Soundtracks for writing
November 19, 2022 9:14 AM Subscribe
I like to listen to soundtracks as background music when I'm writing, and am looking for some new recommendations. Game soundtracks tend to fit my specific criteria best, but this isn't required. Criteria and examples inside.
Mostly, I'm looking for moody, dramatic instrumental pieces - or at least pieces where the vocals aren't in English and kind of blend into the music rather than being foregrounded. I try to avoid soundtracks with a lot of bombast for this.
Examples of soundtracks that overall work great:
* Various Asassins' Creeds
* Cyberpunk 2077
Examples of soundtracks I like, but don't work great for writing:
* Various From Software soundtracks (too bombastic, too many quick changes, etc)
* Final Fantasy VII soundtrack (same)
A few songs on the soundtrack that don't fit my criteria is fine, but after I remove them from the playlist, I'd still like a decent chunk of uninterrupted time with the same album.
I've tried quite a few ambient/electronic collections on Youtube, but have often found them to have the opposite problem, that they are TOO boring and I just don't really like them as music.
Mostly, I'm looking for moody, dramatic instrumental pieces - or at least pieces where the vocals aren't in English and kind of blend into the music rather than being foregrounded. I try to avoid soundtracks with a lot of bombast for this.
Examples of soundtracks that overall work great:
* Various Asassins' Creeds
* Cyberpunk 2077
Examples of soundtracks I like, but don't work great for writing:
* Various From Software soundtracks (too bombastic, too many quick changes, etc)
* Final Fantasy VII soundtrack (same)
A few songs on the soundtrack that don't fit my criteria is fine, but after I remove them from the playlist, I'd still like a decent chunk of uninterrupted time with the same album.
I've tried quite a few ambient/electronic collections on Youtube, but have often found them to have the opposite problem, that they are TOO boring and I just don't really like them as music.
I don't play most of the big games and so I don't know what the Assassin's Creed or Cyberpunk music sounds like, nor do I know anything about this game qua game, but as an industrial music enjoyer I find that the soundtrack for Airmech (which is by Front Line Assembly) is some of the best writing music I've ever encountered. In fact, I might go put it on right now so I stop reading AskMe instead of working on my essay.
posted by babelfish at 9:30 AM on November 19, 2022
posted by babelfish at 9:30 AM on November 19, 2022
I used to love writing to the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack, the Bram Stoker's Dracula soundtrack, and the Kenneth Branagh Henry V soundtrack. All would fit your criteria, I think, although you might need to pull one or two of the Dracula tracks on account of bombast.
posted by merriment at 10:04 AM on November 19, 2022
posted by merriment at 10:04 AM on November 19, 2022
Lisa Gerrard has a ton of work both as a solo artist and soundtrack artist that matches the Assassin's Creed feel. She has a few songs with actual lyrics but most of it is glossolalia.
Sigur Ros also sings in glossolalia.
How do you feel about post-rock?
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Explosions in the Sky
Hammock - them doing a video game soundtrack
This Will Destroy You
What about classical? There's tons of orchestral work from the romantic era that's basically what a lot of game soundtracks are modeled after.
posted by Candleman at 11:52 AM on November 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
Sigur Ros also sings in glossolalia.
How do you feel about post-rock?
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Explosions in the Sky
Hammock - them doing a video game soundtrack
This Will Destroy You
What about classical? There's tons of orchestral work from the romantic era that's basically what a lot of game soundtracks are modeled after.
posted by Candleman at 11:52 AM on November 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
I love Thomas Newman's soundtracks. Throw some in a playlist and shuffle.
posted by kingless at 12:12 PM on November 19, 2022
posted by kingless at 12:12 PM on November 19, 2022
Birth, by Alexandre Desplat might fit the bill? I'm not a big soundtrack person, but that's one of the very few I personally own and listen to around the house.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:43 PM on November 19, 2022
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:43 PM on November 19, 2022
I wrote my PhD dissertation to the Hotline Miami soundtrack
The Portal soundtrack by Aperture Science Psychoacoustics Laboratories is also very good.
posted by iamkimiam at 1:51 PM on November 19, 2022
The Portal soundtrack by Aperture Science Psychoacoustics Laboratories is also very good.
posted by iamkimiam at 1:51 PM on November 19, 2022
There's also this new version of Tetris that has a beautiful aesthetic and equally motivating soundtrack. Can't remember the name of it but I'm sure someone here will be able to fill that in.
Oh, and also the Journey soundtrack!
posted by iamkimiam at 1:52 PM on November 19, 2022
Oh, and also the Journey soundtrack!
posted by iamkimiam at 1:52 PM on November 19, 2022
* Deus Ex: Human Revolution is excellent, in the same vein as Mass Effect.
* Darren Korb's soundtracks for Supergiant Games: Transistor, Bastion
* I've been listening to the various soundtracks from a Korean MMO Blade & Soul. Certain expansions have more metal tracks, I tend to skip those. Blade & Soul exhibit A, Blade & Soul exhibit B
* Shadowrun: Dragonfall (unfortunately you can't actually buy the soundtrack without buying the game)
* Off-World - OGRE
* Outbuddies - OGRE
* Spirit Oath - atmospheric electronic + string quartet.
Less moody on average:
* Genshin Impact has a beautiful/lush/expansive/orchestral soundtrack. Sumeru, The Chasm, Liyuye, Inazuma, Mondstadt
* Cinders. This is a visual novel soundtrack. It may not blend into the background super well, YMMV.
posted by henuani at 1:55 PM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
* Darren Korb's soundtracks for Supergiant Games: Transistor, Bastion
* I've been listening to the various soundtracks from a Korean MMO Blade & Soul. Certain expansions have more metal tracks, I tend to skip those. Blade & Soul exhibit A, Blade & Soul exhibit B
* Shadowrun: Dragonfall (unfortunately you can't actually buy the soundtrack without buying the game)
* Off-World - OGRE
* Outbuddies - OGRE
* Spirit Oath - atmospheric electronic + string quartet.
Less moody on average:
* Genshin Impact has a beautiful/lush/expansive/orchestral soundtrack. Sumeru, The Chasm, Liyuye, Inazuma, Mondstadt
* Cinders. This is a visual novel soundtrack. It may not blend into the background super well, YMMV.
posted by henuani at 1:55 PM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
Peter Gabriel - Passion (soundtrack from The Last Temptation of Christ) has been a go-to of mine for many years.
+1 to Sigur Ros and Lisa Gerrard; if you want to explore classical, especially modern classical heavy on the cello, I have a ton of other recs.
posted by Athanassiel at 2:30 PM on November 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
+1 to Sigur Ros and Lisa Gerrard; if you want to explore classical, especially modern classical heavy on the cello, I have a ton of other recs.
posted by Athanassiel at 2:30 PM on November 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
Disasterpeace's Fez soundtrack is excellent and mostly very chill but interesting chiptunes. He has a ton of stuff on Bandcamp.
The soundtrack to The Prestige is very ambient and chill and very of a piece.
I believe A Winged Victory for the Sullen's Iris was for a movie.
Jonsi & Alex (formerly Riceboy Sleeps) scored the show "Manhattan" (about the project, not the city) and it's nice and moody.
I'll add more when I think of them, got to go!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 3:10 PM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
The soundtrack to The Prestige is very ambient and chill and very of a piece.
I believe A Winged Victory for the Sullen's Iris was for a movie.
Jonsi & Alex (formerly Riceboy Sleeps) scored the show "Manhattan" (about the project, not the city) and it's nice and moody.
I'll add more when I think of them, got to go!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 3:10 PM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
My soundtrack choices are usually from anime. I'm a technical writer so I do spend a fair amount of time writing or thinking about writing, and these help to keep me focused - or at least help me keep the distractions to a minimum.
All the soundtracks to the ARIA series are really good:
ARIA the Animation
ARIA the Natural
ARIA the Origination
ARIA the Crepuscolo and Benedizione.
These are YouTube links, but you can find them on Spotify also.
Asagao to Kase-san (Kase-san and Morning Glories)
Bloom Into You
These are Spotify links.
Sketchbook ~full color's~
Yuyushiki - Feeling Good / Nice Wind
These are both YouTube links.
When I'm not listening to anime soundtracks I'm listening to ambient or drone, frequently from the Drone Zone and Dark Zone channels on SomaFM.
I will also +1 Candleman's post-rock suggestions. Sometimes you just need some GY!BE to get you through that first draft revision.
posted by ralan at 3:46 PM on November 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
All the soundtracks to the ARIA series are really good:
ARIA the Animation
ARIA the Natural
ARIA the Origination
ARIA the Crepuscolo and Benedizione.
These are YouTube links, but you can find them on Spotify also.
Asagao to Kase-san (Kase-san and Morning Glories)
Bloom Into You
These are Spotify links.
Sketchbook ~full color's~
Yuyushiki - Feeling Good / Nice Wind
These are both YouTube links.
When I'm not listening to anime soundtracks I'm listening to ambient or drone, frequently from the Drone Zone and Dark Zone channels on SomaFM.
I will also +1 Candleman's post-rock suggestions. Sometimes you just need some GY!BE to get you through that first draft revision.
posted by ralan at 3:46 PM on November 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
You might find some gems in the Classic 100 screen sounds - a listener voted top 100 from Movies, Games and TV at the Australian ABC classical music station.
posted by freethefeet at 4:42 PM on November 19, 2022
posted by freethefeet at 4:42 PM on November 19, 2022
Warframe soundtrack - dark industrial electronic
Heaven's Vault soundtrack - beautiful, warm/wistful, strings and piano
posted by henuani at 5:17 PM on November 19, 2022
Heaven's Vault soundtrack - beautiful, warm/wistful, strings and piano
posted by henuani at 5:17 PM on November 19, 2022
The Crown soundtracks
posted by Tandem Affinity at 5:32 PM on November 19, 2022
posted by Tandem Affinity at 5:32 PM on November 19, 2022
Daniel Lopatin did original scores for a couple Safdie Brothers movies recently, Uncut Gems & Good Time, highly recommend. Instrumental electronic, very moody, definitely not boring. If you like those check out his albums under the pseudonym Oneohtrix Point Never.
posted by mannequito at 7:20 PM on November 19, 2022
posted by mannequito at 7:20 PM on November 19, 2022
More electronic / ambient options:
Classic Eno: Music For Airports
Proto-ambient field recording jazz: Ernest Hood, Neighborhoods
I’ve heard this fairly described as “refrigerator hum” music but it’s one of my faves: Eliane Radigue, Trilogie De La Mort
Newer stuff - Alessandro Cortini is pretty solid: Forse 1 | Forse 2 | Forse 3
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith is also on heavy repeat at my house: Ears | Euclid
posted by q*ben at 10:30 PM on November 19, 2022
Classic Eno: Music For Airports
Proto-ambient field recording jazz: Ernest Hood, Neighborhoods
I’ve heard this fairly described as “refrigerator hum” music but it’s one of my faves: Eliane Radigue, Trilogie De La Mort
Newer stuff - Alessandro Cortini is pretty solid: Forse 1 | Forse 2 | Forse 3
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith is also on heavy repeat at my house: Ears | Euclid
posted by q*ben at 10:30 PM on November 19, 2022
I'd second the suggestion of post-rock. To the bands Candleman posted, I would like to add:
Long Distance Calling
Tides from Nebula
Regarding game soundtracks, I'm surprised no one posted the Nier Automata soundtrack. There are a couple of "bombastic" (or rather, "operistic") songs, but otherwise it's a very beautiful soundtrack, quite appropriate for working.
Going into Ambient music, I quite like Tycho.
And how about Philip Glass?
posted by LaVidaEsUnCarnaval at 8:20 AM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Long Distance Calling
Tides from Nebula
Regarding game soundtracks, I'm surprised no one posted the Nier Automata soundtrack. There are a couple of "bombastic" (or rather, "operistic") songs, but otherwise it's a very beautiful soundtrack, quite appropriate for working.
Going into Ambient music, I quite like Tycho.
And how about Philip Glass?
posted by LaVidaEsUnCarnaval at 8:20 AM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Are you familiar with "epic music" as a genre? Famously created for movie trailers, often heard as music behind documentaries and even ice skating routines. My favorite is Two Steps From Hell, the production company made up of Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix (here is a video of 25 of their pieces and here is their YouTube channel.) There are many similar artists, TSFH is simply my favorite, and provide an excellent soundtrack for writing.
posted by lhauser at 11:34 AM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by lhauser at 11:34 AM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
To follow up on iamkimiam above - Tetris Effect! It's so good that we bought it on vinyl. Also, seconding the soundtrack to Journey.
Other suggestions that I think exactly fit what you want:
- Low Roar (used in Death Stranding)
- in addition to Nier Automata that LaVidaEsUnCarnaval mentioned above, the soundtrack from the original Nier Gestalt / Replicant
- Hidden Sky by Jami Sieber (used for the game Braid)
- Pretty much any of the music from the anime Cowboy Bebop (mostly jazz)
- Fingerdance by Billy McLaughlin (classical guitar)
A bit more energetic:
- the soundtrack to Hades
- the soundtracks for Persona 3, Persona 4, or Persona 5
- the soundtrack to Katamari Damacy
posted by past unusual at 1:19 PM on November 20, 2022
Other suggestions that I think exactly fit what you want:
- Low Roar (used in Death Stranding)
- in addition to Nier Automata that LaVidaEsUnCarnaval mentioned above, the soundtrack from the original Nier Gestalt / Replicant
- Hidden Sky by Jami Sieber (used for the game Braid)
- Pretty much any of the music from the anime Cowboy Bebop (mostly jazz)
- Fingerdance by Billy McLaughlin (classical guitar)
A bit more energetic:
- the soundtrack to Hades
- the soundtracks for Persona 3, Persona 4, or Persona 5
- the soundtrack to Katamari Damacy
posted by past unusual at 1:19 PM on November 20, 2022
This web site is tailor-made for your request: Music for Programming.
posted by yclipse at 6:02 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by yclipse at 6:02 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
You might give some Trent Reznor a try... like Ghosts I-IV or the soundtrack to "The Social Network".
Seconding Tycho.
William Orbit: Pieces in a Modern Style.
Deadmau5: Where's the Drop?
posted by mmoncur at 9:06 PM on November 20, 2022
Seconding Tycho.
William Orbit: Pieces in a Modern Style.
Deadmau5: Where's the Drop?
posted by mmoncur at 9:06 PM on November 20, 2022
Depending on what I'm doing, Disasterpeace's Hyper Light Drifter soundtrack is really great.
The Fountain soundtrack is a little bit much of the thing that it is sometimes, but until I wear myself out on it again, it's one of my favorites.
Gustav Holst's The Planets is so soundtracky it hurts.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 6:25 PM on November 21, 2022
The Fountain soundtrack is a little bit much of the thing that it is sometimes, but until I wear myself out on it again, it's one of my favorites.
Gustav Holst's The Planets is so soundtracky it hurts.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 6:25 PM on November 21, 2022
« Older Looking for a cheap US phone number I can own and... | Please tell me about applying for a U.S. F1 visa... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:28 AM on November 19, 2022