Inspiration is an elusive muse; sometimes when I’m writing I need a little help to focus my mind and invoke the emotion that will cause the words to flow.
Listening to music is a great way to do that. I love all kinds of bands and artists, some cooler than others, but I find that melancholy songs most inspire my creative side.
Here are just a few of my favourite writing songs:
- Running Up That Hill, Placebo
- Roland, Interpol
- Nostalgia, Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo
- Intermission, Nine Black Alps
- Spiegel im Spiegel, Arvo Pӓrt
- Skinny Love, Bon Iver
- Angels, The XX
- Exit Music (For a Film), Radiohead
- The Absentee, The Boxer Rebellion
- Jar of Hearts, Christina Perri
- Modern Drift, Efterklang
- Video Games, Lana del Ray
- So Here We Are, Bloc Party
- The New, Interpol
- I’ll Be Your Lover Too, Rob Pattinson
- Thirteen Senses, Into the Fire
- Come Here, Kath Bloom
- Machines, Biffy Clyro
- Glycerine (Acoustic), Bush
- Wires, Athlete
- Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley
- On Call, Kings of Leon
- Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division
- To Be Free, Emiliana Torrini
- I Saw a Light, Bat for Lashes
There are lots more songs that I listen to when I’m writing. It’s not just the mood that helps, I quite often get ideas for a story from song lyrics; they’re great for conjuring flashes of imagery, like poetry but more intense.
Of course, everyone has different taste, but I’d love to hear your recommendations for great writing songs.
Martin says
Hi Amy, I’m a sucker for song lists (like those Facebook round robin’s where you have sum up your life in ten albums or some such thing), so I couldn’t resist adding my sixpenn’orth here.
I didn’t know some of the songs on your list, so had a listen and particularly liked Nine Black Alps, Thirteen Senses and Kath Bloom (though I should have remembered Come Here from Before Sunrise). I think I’ll stick with Van Morrison’s version of I’ll Be Your Lover Too and Kate’s version of Running Up That Hill (though I do like Placebo’s) – just call me a traditionalist.
All that said, I pretty much can’t listen to music while writing – I am that easily distracted. Some instrumental stuff is OK, but if I play anything with lyrics that I like I end up listening, singing and not writing. Of course, that doesn’t stop me doing it.
So I can’t really offer songs I like to listen to when writing, but I do love to be distracted, so how about a few that are guaranteed to do that? These are among those high on my playlist at the moment. Who knows, some might appeal.
Coles Corner, Richard Hawley
One Mississippi, Tom McRae
The Story of the Blues, Wah!
Sweet Thing, Van Morrison
Wishing on a Star, Paul Weller
Without You, Smoove and Turrell
Winter Hill, Doves
End of the Party, The Beat
In This Place, Big Country
Sad, Elton John vs Pnau
I Think I’ll Call It Morning, Gil Scott-Heron
The Daily Grind, Idiot Son
Bless the Weather, John Martyn
Roscoe, Midlake
On Melancholy Hill, Gorillaz
Amy Lord says
Great list Martin, I’ll have to check some of these songs out as I’m not familiar with most of them! Music is definitely a crutch for me when I’m struggling to write, but it has to be the right type of song otherwise I do get distracted. But the right playlist always helps me tune out whatever is around me and really immerse myself in the story I’m working on. Thanks for commenting!