Music to Write to

I know I said in my last post that I would love to do some sort of communal writing project, where a small group of us would either get the ball rolling with the use of one theme or line. But I guess maybe it'd be better over a long vacation, such as either Spring Break or summer vacation, so that academic or job deadlines won't be an issue. I myself have a pelting of exams to zip through in the upcoming weeks. So, this literary challenge is post-poned, at least for now.

Meanwhile, thanks to the recommendations made by my friend, Liliana (whose blog can be found here), I was able to uncover some new music that could possibly work as background music during one of my story-storming and writing sessions. These have an overall dark mood - perfect for scenes meant to feel creepy or loaded with fast-paced action.

The first one is by Gossip, called "Heavy Cross." Really haunting with the beat and the girl's vocals. It feels like a '70s kung-pow disco kind of vibe - fresh, funky cool. ;)



I heard about Florence + the Machine about a year ago when I was searching Youtube for some clips of Fox's hit tv series, "Bones." A fan had made a video of scenes between Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan with the song "Kiss with a Fist" in the background. I thought the song was weird (it's about a dysfunctional relationship, if you haven't already guessed), but really groovy. So I downloaded it and put it in my mp3 player. I'd been meaning to search for more songs by Florence + the Machine, but I just never found the time or it would always slip my mind.

And let me tell you, I fell absolutely in love with her music all over again, especially with "Drumming Song" and "Howl." They're absolutely fantastic, filled with passion and charged with the hot vibrancy of conflict. I was easily able to write some more details for the action scene I'm currently working on.

Here they are below, courtesy of Youtube...

First, "Drumming Song"


And now here's my absolute favorite, which was also featured in a trailor for season 4 of "The Tudors." This one is called "Howl."



Dark, seductive, and fast-paced aren't they? Absolutely compelling.

Then, during another search, I came across this excellent band named Explosions in the Sky. They mostly do instrumental compositions - lots of melody and great balance between light and dark moods, kind of like the musical scores done in movies. So if you're the kind of writer who prefers songs without sung lyrics, this may be a great group to listen to as you're crafting your story. This particular song is called "Greet Death."



If you like more music like this, and more bands similar to Explosions in the Sky, there's another band that I noticed many people liked.

Listen to the band Sigur Ros if you're more into lighter melodies for easy listening, especially if you're writing a fantasy story. They're an Icelandic band, and although you might not understand the language they're singing in, their songs are very soothing and optimistic. I wouldn't be surprised if they were included in a Pure Moods compilation; their music is beautiful.

Here's one of Sigur Ros's songs, called "Staralfur," for example. Give it a go, and I promise you that you'll feel a comforting calm wash over you.





I have a lot more on my list of story-writing songs, so check back later the next time I blog about music. I'll try to find some more interesting songs for writing as time goes on. You're also more than welcome to add any of your suggestions. In the meantime, enjoy the tune-age! ;)