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Distant Thunder Japanese Garden Irish Coast Medieval Library Rain on a Tent Stormy Weather The Pilgrim Fireplace
TheCommunity page has taken on a life of its own, growing alongside the official myNoise index. While both are connected—since every composite on the Community page is built from the generators available in the main index—it’s the creativity of users that transforms these raw sounds into something new and unexpected.
I tend to keep my focus on expanding the main index with fresh sounds, so I rarely intervene in the Community space. But whenever I stop by, I’m amazed by how many new submissions have appeared since my last visit! The sheer variety and inventiveness of these composites never fail to impress me.
Among the dedicated users posting there, Sofia stands out. Her contributions have not only been numerous but also widely appreciated, as seen by the many stars her composites have gathered (Rhythm of Resolve, Intense Foxus and Stolen Time are among those ranking the highest). More than once, she has surprised me—rearranging my original sounds in ways I never thought possible (such as The Technician and Inattentive), all while keeping them beautifully musical and balanced. It felt like the right time to reach out and invite her to share a bit about herself here.
Stéphane • Hi Sofia! Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Sofia • Sure! I’m 38 years old, a mom of two special needs children, and I live with AuDHD, fibromyalgia, and other chronic conditions. I was born and raised in the Greek part of Cyprus, then spent a couple of years in Pakistan, my husband’s home country. For nearly a decade now, we’ve been naturalized citizens of northern Portugal, where we’ve found a home.
I have a background in IT—I worked as a hardware technician, systems administrator, and taught computer literacy. But that was a long time ago, when teaching basic computer skills was still common.
Stéphane • What led you to step away from your IT career?
Sofia • My health declined, and, more importantly, my children needed me. My son was diagnosed with apraxia—he has since overcome it—and my daughter has a severe form of autism. We struggled to find daycare centers and later, schools, that would accept them. Some told us outright that they were “difficult.” So, I became a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled them for a while. I loved it and wish I could have continued.
I also wanted to do the best I could for my son, so I joined his therapist’s seminars to learn more about the methods used in his sessions. That way, I could apply the same strategies at home.
Stéphane • Now that your children have found a supportive school, you’ve decided to return to school yourself. What inspired this decision?
Sofia • I wasn’t able to finish high school when I was younger because I got very sick. Now, I’m going back to complete it, even though I have a lot more on my plate and my mind doesn’t feel as sharp as it used to.
Finishing high school is a prerequisite for public universities here, and I’ve always wanted to pursue some formal education. I don’t know where this will lead, but I would like to eventually return to full-time work as my children grow older.
Stéphane • You have a wide range of interests. What topics fascinate you the most?
Sofia • I love learning and reading about all sorts of things—nutritional science, computer science, psychology, Stoicism, Buddhism, you name it. My mind is open to everything. I also enjoy a challenge, especially if it’s something that seems impossible to accomplish. Whether I succeed or not isn’t the point—I just like having something to work towards.
I love all kinds of music—except maybe rap. There’s too much talking, not enough melody for my taste. And I love yoga and building muscle through calisthenics.
Stéphane • How did you discover myNoise?
Sofia • I was a long-time premium subscriber to Spotify for many years. At first, it was great, but as time went on, I started noticing how the algorithm worked—it kept pushing new releases into my playlists. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but then I realized that what had once been therapeutic was slowly becoming an addiction. It started giving me actual headaches.
It reminded me of my experience with social media—when I cut it out, my mind felt clearer and more at peace. I realized I needed to do something similar with music.
I started creating different kinds of playlists on Spotify, replacing music with nearly nothing but rain sounds and meditation bells. But I wasn’t happy with the quality of those recordings. And then Spotify started making changes that frustrated me—suddenly, my carefully curated playlists were being interrupted with random “recommendations.” I didn’t appreciate that.
So, I decided to look for something better. I went to the Google Play Store and started trying different apps. I kept telling myself, “If I can just find one good rain sound—one that I can play all day while I study, work, meditate—without distractions, I’ll be happy.” But it had to be good. I’m really particular about audio quality. That’s something I got from my father—he taught me how to tweak an equalizer to get the perfect sound. Now that I think about it, he was probably the biggest influence on my love for music and sound in general.
After testing all sorts of apps, I finally installed myNoise. I tried the Rain Noise generator first, and it was the most beautiful rain sound I had ever heard. Crystal clear, soothing—like a head massage!
Then I tried the Marimbas generator—instant cure for depression! One by one, I explored more: Cinematic East, Now Loading, and then—oh, look! Fireplace sounds, forests, birds singing, oceans, waterfalls… The entire earth was here!
I paid for the app immediately and canceled my Spotify subscription.
Stéphane • That’s quite the shift! (blushing)
Sofia • Yes! Even the electronic generators felt unique. They reminded me of Vangelis Papathanasiou, my favorite composer. His music is otherworldly, yet at the same time, it feels comforting and inviting—something you can enjoy for hours. That’s exactly what I felt with myNoise.
Stéphane • But this was the mobile app. How did you transitioned to the website?
Sofia • The website was the cherry on top! The custom composites feature was a great addition to an already amazing service. I was immediately hooked. And when I say hooked, I mean really hooked. I could express myself with sound stems from different generators in just minutes. Every time I published a composite, I had three to five more ideas lined up, waiting in my long queue of pinned myNoise tabs in my browser.
I wish I could say that it's just a part of my pomodoro breaks, but making custom composites means a lot more than that for me! (laughs)
Music has been a part of my life since childhood. My aunt gave me a mandolin for my birthday, and later, I asked my father for a piano. He got me a synthesizer instead, and that’s where it all started. I played and composed by ear—whether it was Beethoven, ABBA, Deep Purple, Vangelis, or film scores, I would listen and then play them almost instantly. I did take classical piano lessons later, but only to refine my technique for composing.
When my father heard my compositions, he upgraded my setup—a Yamaha S80 synthesizer and an AW4416 audio workstation. Those were the best years of my life. Music muted my chronic pain and anxiety. I could go hours without eating, drinking, or sleeping—I just composed.
But life took over. At 17, I started working full-time, taking on extra jobs, and eventually, parenting and moving countries. My equipment, and my passion for making music, were left behind. Now, all I have are the MP3s of those compositions, which I still listen to when I need a boost.
I hope to return to composing someday, to feel the keys of a synthesizer under my fingers again. Until then, myNoise has been an outstanding creative and therapeutic outlet—allowing me to shape sound in endless ways: from soothing composites for yoga or meditation practice, to energizing composites for work or exercise, to grounding focus generators for studying, to therapeutic dream states of being surrounded and hugged by nature (and away from modern anxieties), to time travel.
Stéphane • You mention using myNoise to create “time travel” experiences. You’re not the only one who has described it that way, and I have always been puzzled about what sort of time travel it is? Has a composite ever transported you somewhere unexpected, either back in time or into the future?
Sofia • This might sound unexpected coming from someone with an IT background, but I no longer feel comfortable in the modern world. It moves too fast, in directions I don’t like. While I appreciate modern conveniences, life today feels overwhelming—decision fatigue, information overload, digital overstimulation, and over-reliance on technology. Everything is more complicated, stressful, and unhealthy.
One of the ways I cope is by using myNoise as a kind of time machine. Your Natural Noise and Landscapes generators, along with some of my custom composites (Rustling Leaves, Eutopia, Contemplation, Nature’s Hug series, the Forging a Warrior series), help me escape 2025 and transport me back to a simpler time—sometimes even to the Paleolithic era.
I listen to these generators daily, as well as your Rain Noise, Rain Retreat, Primeval Forest, Forest Breath, Japanese Garden, and albums like Walking Tracks and Unspoiled Europe/World. The modern composites I create either help me power through today’s hectic world, give me something to look forward to in the future, or just express how I feel in the moment.
All of this, really, is therapy for me. It helps me cope with a world where I often feel like I don’t belong—which is why I made my I’m an Alien composite.
Stéphane • You’ve created some incredible custom composites. Do you have any tricks or methods for making them?
Sofia • I wouldn’t really call them tricks—I just follow inspiration whenever it strikes. Sometimes, I get a strong craving for a specific mix of instruments, like I did with Rise Up (a blend of Taiko drums, violins, electric guitars, and a touch of psytrance). Other times, it’s about capturing a mood—like in my Stolen Time and Flames of Time series, which reflect my growing awareness of how I spend my time as I get older.
Sometimes, my composites end up completely different from what I originally imagined because I love experimenting. Changing keys, adjusting octaves, isolating certain stems—it can take you in unexpected directions. I just let it happen.
So I guess my advice here is threefold: 1. Do what your soul craves when it craves it—don’t force it. 2. Have an open mind—not just for experimentation, but also for exposure to different sounds and melodies from different genres, artists, and eras. 3. Let the result form into YOUR ears as a perfect fit. Nothing less, nothing more.
This is YOUR experience, so just have fun with it!
Stéphane • If you could request a dream generator for myNoise—something that doesn’t exist yet—what would it be?
Sofia • myNoise has already covered and exceeded all my needs, but if you’re looking for a challenge… how about Beethoven’s symphonies meet Mark Mancina’s action film scores?
Stéphane • Wow, that was unexpected! And what if Mozart met Hans Zimmer? I’ll think about it, but I might just say it’s your job! You have the tools and a better imagination, Sofia. Why not create it yourself and post it on the Community Page? ;)