What, how, why?

In a world of stress, hard work, sandwiches at the desk instead of lunch hours, telephones with 128-page user manuals, remote controls stacking up by the dozen (so it's even easier to lose them), and technology generally going mad - we all need a space to chill out.

So we made a mix of music to help us chill, and thought it would be fun to hear on the radio. We left out the bits of radio that wouldn’t help – pointless gossip, DJ waffle, screaming competition winners – and that left us lots more space for tunes. The only people you’ll hear on Chill are people who love music and want to chill out with it as much as you do, so they’ll play the tunes and save the conversation for sites like this one, or one of our other outposts on social networks.

It started small, with compilation tapes for ourselves and friends to chill out to. That's where the idea for our station came from, and we make it the same way we made the tapes - listening to lots of music, swapping ideas, seeing what happens when we mix together acts like Morcheeba, Air, Moby, Sigur Ros, Beth Orton, Goldfrapp, Emiliana Torrini, 4Hero, Bebel Gilberto, Massive Attack, Aqualung, Damien Rice and Jack Johnson.

Listeners like you suggested more, like Nouvelle Vague, Barefoot, Richard Pollott, Ken Peel, Orka Veer and Shine.

And we've been joined by some of the best producers, DJs and creators of chillout music in the world, like The Big Chill's Pete Lawrence, Fragile State's Ben Mynott, top chiller Alucidnation, the world famous Chiller Cabinet and more. Full details and contact links are in our schedule.

What helps you chill?

"A bit of stretching tense muscles helps me relax - keep them relaxed and breathe slowly" - Sarah Newbury

"I get tired if I don't break for lunch. Going out for an hour with the girls keeps us sane!" - Kate Hall

"I like getting lost online - looking up stories or information and seeing where it leads" - Peter Gibson

"It helps me if I grab a pen and paper and start doodling, though I'm not exactly an artist!" - Kim Smith

"Phone a friend, talk rubbish, have a laugh." - Chris Adams

"Fishing. But when I'm stuck indoors I can always dream about fishing." - Mark Armstrong

We'd love to hear what helps you chill. On this site, you can sign up and share all about it, and help other listeners chill with you!