Calm Launches ‘Shift,’ a New In-App Mental Wellness Offering Featuring Bilateral Audio and an Exclusive Track by Daisy the Great
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Calm, a recognized leader in the digital mental wellness space known for its flagship application dedicated to sleep, stress reduction, and mindful living, has officially announced the launch of a brand-new in-app offering titled Shift. Designed to help users actively transform how they feel in the present moment, Shift utilizes bilateral audio—an innovative, audio-based approach inspired by established therapeutic techniques. Available immediately to subscribers, the launch introduces a comprehensive 7-day guided program alongside more than 20 custom bilateral tracks, featuring an exclusive musical collaboration with the popular New York-based indie duo Daisy the Great.
Bilateral audio works by intentionally and rhythmically shifting sound back and forth between the left and right ears. This dynamic movement creates a natural auditory rhythm engineered to help individuals adjust their mood, whether they are trying to ease into a restful night of sleep, release the physical and mental tension accumulated throughout a demanding day, or clear away the heavy fog of an afternoon slump. According to Calm, the experience requires no special training or prior meditation skills; listeners simply need a pair of headphones and a few uninterrupted minutes to experience the shift.
The introduction of Shift builds upon a growing cultural interest in bilateral stimulation and sound-based mental health tools. Calm first integrated bilateral audio content into its expanding music library back in 2022, subsequently witnessing a steady surge in both user engagement and broader cultural demand. Today, bilateral audio stands as one of the most frequently searched terms within the Calm platform. Simultaneously, public interest has exploded across the broader internet, with Google searches for "bilateral audio" surging by more than 5,000% over the past year. Viral online concepts such as "brain flossing" have further captured public attention, highlighting a widespread desire for accessible, bilateral stimulation techniques aimed at clearing mental clutter.
Dun Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Calm, emphasized that the evolution of the company aligns with a vision of comprehensive emotional support rather than a narrow focus on traditional meditation alone.
"Calm’s origins are rooted in making meditation accessible, but we never intended to be a meditation-only app," said Wang. "We want to be a place people can come to feel better, in whatever way they need. At first it was meditation, then it was sleep, which led to the launch of Sleep Stories, an innovative format that is now one of our most popular offerings. Shift is next, leveraging bilateral sound and music to meet people with approachable, trusted, and deeply human support that leaves them feeling better than when they came."
At its launch, Shift provides users with multiple distinct pathways to engage with the content, anchored by a robust library of soundscapes and guided sessions. A central highlight of the initial music collection is an exclusive bilateral remix of "The Record Player Song" by Daisy the Great. Originally released in 2018, the track became a major breakout hit for the indie duo, eventually accumulating more than 200 million streams across multiple versions.
More recently, Daisy the Great reimagined the track utilizing hocketing, a distinctive musical technique where a single melody is split between two or more voices or instruments, alternating notes and rests. This creative reinvigoration gained massive traction across TikTok, capturing the imagination of millions of listeners. The new bilateral remix marks the first of several upcoming musical collaborations between Calm and Daisy the Great tailored specifically for the Shift experience, continuing Calm’s long-standing tradition of partnering with contemporary artists to produce resonant, culturally relevant content.
Mina Walker and Kelley Dugan of Daisy the Great expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership and the unique auditory qualities of their music that made it a natural fit for the platform.
"We started to make a lot of videos online singing with a technique called hocketing where we split up the melody line and pass it back-and-forth, and it makes a really awesome vocal effect. We did it with our song ‘The Record Player Song,’ and that one really seemed to resonate," the duo shared in a joint statement. "That song already has a bit of a built-in bilateral quality with the melody passing between us, and the overlapping vocals, so it made a lot of sense for Shift. We’re so, so excited to be working with Calm and their production team to not only share our music in a new way, but hopefully to help people feel good and connected to themselves too."
To ensure that Shift met rigorous standards of credibility, safety, and suitability for everyday, self-guided use, Calm collaborated closely with external consultants certified by the EMDR International Association throughout the entire development process. This clinical oversight ensures that the auditory experiences are grounded in established professional practices while remaining approachable for the general public.
Roy Kiessling, LISW, an experienced EMDR clinician and trainer, praised the thoughtful integration of therapeutic principles into a consumer wellness product.
"With Shift, Calm takes its already impressive collection of self-soothing programs to another level, thoughtfully integrating guided imagery, relaxing music, and gentle bilateral stimulation," said Kiessling. "As an experienced EMDR clinician and trainer, I appreciate the care Calm has taken to emphasize relaxation, emotional comfort, and positive resource enhancement. Shift offers a welcome, accessible way to incorporate soothing bilateral stimulation into everyday emotional well-being."
Shift is available exclusively on the Calm platform for Premium subscribers. Users can access the new offering by downloading Calm from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and subscribing to Calm Premium. Calm continues its broader mission of making the world happier and healthier through its flagship consumer app, which has achieved over 180 million downloads and is available in 10 languages across nearly 190 countries. In addition to its consumer offerings, Calm operates Calm Health, a digital mental health solution provided through employers, health plans, and healthcare providers to expand access to clinical mental health and sleep support, supporting more than 100,000 organizations and reaching over 42 million covered lives today.
