Touched by Sound

Touched-by-Sound-Best-Of.mp3
Touched-by-Sound-Best-Of.mp4
Touched-by-Sound.mp3
Touched-by-Sound.mp4
Touched-by-Sound-intro.mp3

[Intro]
Feel around
(Touched by sound)

[Refrain]
Touched by sound
(It’ll move ya around)
Down, down, down
(You can feel it deep)
Deep, down, down, down

[Bridge]
Feel around
(Find the sound)
Found from the ground
(In-touch found)

[Refrain]
Touched by sound
(It’ll move ya around)
Down, down, down
(You can feel it deep)
Deep, down, down, down

[Bridge]
It moves me!
(Sets me free)
I can’t hear
(But it’s here!)
Baa, baa, baa,
(Bass-ickly)
(Find the sound)
Found from the ground
(In-touch found)

[Refrain]
Touched by sound
(It’ll move ya around)
Down, down, down
(You can feel it deep)
Deep, down, down, down

[Outro]
Hear it
(In spirit)
Hear it
(In here)
Feel
(Real)
Deep
(Down)
Within
(As it out)
… moves ya about

ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF THE SONG

Ultrasonic sub-bass that you feel more than hear operates at extremely low frequencies, often below the threshold of human hearing (typically 20 Hertz, or Hz, and below). The sensation of this “moving” quality is primarily due to the way these frequencies interact with the physical human body rather than the auditory system.

How You “Feel” Sound

The physical sensation of sub-bass is a combination of physiological and psychological responses:

1. Resonating with the Body (Tactile Perception)

The human body does not just hear sound; it physically interacts with sound waves.

Vibration of Tissues and Organs: Extremely low frequencies cause physical vibrations that resonate with internal body tissues, organs, and even the skeletal structure. The chest cavity, in particular, is highly susceptible to these low-frequency vibrations.
Mechanoreceptors: Your skin contains specialized nerve endings called mechanoreceptors, which are highly sensitive to pressure and vibration. When intense, low-frequency sound waves hit your body, these receptors send signals to your brain, creating the feeling of being pushed, pulled, or “moved,” separate from the sensation of hearing.
Entrainment: The intense, rhythmic vibrations can cause the human body to subtly sway or sync with the beat, a physiological response known as entrainment that contributes to the physical sensation of music.

2. The Limits of Hearing

Below the Auditory Threshold: Frequencies below 20 Hz become increasingly difficult to distinguish as distinct pitches. Instead of hearing a musical note, the auditory system perceives a strong rumble or a sensation of pure pressure and air displacement.
Bone Conduction: While most sound is heard through air vibrating the eardrum, low-frequency pressure waves can be conducted through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the standard auditory pathway and reinforcing the physical sensation.

3. Psychological and Emotional Effects

The physical sensation of deep bass often triggers strong emotional and psychological responses:

A Primal Response: Because low rumbles are associated with natural phenomena like earthquakes, thunder, or large predators in early human history, humans may have an ingrained, subconscious reaction to intense infrasound that evokes feelings of power, suspense, or even anxiety.
Immersion and Presence: Feeling the music physically adds a layer of immersion that auditory perception alone cannot match. It makes the music feel more “real” and present within the physical environment, rather than just something you are listening to.

In essence, sub-bass “moves” you because the energy of the sound wave has enough physical force to displace the air and vibrate your body, turning an auditory experience into a powerful, tactile one.

From the album “Amplification“