Deep down in TikTok’s digital abyss lies a treasure trove of strange, unearthly, and brain-tickling sounds; a bizarro realm populated by alien sonics, otherworldly textures, disembodied vocals and imaginary instruments. Welcome to the weird and whimsical world of Galen Tipton, an American producer pioneering an experimental new sound called brain scratch.
The term brain scratch refers to a feeling of mental satisfaction - the scratching of a psychological itch - produced by ASMR, or auto-sensory meridian response, which features heavily in Tipton’s music. ASMR denotes a tingling sensation that begins on the scalp and creeps down the neck and spine, often accompanied by goosebumps and a feeling of relaxation: it’s typically triggered by quiet sounds of a certain quality recorded up close, like the gentle manipulation of small objects or a soft whisper in your ear.
