This morning, we’re experimenting with a new series centered around the concept of swimming. Whether it’s in the sea, a swimming pool, or a river… swimming engages the body in a unique way. As we move through a much denser fluid than we’re accustomed to with air, we tend to feel as if our body’s gravity has changed. Since water is constantly in motion, our bodies receive and react to that movement in order to stay afloat.
There’s something deeply universal we all share with this element when one remembers that it is where we come from, whether in the first months of our lives or millions of years ago when we hadn’t yet emerged onto the earth’s surface.
This series is dedicated to enhancing this experience with a music selection we invite you to listen to while swimming. And if you don’t have that possibility, simply sit back and imagine yourself in water as you’re pushing the play button.
Ready? Let’s go.
Dorian Concept - Decaying Duet
ImaCrea: “ Water is in constant movement. So let’s start with beautiful sound waves. ”
Nathan Fake - Yucon
ImaCrea: “ I’m submerged by fluid, gravity is different here. I feel lighter, I’m floating as if I was flying. I feel one with this element and I remember it’s where I was formed during the first months of my life. People around each with their very own way of swimming. The bass is calling me, let’s go. ”
Batu - Meridian
ImaCrea: “ Repetition of the movement, full body engaged in it. Repetition gets me into a state of flow, speed increases, soon my thinking is shut off. I’m a body, and swimming is what I do. That’s all. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1, 2, 3, 4… ”
FKA Twigs - Drum of Death
ImaCrea: “ My body starts to call, telling me I’m about to hit a limit. Am I exhausted? Should I get some rest? Let’s listen to it, what does it want? What do I want? Let’s not stop the movement. Just change the shape of it, slow it down, pace the rhythm, let it rest but stay with the flow. Desire kicks back, invigorating drums pulsating, I feel I get into a new state. Swimming becomes more natural. I feel like I’m dancing. ”
Blawan - Creature Brigade
ImaCrea: “ Unlocking mental blocks, exploring new ways of trusting my body. An exhilarating rush of adrenaline floods my brain… ”
DJ Koze - Die Gondel (feat. Sophia Kennedy)
ImaCrea: “ Pause, rest for a while. Sunrays from outside pierce through the glass ceiling, reflection onto the surface of the water draw blurry geometrical shapes on the walls. Music and water are made of the same element: waves. I feel it’s the final chapter of the session. ”
Car Culture - It Feels Great
ImaCrea: “ Back on earth, still floating… It’s a beautiful day, autumn leaves are swimming in the air and I get on my bike. Riding with a light heart, playing with gravity as the road goes up and down, right and left… ”
Thank you for being with us, for pushing us to experiment with new things and share them with you. We’re very curious to know your feelings about this episode. Feel free to write to us and let us know!
Many thanks to Antoine for creating this inspiring illustration. I feel it really encapsulates what I tried to express with that selection. Also, a big thank you to the service public here in France ✊, we have more than 4000 swimming pools across the country! Let’s enjoy them!
