Music I Listen to while I Write

Like most people who write I enjoy having on some music at a low volume to one; help me concentrate and two; keep me in the story’s atmosphere.
I personally prefer listening to albums rather than a mixed playlists, because with an album the artists usually invoke the same themes and sounds. There’s an overall arch that a playlist, no matter how well balanced and themed, just lacks. So below I have listed some of my favourite albums to listen to during writing sessions (incidentally they also just happen to be some of my all-time favourite albums and bands, so I’d highly recommend giving them a listen even if you’re not looking for music to write to).

“My New Time”, “Altitude” and “Stacked Smoke” by Autumn
The vast majority of my writing features Gothic themes and Autumn is a band that, at least for me, create an atmosphere that transports me into those stories. However, being a very particular creature, the Gothic setting that I’m brought to with their music is always a post 1920s setting. For an album that takes me to a Victorian Gothic setting look no further than to the next album below!

“Opheliac” by Emilie Autumn
This album works as a two for one type deal. It, as mentioned above, brings me into a Victorian Gothic setting, but it also helps me with invoking a more decadent and mad scene, still very much with either Gothic over- or undertones. I have an affinity for the Gothic Mad Woman, and this album perfectly embodies those themes.

“Violet” and “Walking With Strangers” by The Birthday Massacre
Now these two albums are the only ones on the list that do not take me into a Gothic mood. The atmosphere that these albums draw me into is still dark, still “horror” and definitely modern. But at the same time there is also a childlike glee to them, the song “Lover’s End” especially has that particular creepy-kid factor.

“Dark Adrenaline” by Lacuna Coil
This album brings me back into the Gothic, but keeps the modern setting for me. And since this album is also on the heavier side it is also my preferred soundtrack for when I write more action oriented scenes.

“Century Child” by Nightwish
This album takes me into the mindset of a Gothic fairytale. While the other albums on this list have had a strong sense of modernity to them this album is the only one that takes my thoughts back to a, very romanticized, medieval setting. It is also the only album on here that takes me from an industrial setting into a nature one. The overall puppet theme of the songs also helps to create a dark and creepy setting.

So that was my list! I hope you will check these albums and bands out for yourself, even if you’re not interested in writing with a soundtrack or even writing at all. Have a nice day and I’ll see you in the next one.
Bye!