erudite Stoner's Bandcamp page n