Ghost in the Machine by SZA (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) is 88 BPM — Andante (walking pace).
Half-time 44 BPM · Double-time 176 BPM · released 2022
Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A collaborative R&B-alternative track exploring disillusionment with digital inauthenticity and craving genuine human connection amid industry pressures.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: emotional, introspective, melancholy
Traditions: R&B, alternative, indie pop
"Ghost in the Machine" by SZA (featuring Phoebe Bridgers)
88 BPM, dynamic range 5/10, layered texture, dynamic vocals. Sits in the middle band — neither built for stillness nor pitched at workout intensity. Whether it works for a given moment depends more on mood and lyrical content than on the acoustic profile. The full sensory breakdown follows.
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 5/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
2022 context
Released in 2022. We have 362 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2020s.
Explore by mood and tradition
How fast is "Ghost in the Machine"?
88 BPM — Slow (downtempo / ballad)
Too slow for most running; good for warm-up walks or cool-down.
Warm-up, cool-down, yoga, stretching.
Morning coffee, deep work, commute wind-down.
Browse more songs at 88 BPM.
When "Ghost in the Machine" works, and when it doesn't
Use-case verdicts computed from the song's tempo, dynamics, and sensory profile.
Maybe — fine for routine work, but the mid-song changes may pull attention during deep focus.
No — 88 BPM is too slow for sustained cardio.
No — contains elements that will keep an awake nervous system engaged.
Yes — predictable enough for safe driving attention, interesting enough to stay engaged.
Yes — sits in the background without demanding attention.
Yes — this is a song for actively feeling what you came to feel, not for background.
Related reading
Editorial guides that cover this song's use cases, moods, or artist.
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Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
See how “Ghost in the Machine” sits against your own sensitivities, or use it as a waypoint in a calmer set.
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Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Contact the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 38% of songs, calmer than the other 62%. Its intensity reading of 42/100 comes from a dynamic range of 5/10, layered texture, mild shifts, and dynamic vocals. It shares this stretch of the spectrum with thousands of other tracks, so the finer fingerprint below is what really separates it.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is an unusually steady, even volume: more extreme on that axis than 88% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on full chaos — sudden changes, huge quiet-to-loud swings, and relentless energy — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
2022 in context
The 362 songs we’ve measured from 2022 average a dynamic range of 6.3/10. At 5/10, this track is gentler and steadier than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Frequently asked about "Ghost in the Machine"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the BPM of "Ghost in the Machine" by SZA (featuring Phoebe Bridgers)?
"Ghost in the Machine" by SZA (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) has a tempo of 88 BPM (Andante (walking pace)). At half-time that is 44 BPM, and at double-time 176 BPM.
What is the sensory intensity of "Ghost in the Machine" by SZA (featuring Phoebe Bridgers)?
"Ghost in the Machine" by SZA (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 5/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Ghost in the Machine" — what is its dynamic range?
"Ghost in the Machine" has a dynamic range of 5/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Ghost in the Machine" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Ghost in the Machine" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Ghost in the Machine" best for?
In our library "Ghost in the Machine" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Ghost in the Machine" released?
"Ghost in the Machine" is from 2022, on the album "SOS". It appears in our 2020s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Ghost in the Machine"?
We tag "Ghost in the Machine" as emotional, introspective, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Ghost in the Machine"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Is "Ghost in the Machine" good for running?
Not really — at 88 BPM it's below most running cadences. Better for warm-up, cool-down, or walking. Recreational runners typically step at 140-175 BPM.
Is "Ghost in the Machine" good for studying?
Only partially. The song's dynamic range (5/10) means there will be loud moments that break focus during deep work.
Can I use "Ghost in the Machine" for sleep?
Not recommended for sleep. Contains transitions that will wake you up.
Should I listen to "Ghost in the Machine"?
"Ghost in the Machine" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
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