-Plato
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing
gets me in the mood to write like the right music, and each story has its own
soundtrack. After writing to my playlists for so long, I now find that hearing
particular tracks actually flicks a switch in my mind and sets me off imagining
my other worlds and ignoring this one. Sometimes it’s the pace that inspires me
to envision an exciting or moving scene; other times it’s the shape of the
melody that brings certain feelings to mind. Often it’s the lyrics that are
particularly poetic or appealing, and form notions of a relationship, a dynamic
or a sequence of events, but usually, I suppose, it’s the harmonious way these
elements all come together to create a piece of music I can write to. Chaotic
music is distracting – I really like Kate Miller-Heidke but cannot write to her
off-kilter style – and instrumental is too boring, so I prefer to use that for
academic writing. The Elm Stone Saga books have been written and edited to a
playlist that has changed in content with time but has maintained the same tone
so that I keep the same direction and feel for the whole series. Here, in no
particular order, is a list of six of my favourite songs to write The Elm Stone Saga to.
1. Zombie,
The Cranberries
What I
love: the lead-in is soft and it builds
(I don’t like being dumped straight into a song, I need a small lead-in) and then I
love the strong drum/bass/vocal combination at the chorus. I also love that
this is Irish and political. I listened to this a lot writing Unbidden.
2. Real
World, Matchbox Twenty
Ah, my life
anthem :) What I love: the intro is so upbeat and cheerful, and the pace and
tone sits really well with me. The lyrics are fun and nonsensical (I wonder what it’s like to be a superhero/ I
wonder where I’d go when I could fly around downtown…) But it’s the
chorus
that more or less sums up how I feel about the obnoxiousness of life
trying to make unreasonable demands on my time.You know, like, 'go to
work', or 'you're stupidly tired, go to sleep now' or 'you're a living
thing and survive on food, not writing; go eat'.
3. Run,
Collective Soul
What I
love: it’s such a simple little song. The slow but short intro builds to
something more after the first verse, and then steps up again for the chorus. I
like that the song is soft without being weak, and I like the profound questions
posed by the lyrics. On top of that, I have a lot of childhood memory
associated with this song and I suppose that nostalgia comes up when the song does
and helps write contented, familiar scenes.
4. Listen
Like Thieves, INXS
What I
love: well, it’s INXS, what’s not to love? I think I like that it’s a familiar
song from growing up with INXS fans for parents so when it plays, I don’t have
to stop writing to listen to the lyrics. I like the beat and the punchiness of
the chorus. This is an easy-listening writing song that fits into my general
writing playlist.
5. Seven Wonders,
Fleetwood Mac
What
I
love: I love all Fleetwood Mac but the synth-y keyboard-y opening to
this one is so powerful and I have always, always loved it the best. The
lyrics convey a sense of missing out on something greatly desired that
is tangible to me. The ding-ding-ding, ding-ding-ding pattern sounds to me like musical sparkles :) I also like to write to most anything to which I
can sing along without thinking and I used to listen to this CD on repeat because I loved Stevie Nicks' dress on the cover.
6. Downfall,
Matchbox Twenty
What I
love: strong opening, strong music through the verses and then such power in
the choruses. The choir adds to the grandeur of this song. But most of all the
lyrics! I love playing with this concept in my mind, of two interdependent
parties whose relationship is essential to one and ultimately destructive to
the other. The pace of the song feeds me when I’m writing dynamic, active
scenes. It's also just generally one of my favourite songs :)