Novel Playlist

[Red.Ink.Rain]

Do you listen to music when you write? What songs have you found that seemed like they were written specifically for your novel?

I personally cannot write unless there's music (that's why I'm typing out my prologue now, while Dad's playing Guitar Hero. :) ) This is my playlist for FIREBRAND.

1. "Faith, Love and Happiness" - Thousand Food Krutch
2. "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolph
3. "Shape of Things to Come" - Audioslave
4. "Haunted" - Evanescence
5. "Murexa" - Falling Up
6. "Going Under" - Evanescence
7. "Move" - Thousand Foot Krutch
8. "Give You Back" - Vertical Horizon
9. "Breathe" - Red
11. "Blood Moves" - Deadman
12. "Energy" - Skillet
13. "You Are My Joy" - David Crowder
14. "Weathered" - Creed
15. "Get Back" - Pillar
16. "Ignition" - TobyMac
17. "Reckless Youth" - Pillar
18. "Freedom Fighter" - Creed
19. "Furious Angels" - Rob Dougan
20. "The Wait is Over" - Disciple

[blacbird]

I have never listened to a single one of those songs. Or bands, that I'm aware of.

Man, do I ever feel old.

caw

[Red.Ink.Rain]

I have never listened to a single one of those songs. Or bands, that I'm aware of.

Man, do I ever feel old.

caw

Lol, don't feel old. I listen to strange music.

[Nakhlasmoke]

I set my UFs to music.

Yes I'm lame, I should think we all know this by now.

I don't do that with my secondary world fantasy

[blacbird]

Lol, don't feel old. I listen to strange music.

But, schidt, I am old. When I was your age, Pluto was a planet.

caw

[TnD]

But, schidt, I am old. When I was your age, Pluto was a planet.

You think you're old? When I was her age, Guns N Roses was still on their Use Your Illusion tour. I have actually heard of a couple of those bands, however. Not my cup of Sanka, but I've heard of them nonetheless.

I think that listening to music while writing is therapeutic. For me, it helps me drop into the other world. I've tried writing while having it come out of speakers, but I've found that the best way to do it is just to wear headphones.

The type of music that I listen to while writing also depends on the writing.

[Teleute]

I listen to a lot of Apocalyptica (classical Metallica cover band), Sixteen Horsepower/Woven Hand, Led Zeppelin, Damien Rice, Cream... and a lot of soundtracks: 28 Weeks Later, Sin City, and Gladiator, to name a few. That's my mood music. Oh, and any version of "House of the Rising Sun," which is my favorite song. Ever.

[Stunted]

A lot of Franz Ferdinand, Juno sound track, the Doors, the Beatles. Stuff like that.

[Red.Ink.Rain]

You think you're old? When I was her age, Guns N Roses was still on their Use Your Illusion tour.

When you were my age? Sheesh, now I just feel awkward. Do I just emit extremely youthful vibes or something?

[tehuti88]

I don't listen to music when I write since I would just tune it out (no pun intended), but there IS music I listen to that makes me think of my stories, sort of like a mental soundtrack if you will. For that reason I like lots of really soundtracky-type stuff like ES Posthumus and Globus (Immediate Music), but also things like Within Temptation and Phil Collins, lots of many things really. Certain songs make me think of certain parts of my stories (sometimes I'll even reuse the same song for different scenes/stories--I remember doing this with the "Tarzan" soundtrack :o ), and certain songs make me think of certain characters (Within Temptation's "Stand My Ground" makes me think of the protagonist of my current serial). I could go on and on and on but won't.

So, music does play a huge part in my writing, but not during the actual writing.

*looks at original post in more detail*

Vertical Horizon and "Furious Angels"!! ZOMG I love those!!

[Palmfrond]

I need nearly complete silence or else white noise to write. Music is too interesting.

[ChaosTitan]

Don't worry, Red.Ink.Rain, I listen to many of those bands while I write, plus many of their contemporaries. It's the right sort of music for the vibe of my books. ;)

[KikiteNeko]

Right now, in no particular order, my writing playlist includes (but is not limited to) the following:

1. The Story by Brandi Carlisle
2. Other Side of the World by KT Tunstall
3. Sweaters by Beth Waters
4. Speeding Cars by Imogen Heap
5. Wake up by Hooverphonic
6. Do What You Want by OK Go!
7. Our Hell by Emily Haines
8. King of Carrot Flowers by Neutral Milk Hotel
9. Goodnight and Go by Imogen Heap
10. Five String Serenade by Mazzy Star
11. Concrete Sky by Beth Orton

[thethinker42]

It depends. If I'm having a pretty "easy" day (focusing, the writing is happening without much resistance, etc), I'll listen to my "Favorites" list on iTunes...that would be pretty much a hodge podge of 30 Seconds to Mars, KMFDM, Finger Eleven, One Republic, Clannad, Enigma, some country music, and various other things. Basically, any music that I like.

If I'm having a difficult time writing, or I'm working on a scene that requires an exceptional amount of concentration, then it's usually Clannad, Enigma, Enya, Loreena McKennett, Darby DeVon, Yanni...some mix of New Age, Celtic, etc. I can concentrate very easily with those playing...not so much with my usual music choices.

Here's an odd piece of thethinker42 trivia, something I've only recently learned about myself after scarletpeaches sent me the song in question: If I'm struggling with a particularly "intimate" scene, and I play Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" while I'm writing, the problems with the scene will, without fail, be resolved before the song is over. NO IDEA why...but I'll take it.

[williemeikle]

I have different ones for different books

The Midnight Eye is a blues buff. For his last case he got, among others:

The Bessie Smith Collection
The Robert Johnson Collection
John Lee Hooker's Greatest Hits
Muddy Waters Greatest Hits
The Sonny Boy Williamson Collection
Howling Wolf, The London Sessions
B.B.King, Best of...
Elmore James, King of the Bottleneck Blues
The Original Fleetwood Mac compilation
Eric Clapton, From the Cradle
George Thorogood and the Destroyers 1st Album
Janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Co.
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
Gary Moore, Blues Alive
Peter Green and the Splinter Group
Led Zeppelin, the 1st album of the BBC Sessions

[blacbird]

I need nearly complete silence or else white noise to write. Music is too interesting.

Music as a backdrop doesn't work for me, either, for the same reason. I tend to listen actively, which is exactly what I don't want when I'm trying to concentrate on writing. Oddly, however, "white noise", the kind of random low-level clamor you hear in a restaurant or hotel lobby or bar, is fine for me.

caw

[williemeikle]

For another book, a post-apocalyptic horror novel I had -

Black Sabbath Vol 4
Led Zeppelin 2
Metallica - The Black Album
Nick Cave - Murder Ballads
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
ELP - Tarkus
Moody Blues - To Our Childrens Childrens Children
Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
Genesis - Foxtrot
Yes - Close to the Edge
Neil Young - Harvest

[alyssalynne]

I generally like movie soundtracks. Instrumental only. Lyrics are too distracting. Anything by Hans Zimmer, James Horner or Klaus Badelt is good. Gladiator and the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks are a few favorites. Braveheart is okay. I like the first Evanescence CD too. I guess it depends on what I'm working on.

[Gynn]

Right now, instrumental music (i.e. no vocals) only.

So, Gifts From Enola, Caspian and Russian Circles.

[TnD]

When you were my age? Sheesh, now I just feel awkward. Do I just emit extremely youthful vibes or something?
I was just kidding around. I don't have the slightest clue about how old you are and honestly, it doesn't really matter. Besides, if we didn't have youthfulness present, then all the old writers would die and we'd be left with reality TV.

I figured you're in High School, perhaps college or maybe even a grandfather. GnR was on their UYI tour in the mid-90's, when I started in High School. That's all. No reason to feel awkward.

As far as music to listen to, I run the gamut. Cannibal Corpse to D12 to Dropkick Murphys to Beethoven to Motley Crue. I usually just let the computer pick randomly, unless there's a specific song that fits what I'm writing.

And Pluto was considered a planet only up until recently. That's why I made that comment originally. ;)

[Red.Ink.Rain]

*gasp*

A world of nothing but reality tv? *shudder* I think I had a nightmare about that once or twice.

Lol. I was kidding too about the age thing. As it so happens, I am in college. I just find it interesting that everyone seems to know my age even though I don't tell anyone. All writers must be psychic. :)

[RunawayScribe]

I have playlists for each novel, but they're in two sections. The first is the music that makes me think of certain characters or situations, and the second is the stuff I ACTUALLY listen to while writing - the instrumental/electronic stuff. Lyrics distract me while I'm trying to work.

[TrickyFiction]

What songs have you found that seemed like they were written specifically for your novel?

These, in random order:

"Blue Caravan" by Vienna Teng
"A Dream Of Gardens" by Olga Nunes
"Gnossiennes Nos. 1 & 3" by Lucarelli - Jolles - Morelli
"Into the Ocean" by Blue October
"Running Up That Hill (2007 Digital Remaster)" by Placebo
"Teardrop" by Massive Attack
"Violently Back" by Olga Nunes
"The Water" by Feist
"Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak
"The Boy Who Giggled So Sweet" by Emiliana Torrini
"If You Go Away" by Emiliana Torrini
"Almost Lover" by A Fine Frenzy
"Puppet" by Yael Naim

[Gynn]

What songs have you found that seemed like they were written specifically for your novel?


"He Lays the Reins", by Iron and Wine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJT0pqPlzT0

"Odal", by Agalloch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88KUBzV2jfU

[williemeikle]

This thread made me think about it again, and I've got a whole new playlist for my new novel. It's a conspiracy thriller, with supernatural overtones, and a McGuffin that dates back to 14thC Scotland

Here's my proposed list that will keep me in the right mood for the feel I'm after.

Murder Ballads - Nick Cave
Leige and Lief - Fairport Convention
Led Zeppelin - III
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
The Pogues - Rum Sodomy and the Lash
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Metallica - The Black Album
Horslips - The Tain
Wishbone Ash - Argus
Rush - 2012
Arcade Fire - Funeral

[nevada]

No music. Not when I write, not when I read. No music. Music only in the car and at work. At work most of the time I can't hear it because the powertools are too loud but there must be music. I can't work without it. I am an active listener, music has never been background noise. The tv was background noise, but I got rid of it. So now all is silence. Sounds rather pathetic when you think about it. lol

[williemeikle]

Just about to start a new novel, but I just had to get the playlist right first :)


It's a Viking vs Sea Monsters fantasy, and this list is going to look strange to some of you, but it fits what's going on in my head :)

No Quarter - Led Zeppelin
The Hooded Man - Clannad
Red Right Hand - Nick Cave
Iron Man - Black Sabbath
In a Big Country - Big Country
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
The Sick Bed of Chuchulain - The Pogues
The Hut of Baba Yaga - ELP
Stargazer - Rainbow
Death is Not the End - Nick Cave
Seven Nation army - White Stripes
Who Knows Where the Time Goes - Sandy Denny
Mars - Holzt's The Planet's Suite
Child in Time - Deep Purple
Paint it Black - Rolling Stones
Siberian Khatru - Yes
In My Time of Dying - Led Zeppelin