Are there certain sounds that appeal to you? I'm not talking about music but waves crashing on a shore, somebody whispering in your ear, or maybe it's somebody running their fingers over a microphone (seriously, that's actually a thing). Some people even say that when they listen to these sounds they experience a tingling sensation on the back of the head or neck. This is known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response better known on YouTube as ASMR.
I discovered ASMR only just recently. For the past year or so I started to notice that I found the sound of gravel crunching or sand being crushed appealing, I can't explain it more than that I just like the way it sounds. I know that's weird, I think it's weird too, but now that I've discovered these videos I can't stop listening.
Anyway as I said over the past year I actually began to anticipate getting to hear the sound of gravel crunching and would go out of my way to hear that sound. In my head I was thinking like "Okay, the stress from college is finally starting to catch up with me, now I'm going crazy and listening to gravel crunching...awesome."
Well last week something amazing happened, I was watching one of Grav3yardgirl's videos on YouTube, she was making crunchy slime. During the video she mentioned that she getting hooked on ASMR videos . In the back of my head I was like "What is that a new singer or something?" I found myself riveted by the sound of the slime and gave in and searched on Youtube for 'gravel crunching sounds'. And a whole new world opened up to me.
Think of any sound out there, seriously anything, and I bet you there's an ASMR video for it. There are videos of people running their fingers through peoples' hair, carving soap, folding towels, and of course gravel crunching. I don't get the tingly thing on the back of my neck but I find the sounds very relaxing and soothing, it even helps me fall asleep at night. Check out some videos I found to sample what ASMR is for yourself.
1. Sand ASMR
2. Floral Foam ASMR
3. More Sand :)
4. Gravel ASMR
5. A Person Excavating A Dinosaur Kit ASMR
6. Wood Carving ASMR
7. Gravel ASMR...again
I think part of the reason why I am so intrigued by these videos is partly because of the sheer number and variety of sounds people have created. There are some truly bizarre ones out there but hey, I like to listen to sand and gravel so who am I to judge?
