When I write, I like to manipulate my mood with music to differentiate tones. Is that something you do? Care to share your favourite tunes for different moods?
Usually I like silence, but Sigur Ros's music inspired me to write a whole screenplay (set in NZ). I also enjoy Hammock's music when I need to block out the noise.
I do like to manipulate my mood with music when I write. But I usually do toward the end of the process. Like, to get into a contemplative mood when trying to wrap things up and get to an ending, for example. Or when telling a personal story from my childhood. It's kind of random, I guess. But I do use music at times. And when I do, I like instrumental, jazz preferably. Some early Miles Davis, or Bill Evans. Among singers, I like to put on some Leonard Cohen sometimes.
If writing something set in the past, I have experimented with music from that era. Though as I’ve got older I’ve found it increasingly difficult to write while listening to any music with lyrics, so it’s mainly instrumental jazz these days.
Remy, doing artwork I had lots of different music on. This became an opportunity to discover much new music for me as well. I felt writing and artwork are different processes, using different areas of the mind, and I would switch between them. did a number of comic stories like this.
Yes! Music is such a powerful tool to "manipulate our mood" whether writing or otherwise. Music can also emphasise an emotion that is already there giving it more power and energy as I write.
I can only write to instrumental especially at the start of the process. Don't need two lots of words to sort through in my head!
Flow State ( on Substack) and Insight Timer ( a meditation app) provide a lot of my more contemplative music inspiration.
Spotify informed me in my Yearly "Wrapped" that I had listened to 130 genres last year! I didn't even know there were that many genres. I am a bit of a deep house lover from way back too so always love that to get the mood up.
All these can be found on Spotify:
SUSS, Monolake , Sgarz, Brain Eno, Jon Hopkins, Andrew Tuttle, Hania Rani, Fred again, Will Gardner, Hiroshi Yoshimura ( love "time after time"), Blue Divers, Jonny Nash, Jup/ter, Swami Madhuram, The Wong Janice ( cello).
Daft Punk, Underworld, and Groove Armada, Pink Floyd, god the list goes on for ever, have good instrumentals and always great lyrics when you are ready for more words. The Pixies are great for when some anger needs to be explored. 😊
Yeah, I could go on. Better stop here.
Thanks for the question. Hope you find something there that you may like too. If you have any favourites I'd love to hear them.
I’m very lucky that my last two films I knew the musicians and had full permission to use their songs - which was a gift in post production but also during the writing process. Entire storylines evolved around lyrics. Now I have a private dedicated playlist, entitled “songs for a scene I haven’t written yet” - whenever I get stuck I put it onto imagine.
Back when I wrote a lot of code, I always thought that I wrote better when listening to music, but now, when writing prose, I find it too distracting – but we’re all different, so whatever works.
I switch between Handel and 80s rock for drawing, depending on what I'm drawing. There's so much good stuff out there! I also like some of The Chainsmokers' stuff.
Yes, actually music is my perfect source of inspiration. Every story I write ends up with it’s own “soundtrack”. The current one I’m writing is a dark winterly fantasy, and Jonna Linton’s “Vargsången” and other songs help me get in the mood. When I write classical fantasy Lord Huron and Fleet foxes are the bands that create scenes in my head instantly. For my only Urban fantasy - Muse or M83.
Thanks Remy, I use Youtube, and self curate. I could do a playlist for the Cory books, which reflect the musical tastes of the two adult main characters, but haven't been asked for it before, oddly enough. You Tube is full of ambient stuff, which actually gives working in a coffee shop vibe without the coffee. (Another type, in London, find a cafe where the predominant language is not English. Less distracting.)
This is a great thread Remy! I began working from home full-time at the beginning of Covid, and I've never gone back to the office. My company is yet to mandate it and is effectively now fully remote. But working in isolation can be oddly stressful when you come under pressure with workload / deadlines. It's not a good feeling, because, unlike the office, there's no interaction with a colleague to pick you up / offload / or to distract your head. So... listening to classical music is my go-to. It massively helps with my stress levels. Game-changer for my mental health wfh. My recommendation Remy: Max Richter, The Blue Notebooks. It includes 'On The Nature Of Daylight', which might be my favourite contemporary classical piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InyT9Gyoz_o
I typically put on a Spotify playlist when I'm writing. This is one that I use a lot, Southern Gothic. l discovered Willis Earl Beal, Fantastic Negrito, Adia Victoria, and Brown Bird.
This is a great question! I typically focus best with silence, and tend to choose coffee shops that have low jazzy or ambient music when I'm writing outside of the home. If I do listen to music, I tend to work well with coffee shop jazz, either via Spotify or YouTube playlists:
If I'm feeling really unmotivated and need something to wake up my brain, I'll opt for something faster-paced like hip hop or even reggaetón (but I'll typically get distracted by the music at a certain point and want to get up and moving, so this usually results in shorter bursts of writing haha).
When someone talks, it's kind of hard, because I tend to listen. But, when someone sings, for some reason, it is different for me. I listen to the music more than I listen to the voice.
General all purpose productive writing mood: David Gray instrumentals and Nick Drake voice might as well be an instrument - maybe that’ll still work for you Remy. French singer Auden same effect for me also.
Recently I like Erik Satie’s Gnossiennes if I’m drawing with the kids because they are constantly talking so it’s too many words, haha. If we tire of that, it’s usually the well tempered clavier by Bach.
I keep thinking I should try writing with music on in the background to bolster the mood I want to create, but when it comes down to it, I always end up writing in silence. Well, except for my dog telling me she's bored.
An enlightening and enlivening thread, with many composers unknown to me. Being somewhat old school, I like the classics - especially big swelling orchestras that start modestly and build up to storms of sound - but off the beaten track are the Shankar-Menuhin duos in which two geniuses (long-time friends) make magic with no name, long before "World Music" existed. Worth searching for.
Whenever I write the final pages of the first draft of a novel, I listen to Sade's Pearls. It's not about the lyrics. It's just the music's mood. Rich, dramatic, powerful. And of course I usually tear up a bit.
Absolutely for writing. I use fast music for energy. I use mood music for various purposes - Our Child of the Stars was written to endless folk from the 1960s which was important to the vibe. I prefer stuff whose lyrics I know so I don't listen that closely, and sometimes instrumental or abstract music, even those annoying 'whale music' 'rainy forest' ambient music. For editing it is more tricky and I tend to do that in silence.
For loveable rogue like character writing, I like to listen to this for instance:
https://youtu.be/McnMsFwZlvA?t=4743
For comedy I quite like deep house music, it lifts my mood and doesn't stop me from concentrating: https://youtu.be/xpvjPsme8_k?t=1254
Usually I like silence, but Sigur Ros's music inspired me to write a whole screenplay (set in NZ). I also enjoy Hammock's music when I need to block out the noise.
When I write I like to ear classical music, specifically Bach an Vivaldi
I do like to manipulate my mood with music when I write. But I usually do toward the end of the process. Like, to get into a contemplative mood when trying to wrap things up and get to an ending, for example. Or when telling a personal story from my childhood. It's kind of random, I guess. But I do use music at times. And when I do, I like instrumental, jazz preferably. Some early Miles Davis, or Bill Evans. Among singers, I like to put on some Leonard Cohen sometimes.
If writing something set in the past, I have experimented with music from that era. Though as I’ve got older I’ve found it increasingly difficult to write while listening to any music with lyrics, so it’s mainly instrumental jazz these days.
Gotta say, I’m writing scenes set on the Titanic, and I’m definitely NOT listening to Celine Dion! hehe
Love fireplace crackling sounds music and Christian radio station WAYFM on a radio app though am not a Christian per say! X
I like Michael Franks when I want to chill and concentrate at the same time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=982_dWnwsIghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=982_dWnwsIg
I like building playlists with this intention. Here's one I built recently to get me feeling energetic, righteous, and angry: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4KRyLpVoyhFHUQbewPrxf2?si=717d2f3a2642444f
Remy, doing artwork I had lots of different music on. This became an opportunity to discover much new music for me as well. I felt writing and artwork are different processes, using different areas of the mind, and I would switch between them. did a number of comic stories like this.
Yes! Music is such a powerful tool to "manipulate our mood" whether writing or otherwise. Music can also emphasise an emotion that is already there giving it more power and energy as I write.
I can only write to instrumental especially at the start of the process. Don't need two lots of words to sort through in my head!
Flow State ( on Substack) and Insight Timer ( a meditation app) provide a lot of my more contemplative music inspiration.
Spotify informed me in my Yearly "Wrapped" that I had listened to 130 genres last year! I didn't even know there were that many genres. I am a bit of a deep house lover from way back too so always love that to get the mood up.
All these can be found on Spotify:
SUSS, Monolake , Sgarz, Brain Eno, Jon Hopkins, Andrew Tuttle, Hania Rani, Fred again, Will Gardner, Hiroshi Yoshimura ( love "time after time"), Blue Divers, Jonny Nash, Jup/ter, Swami Madhuram, The Wong Janice ( cello).
Daft Punk, Underworld, and Groove Armada, Pink Floyd, god the list goes on for ever, have good instrumentals and always great lyrics when you are ready for more words. The Pixies are great for when some anger needs to be explored. 😊
Yeah, I could go on. Better stop here.
Thanks for the question. Hope you find something there that you may like too. If you have any favourites I'd love to hear them.
I’m very lucky that my last two films I knew the musicians and had full permission to use their songs - which was a gift in post production but also during the writing process. Entire storylines evolved around lyrics. Now I have a private dedicated playlist, entitled “songs for a scene I haven’t written yet” - whenever I get stuck I put it onto imagine.
Back when I wrote a lot of code, I always thought that I wrote better when listening to music, but now, when writing prose, I find it too distracting – but we’re all different, so whatever works.
I love Sufjan Stevens’ Convocations for this. https://youtu.be/o2murFL_Ukw?si=aLluxhGoULc2exb6
Recently I’m all into ambient music for writing 〰️ And you?
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Svy1ntLWNflqxSO0KdbIM?si=cb7da9d4558c4c2b
I switch between Handel and 80s rock for drawing, depending on what I'm drawing. There's so much good stuff out there! I also like some of The Chainsmokers' stuff.
Yes, actually music is my perfect source of inspiration. Every story I write ends up with it’s own “soundtrack”. The current one I’m writing is a dark winterly fantasy, and Jonna Linton’s “Vargsången” and other songs help me get in the mood. When I write classical fantasy Lord Huron and Fleet foxes are the bands that create scenes in my head instantly. For my only Urban fantasy - Muse or M83.
Thanks Remy, I use Youtube, and self curate. I could do a playlist for the Cory books, which reflect the musical tastes of the two adult main characters, but haven't been asked for it before, oddly enough. You Tube is full of ambient stuff, which actually gives working in a coffee shop vibe without the coffee. (Another type, in London, find a cafe where the predominant language is not English. Less distracting.)
This is a great thread Remy! I began working from home full-time at the beginning of Covid, and I've never gone back to the office. My company is yet to mandate it and is effectively now fully remote. But working in isolation can be oddly stressful when you come under pressure with workload / deadlines. It's not a good feeling, because, unlike the office, there's no interaction with a colleague to pick you up / offload / or to distract your head. So... listening to classical music is my go-to. It massively helps with my stress levels. Game-changer for my mental health wfh. My recommendation Remy: Max Richter, The Blue Notebooks. It includes 'On The Nature Of Daylight', which might be my favourite contemporary classical piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InyT9Gyoz_o
For wily TV streaming characters.... Roy Budd: https://youtu.be/8kMhcf8eyiA
For epic feature punch ups... Ennio: https://youtu.be/Jjq6e1LJHxw?si=3BGkc7eEnHz68vWu
For novels... The Hours: https://youtu.be/yYuTEcArOr8?si=pOltBD0_veJRVney
For snarky Substack pieces... old NYC jazz from the time I worked at the old club Zinno, so Junior Mance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2SvAB4AE2s
I typically put on a Spotify playlist when I'm writing. This is one that I use a lot, Southern Gothic. l discovered Willis Earl Beal, Fantastic Negrito, Adia Victoria, and Brown Bird.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX58NJL8iVBGW
I'm a big fan of Cloudkicker's entire catalog for writing to. I also enjoy "Constance" by South Pacific.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DAuhWUSCvn4FFcVpgIqY6?si=Blem2_bQQr6EbX9T5RIlVw
https://open.spotify.com/album/4w29IA02Wl4V54uD8bXbry?si=Pi3U-6GITXejnUyrO9OT7A
This is a great question! I typically focus best with silence, and tend to choose coffee shops that have low jazzy or ambient music when I'm writing outside of the home. If I do listen to music, I tend to work well with coffee shop jazz, either via Spotify or YouTube playlists:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKdcPpQMnXw
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vVSfOsF8YRueAI1dOI0Lh
If I'm feeling really unmotivated and need something to wake up my brain, I'll opt for something faster-paced like hip hop or even reggaetón (but I'll typically get distracted by the music at a certain point and want to get up and moving, so this usually results in shorter bursts of writing haha).
When someone talks, it's kind of hard, because I tend to listen. But, when someone sings, for some reason, it is different for me. I listen to the music more than I listen to the voice.
Never. Silence and coffee.
It depends on the writing stage, the period, and how much concentration I need.
But here ya are with some stuff I listen to a lot :-)
https://youtu.be/9O4_awEHh1g
https://youtu.be/KvE_KXtlZIs
General all purpose productive writing mood: David Gray instrumentals and Nick Drake voice might as well be an instrument - maybe that’ll still work for you Remy. French singer Auden same effect for me also.
Recently I like Erik Satie’s Gnossiennes if I’m drawing with the kids because they are constantly talking so it’s too many words, haha. If we tire of that, it’s usually the well tempered clavier by Bach.
I keep thinking I should try writing with music on in the background to bolster the mood I want to create, but when it comes down to it, I always end up writing in silence. Well, except for my dog telling me she's bored.
I write in silence as much as possible, although there is often music in my head.
An enlightening and enlivening thread, with many composers unknown to me. Being somewhat old school, I like the classics - especially big swelling orchestras that start modestly and build up to storms of sound - but off the beaten track are the Shankar-Menuhin duos in which two geniuses (long-time friends) make magic with no name, long before "World Music" existed. Worth searching for.
Whenever I write the final pages of the first draft of a novel, I listen to Sade's Pearls. It's not about the lyrics. It's just the music's mood. Rich, dramatic, powerful. And of course I usually tear up a bit.
My favorite is Jesse Cook, a Canadian guitarist. His music in unusual to me in that I like it for writing, for having a bath, or for dancing
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrkpCQhc1ZCuwpsL90uPfbg
Absolutely for writing. I use fast music for energy. I use mood music for various purposes - Our Child of the Stars was written to endless folk from the 1960s which was important to the vibe. I prefer stuff whose lyrics I know so I don't listen that closely, and sometimes instrumental or abstract music, even those annoying 'whale music' 'rainy forest' ambient music. For editing it is more tricky and I tend to do that in silence.