We asked sex experts Alexandra Stockwell, M.D., and Goody Howard, LMSW, MPH, for details about the auralistic fetish and how you can lean into making all of your senses sexy. It’s not exactly clear when the term was coined, though getting hot off of your partner’s sounds of enjoyment isn’t new. Notably, though, there has been increased interest around sensual audio experiences in recent years, from audio porn to ASMR. Stockwell attributes the trend to the general turn toward placing more focus on the female sexual experience and what turns women on. “Heterosexual men are known to be very responsive to visual stimulation,” Stockwell notes. “As more attention is being put on female sexuality…there has been a growing appreciation of the importance in aural stimulation in sexual arousal.” “Another place to start is noticing if you respond pleasurably to certain voices,” Stockwell adds. You can check out other audio apps that are not necessarily designed for sensual purposes, like Audible or Apple Podcasts, to test out different voices and types of audio. ASMR, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, is a term describing the tingling sensation some people experience in response to certain sounds (and sights). YouTube is littered with ASMR videos featuring everything from crinkling paper to soft whispers. ASMR can be self-care for some people and a source of sexual stimulation for others, so it may be worth exploring if you’re curious about auralism. “Sometimes the sounds bring flashbacks of a previous lover or sexual encounter,” Howard explains. “It’s the tone, pitch, and timbre of sounds that stir the passions.” “Pay attention to the little things like the way your clothes feel on your skin, the sounds of your breathing when doing different activities, the way your food/drink tastes, the textures and weight of food on the tongue, etc. Practicing general sensuality will open doors to connecting to auralism in ways that may not have been obvious before. For example, taking a shower in the dark, no music, no candles, just the sound of the water and your breathing is a great way to connect to your body and your senses.” If labeling it as an auralistic fetish doesn’t feel like a fit, that’s OK too. Do what feels good to you, and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! Sometimes we do feel bound by what we have been told should be arousing, but oftentimes, what is sexy varies from person to person. So go ahead: Download that app, plug in your headphones, snag some slippery new lube—whatever sounds good to you. White is the founder and editor of UnSung Literary Magazine, a flash fiction and poetry publication focused on offering artistic space for marginalized voices. She is also a guest editor with Quail Bell Magazine and the co-host of Critiques for The Culture, a podcast where media is dissected through humor and a sociopolitical lens. She is a lover of words, inquisition, and community and has used her role within both literary and organizational spaces to make room for folks who are often cast aside.
