What music comes next on my writing playlist?

April 5, 2022 6:13 AM

I write fiction and have a song on repeat for hours and hours when I'm writing. Having the emotional swell of music is really helpful to my process. I'd love recommendations!

I asked this question before here about a year ago and got some fabulous answers. Now I'm on to a new writing project so time for some new music!
Below is a list of songs I've been using lately (many suggested by you all!). What songs seem like they would fit with this?

-half•alive - still feel. (I got like 4 stories out of this one!)
-Clairo - Bags
-Parov Stelar - The Sun feat. Graham Candy (LCAW Remix)
-Sofi Tukker & Bomba Estéreo - Playa Grande
-Maggie Rogers - Give a Little

posted by Calicatt to Media & Arts (3 answers total)

I've assembled a couple of playlists over the years that I use to help me read fiction. (I have ADHD and it's really hard otherwise.) Most of this is ambient stuff, but some of it has words or other spoken refrains. The first is just called, shockingly, "Ambient" and it's on Apple Music here. The other is shorter and arguably more curated, and I've been using it to help with writing fiction over the years. These are songs that I think sound more like they belong on a film score or soundtrack (a few actually were), so it's called "Cinematic" and it's here. Hope some of these are ones you like.
posted by littlerobothead at 12:47 PM on April 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

For what it's worth, I write computer programs and here are some songs from my "concentration" playlist:
- Howard Shore: Many Meetings & Concerning Hobbits from the motion pictures
- Be Free by Loggins & Messina
- Over the Horizon by Samsung (I know, it's a ring tone, but this 2:35 version is pleasant in my opinion)
- Falling Through a Cloud by Uttara-Kuru
- Cello Song by Nick Drake
- An American Symphony by The London Metropolitan Orchestra
- Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity by Berlin Philharmonic
- August's Rhapsody from August Rush motion picture soundtrack
- Appalachian Spring from "The gift to be simple" by Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic
- Piano cover of "Dance Monkey" by Peter Buka
- Colour My World by Chicago
- Mad World by Michael Andrews & Gary Jules
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps by Piano Tribute Players
- Gone Away by The Offspring
- Go the Distance by Roger Bart
- Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac
- Nessun Dorma by Puccini (performed by David Phelps)
- "Winter" from the Four Seasons, arranged for Violoncello, played by Sol Gabetta
- Piano cover of "Believer" by Peter Buka
- Behind the Waterfall by Lanz & Speer
- Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch by James Hunter from the Titanic motion picture
- Buckbeak's Flight performed by John Williams from the Harry Potter movie
- March of the Siamese Children by Rodgers & Hammerstein from "The King & I"
- Pirates of the Caribbean by Klaus Badelt
- Boadicea by Enya
- Music Box dancer by Richard Clayderman
- Tapestry of Dreams by London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Disney park CD)
- One Quiet Night by Jim Stubblefield
- Black Tears from Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack
- Take Five by Dave Brubeck
- Montezuma by Cusco
- Exorcist Theme by Mike Oldfield
- Through the Grand Canyon by George Stone
posted by forthright at 4:21 PM on April 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: So I took a trip through my work playlist and grabbed stuff that reminded me of yours. I don't even really know if they've got anything in common, just whatever jumped out at me and felt like it had a similar vibe somehow.

Christine and the Queens — Tilted
Blue Gas — Shadows from nowhere
Mitski — Should've Been Me
Lightning Seeds — Pure
Asaf Avidan and the Mojos rmx Wankelmuut — One Day
Siouxie and the Banshees — Passenger
Linda Thompson — Lover won't you throw me a line
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:26 AM on April 6, 2022 [1 favorite]