Writing Soundtrack

For me, it depends on how seriously I'm trying to focus on writing.

When I'm just writing for the hell of it and in a very relaxed mood, I'll either listen to late 90s/early 00s songs, or an online German radio station. That way I can have dancing breaks, but still get things done, especially when softer songs are playing.

But when I'm seriously trying to crank out a chapter (or write an essay for class, or anything where I seriously need inspiration) I either listen to Moonlight Sonata or Vivaldi's Four Seasons on repeat. And not both sets -- one or the other.

This YouTube playlist has been a goldmine for inspiration. The music is so mellow, chill and is more focused on the music than lyrics (some songs don't even have lyrics). I especially love Flume, who's my favourite artist at the moment.

For my story I Won't Let Go
My playlist consists of these songs
Two Black Cadillacs - Carrie Underwood, strangely enough it works wonders.
Autumn Leaves and Little Bird - Ed Sheeran, need I say more... his music is just so inspiring and easy to write to.
Suitcase, Breaking the Law and Read all about it Part III - Emile Sande for the sadder scenes fantastic!
I Won't let you go - James Morrison - one of the inspirations for the story
You Make It Real - James Morrison
Mirrors - JT... Not sure why but... oh well
Beneath your beautiful - Labrinth ft Emile Sande reason above... sadder scenes.
Downtown - Lady Antebellum and Love is Easy - McFly- something a little more upbeat
Come Wake Me Up - Rascal Flatts
A Bruno Mars and One Direction Mash Up - Just the Little Things... Because it is awesome!

omfg. I do this all the time! Though, the way I do it is that I pick songs that relate to the story I'm writing. You know, like movie soundtracks. I feel like it helps readers get into the mood of the story as if they were watching a movie instead of reading a book or whatever.

When it comes to music, I can usually listen to anything and still be able to write what needs to be written for my stories. Music helps to improve my concentration and block out all those unneeded sensory issues I deal with on a regular basis. So it really doesn't matter what I'm listening to. Though, sometimes depending on the story and what the songs are, I listen to Simple Plan because they usually have the most relatable songs for my plot line.

More recently, I've been listening to Andrew McMahon's solo EP. I've always been inspired by his music from all of his previous projects because he has such a way of combining ingenius and poetic lyrics with great music, but this EP only has four songs on it, so it's not as distracting when I have it on loop. Plus, the beachy, laidback vibe of his music has always fit my personality, and with some of the themes that are coming up in his newest tracks, it really relates to a lot of the situations and emotions I'm writing about at the moment.

Lately, I've been digging old music, as in late 90's-early 2000 music, so I find that if this playlist is playing in the background, I can get my writing groove on. For some reason, when I listen to top 40 music, it completely distracts me

I've found two space-themed playlists (1,2) that I really love at the moment.

Lately I've been working on an idea of a dramatic and somewhat emotional story - something that's still mostly in my head - so, although I usually just listen to instrumental songs so I won't get easily distracted with the lyrics, I've found these songs perfect for melancholic and very descriptive scenes.

Adele - Make You Feel My Love
Agnes Obel - Fuel To Fire
Alice In Chains - Nutshell
Birdy - People Help The People
Birdy - Heart Of Gold
Cat Power - The Greatest
Coldplay - Fix You
Emiliana Torrini - Dead Things
Florence + The Machine - Never Let Me Go
Lana Del Rey - Video Games
Lana Del Rey - Ride
Lana Del Rey - YAYO
Paloma Faith - Just Be

Right now I'm listening to Beyonce's album 'I Am Sasha Fierce' but I meant to find her newest album I like listening to albums because I find that I can get into the mood of writing better as opposed to listening to just one song from a bunch of random artists.

Invent the Universe by Stellardrone and Minecraft: Vol. Alpha and Beta by C418 are some of the best. Nothing 8-bit about them. Simple psybient electronica ambience, and they're great.

Lately I've been listening to 8track playlists or Calvin Harris' set at Ulta Music festival 2013, or Lorde or Arctic Monkeys albums. They're quite mellow but interesting to listen to. I only listen to Calvin Harris for a specific story, though.

I've mostly been listening to Drake recently he's sexy and it helps me get in a sexy mood.

Listening to Dance Gavin Dance on repeat right along with Tegan and Sara is helping me blast through Who Knows, Who Cares again.

Currently listening to the whole Save Rock and Roll album to write Unique Minds.

Since I write mostly Hayliver, of course I listen to Paramore and Bring Me the Horizon.

"Stay the Night" by Zedd was on repeat for Chopped Orange Locks.

Paramore's self-titled album for I Will Always Care for You since that album plays a part in that story.

"I Caught Myself" and the acoustic version of "The Only Exception" by Paramore for I Know in My Heart It's Not You since they played parts in this story.
I also listened to "Suicide Season" by BMTH because I have a headcanon about that song involving this pairing.

There's a piano cover of "The Only Exception" on Youtube and I listened to that for A Perfect Beginning.

"Remembering Sunday" and "Vegas" by All Time Low for Through the Crowd.

"My Heart" by Paramore and mostly You Me at Six for Stay.

All of YMAS' album Take Off Your Colours for Go, especially "Always Attract".

"Still Into You" on repeat for Your Favorite Song because that one-shot's about Oli's reaction to it if it were written about him.

All Time Low and Meg & Dia's discographies for Woke Up Alone.

There are only really one or two artists that I can listen to while I'm actually writing because music in general is just too distracting for me, and those two artists would probably be Augustana and Sleeping at Last. I can also do well with Coldplay's Ghost Stories album.

As far as inspiration and soundtracks go, for Stella Polaris, there's an excessive amount of Jack's Mannequin, and I listen to "Requiem on Water" by Imperial Mammoth and Big Time Rush's cover of "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz on repeat quite a bit when I'm trying to get into the mindset to work on it.

For Hiraeth, there's a lot of Matt Nathanson, Say Anything, and Dave Matthews Band, but I tend to rely mostly on "Pompeii" by Bastille and "Scar Tissue" by RHCP because those are the two songs I most associate with Gabriel.

Though I'm not a huge fan of her, Colbie Caillat is basically the soundtrack for any Logan Mitchell/Kandi Jenkins pieces that I write because her music fits so perfectly with that relationship. I think I started listening to her more/becoming a bit of fan after I realized how most of her songs were the soundtrack of that pairing

The writing playlist for the story I'm working on right now consists of whatever catchy songs I like on the radio and some suggestions from some awesome Mibbians.