Favourite Music To Write To

[MiladyAlice]

So music really helps me get in the zone when I'm writing, I feel like it helps create atmosphere and taps into emotion. What are your favourite playlists, albums, soundtracks to listen to when you're writing?

I personally like a lot of movie music, but nothing with a too recognisable theme tune. Nothing with lyrics as that means words in my head which would be distracting from my writing ? I also like ambiences, especially if they match the setting I'm writing, like a restaurant, the beach etc. I try to find something that matches the tone, location or emotion of my writing.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Whatever I want to listen to at the moment.

 

[Tyranomaster]

To each there own, but retroactive analysis of my own writing speed showed that I write about 60% faster without music, so now I write without any distractions. It took a bit of getting used to doing, but it feels a lot better saving an extra hour on each chapter.

That said, some of it is also probably due to just getting more skilled as an author over time, so some of the data is skewed, but I can say that I feel like I focus better.

 

[MiladyAlice]

To each there own, but retroactive analysis of my own writing speed showed that I write about 60% faster without music, so now I write without any distractions. It took a bit of getting used to doing, but it feels a lot better saving an extra hour on each chapter.

That said, some of it is also probably due to just getting more skilled as an author over time, so some of the data is skewed, but I can say that I feel like I focus better.

Oh really? That's interesting. I guess it keeps your brain is focused on just writing. I can and have written without music, I just prefer it as I feel it helps block out distractions, keeps me in the zone more, especially if I'm struggling.

 

[Zenftiy]

Sweden - C418

 

[MiladyAlice]

Sweden - C418

Nice

 

[Tyranomaster]

Oh really? That's interesting. I guess it keeps your brain is focused on just writing. I can and have written without music, I just prefer it as I feel it helps block out distractions, keeps me in the zone more, especially if I'm struggling.

I think it depends on a lot of factors. When I'm writing, there generally aren't many other distractions, so the music is the distraction. I could see situations where the music blocks out louder distractions though too.

 

[Zodiac36Gold]

Hmmm, that is a vast question. In my case, music is what inspires me to write. My best characters, the best moments in my stories, they're all bound to a single song that inspired its existence. Therefore, whenever I reach that moment, I write while listening to that specific song, making the experience viscerally better both for me as a writer and, later, for the readers, because I'm putting all of myself into those words.

There is no rhyme of reason to what song inspires which moment. I've gone from classical music to rock to pop (never rap though).

My favorites in general though, the songs I like to listen to most when I write the general chapters, are these:

• IDFC by Blackbear (Slowed + Reverb - Only the Best Part)
• Interlinked (Slowed)
• Love Story by Indila - Orchestral Version
• Arcade by Duncan Laurence - Slowed + Reverb
• Daylight
• In general mixes of relaxing & classical music by Dark Academia and the likes

And more, but those are the ones I end up on most often.

 

[Poleg]

So music really helps me get in the zone when I'm writing, I feel like it helps create atmosphere and taps into emotion. What are your favourite playlists, albums, soundtracks to listen to when you're writing?

I personally like a lot of movie music, but nothing with a too recognisable theme tune. Nothing with lyrics as that means words in my head which would be distracting from my writing ? I also like ambiences, especially if they match the setting I'm writing, like a restaurant, the beach etc. I try to find something that matches the tone, location or emotion of my writing.

I can't really write to music, but when it happened then it was to "classical" music. Except french music.

 

[MindFudge]

Hmmm, that is a vast question. In my case, music is what inspires me to write. My best characters, the best moments in my stories, they're all bound to a single song that inspired its existence. Therefore, whenever I reach that moment, I write while listening to that specific song, making the experience viscerally better both for me as a writer and, later, for the readers, because I'm putting all of myself into those words.

There is no rhyme of reason to what song inspires which moment. I've gone from classical music to rock to pop (never rap though).

My favorites in general though, the songs I like to listen to most when I write the general chapters, are these:

• IDFC by Blackbear (Slowed + Reverb - Only the Best Part)
• Interlinked (Slowed)
• Love Story by Indila - Orchestral Version
• Arcade by Duncan Laurence - Slowed + Reverb
• Daylight
• In general mixes of relaxing & classical music by Dark Academia and the likes

And more, but those are the ones I end up on most often.

Same!
Most of my characters are inspired by song lyrics, titles or rhythm. I tend to listen to OSTs as I write. But each one must match the scene.
Some are:

(slowed and reverb) Vogel im Käfig - Hiroyuki Sawano

lover from the past - mareux (Slowed + Reverb)

nothing can be explained [slowed, pitch shifted, reverbed]

Never meant to belong - bleach ost ( slowed to perfection + reverb )

My brother

 

[TitanLordofPizza]

I find that I write better without music, because it distracts me. But I basically only ever write with music on, because there are too many external distractions(noises) that I need to cover up to be able to do it easily.

 

[Zagaroth]

What is best for me varies wildly, but when music is what I need, I am usually best off with either instrumental (such as classical music) or something where the voice registers more like an instrument than words.

Example: A lot of the FFXIV OST has words, but unless you focus on it, the singing is often in a style where unless you focus on it, the words don't stand out. Which is good, because the ones with words are often boss music. :D

Of course, sometimes the wordless ones stand out on their own. The most memed dungeon/dungeon music in FFXIV:

 

[MiladyAlice]

Hmmm, that is a vast question. In my case, music is what inspires me to write. My best characters, the best moments in my stories, they're all bound to a single song that inspired its existence. Therefore, whenever I reach that moment, I write while listening to that specific song, making the experience viscerally better both for me as a writer and, later, for the readers, because I'm putting all of myself into those words.

There is no rhyme of reason to what song inspires which moment. I've gone from classical music to rock to pop (never rap though).

My favorites in general though, the songs I like to listen to most when I write the general chapters, are these:

• IDFC by Blackbear (Slowed + Reverb - Only the Best Part)
• Interlinked (Slowed)
• Love Story by Indila - Orchestral Version
• Arcade by Duncan Laurence - Slowed + Reverb
• Daylight
• In general mixes of relaxing & classical music by Dark Academia and the likes

And more, but those are the ones I end up on most oftI

Hmmm, that is a vast question. In my case, music is what inspires me to write. My best characters, the best moments in my stories, they're all bound to a single song that inspired its existence. Therefore, whenever I reach that moment, I write while listening to that specific song, making the experience viscerally better both for me as a writer and, later, for the readers, because I'm putting all of myself into those words.

There is no rhyme of reason to what song inspires which moment. I've gone from classical music to rock to pop (never rap though).

My favorites in general though, the songs I like to listen to most when I write the general chapters, are these:

• IDFC by Blackbear (Slowed + Reverb - Only the Best Part)
• Interlinked (Slowed)
• Love Story by Indila - Orchestral Version
• Arcade by Duncan Laurence - Slowed + Reverb
• Daylight
• In general mixes of relaxing & classical music by Dark Academia and the likes

And more, but those are the ones I end up on most often.

I love that! As an exercise, I've often listened to a song or piece of music and then imagined what could be happening, what kind of mood the music creates etc. Different types of music create different energies. I think it's great you have some main pieces to listen to.

Same!
Most of my characters are inspired by song lyrics, titles or rhythm. I tend to listen to OSTs as I write. But each one must match the scene.
Some are:

(slowed and reverb) Vogel im Käfig - Hiroyuki Sawano

lover from the past - mareux (Slowed + Reverb)

nothing can be explained [slowed, pitch shifted, reverbed]

Never meant to belong - bleach ost ( slowed to perfection + reverb )

My brother

That's pretty cool, being inspired by songs. In TV and movies, I feel like music adds another layer to characters and scenes, one that can really trigger your emotions.

 

[MindFudge]

I love that! As an exercise, I've often listened to a song or piece of music and then imagined what could be happening, what kind of mood the music creates etc. Different types of music create different energies. I think it's great you have some main pieces to listen to.

That's pretty cool, being inspired by songs. In TV and movies, I feel like music adds another layer to characters and scenes, one that can really trigger your emotions.

So true. Music, writing and visuals are, in my opinion, nessasary to create the perfect story. Almost like a jigsaw puzzle.
If one is missing, then the puzzle isnt complete.

 

[reskisz]

Music when writing tends to distract me.

 

[Lacedaemon]

Depends on the story, and tbh it's usually random. Much of Mad World was written while listening to the music of Susumu Hirasawa and Tears for Fears. My favorite bands are Queen, Genesis, and Led Zeppelin, so their songs get into the mix too for writing.

And yes, that includes the Berserk soundtrack for Mad World lol. I wrote several major fights while listening to FORCES.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I rarely listen to anything while writing - it usually is distracting, especially stuff with lyrics. Occasionally I might pull out a classical album like Holst's "The Planets" or the Overtures of Beethoven or the Firebird Suite by Petrushka, but that's pretty rare.

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

I would listen to compilation videos on youtube, usually epic songs or orchestral, choosing a compilation with the right feel for it.

Sadly, several of the channels i would use the playlists of have stopped posting. At least the playlists are still there.

 

[hidayo]

I like Jazz but it lulls me to sleep.

 

[MiladyAlice]

Depends on the story, and tbh it's usually random. Much of Mad World was written while listening to the music of Susumu Hirasawa and Tears for Fears. My favorite bands are Queen, Genesis, and Led Zeppelin, so their songs get into the mix too for writing.

And yes, that includes the Berserk soundtrack for Mad World lol. I wrote several major fights while listening to FORCES.

Love it! Great bands!