Let's share the songs we're listening to while writing

I sometimes use functional music on youtube, there are a few channels with names like "ambiance" or "study music" - instrumentals and all genres.

Nothing with lyrics, but when I need to write spooky stuff I chuck on Hall of Souls from the Quake soundtrack by Trent Reznor. Otherwise it's something to match the mood of the scene I'm working on.

Since death is one of my themes, I should be listening to Mozart's Requiem, but since it's a comedy I'll probably listen to some ELO or Van Halen instead.

For climactic scenes I put on The Beatles' Abbey Road.

yesterday i listened to the piano version of studio ghibli music

For me it's these five!

• The White Whale Chant by Roque Baños

• Isencane Lengane by The Joy

• Konko Below by Lagbaja

• Black Widow by Martin Phipps & The Chamber Orchestra

• Remains by Volker Bertelsmann (love the textures in this!)

They're all quite different but they fit different emotional beats in my story @ heck I can't write without my entire playlist. If you can tell from the list, it's not a very 'happy' novel.

Usually I listen to the Mass Effect 3 soundtrack, but I've been listening to dream sounds on YouTube recently.

I tend to change what I'm listening to based on the theme as well, generally instrumental music so I don't get distracted by lyrics lol. In particular I normally write fantasy but I also have a sci Fi book I'm working on, before I continue writing I listen to "All Eyes on You" by Smash into Pieces, I was listening to it when I first got the idea for the book so it helps me get into a proper mindset before I get to writing

Wagner and Vince Guaraldi

Indie music sometimes but mostly nu metal or just heavy metal. I have a playlist on Spotify called Throne of Bones that my go to. Metallica, Ozzy, Slayer, Korn, Rob Zombie, Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Death, mudvayne, slipknot, limp bizkit, early deftones. This playlist is 10 hours long.

Not technically music, but a sound generator. The Wolf's Heart on MyNoise. I find music to be too distracting especially if it has lyrics. Music-like noise generators from MyNoise are perfect for me.

I personally listen to gospel music while writing, but I’d recommend the band 3 Days Grace to listen to if you’re writing something epic.

I’ve recently been listening to lacami stare by maneskin because it makes me feel productive and is Italian so it’s not distracting me with words I can understand

Oppenheimer soundtrack

Brittany Howard’s album “What Now” is pretty fantastic to write to. It’s lofi enough to not be too distracting but it’s got some killer tracks that keep me engaged in my work

When I’m trying to get into a certain mood I love those playlist on YouTube and Spotify that are like “POV you’re a 17th century villain and your plans are coming together” the titles are goofy but when you find one that fits your oddly specific mood it really helps set the scene.

Anything by Sleep Token at the moment

I mostly listen to symphonic or folk metal while I write. A lot of Epica and Eluveitie, a bit of Nightwish and Within Temptation, and a smattering of other things. I also listen to a lot of Eluveitie's acoustic stuff.

My stories are basically Celtic mythology influenced post-apocalyptic fantasy.

Some notable songs:

The Skeleton Key by Epica Synergize - The Manic Manifest by Epica Exile of the Gods by Eluveitie Ambiramus by Eluveitie Weaver of Fate by Brothers of Metal The Final Lullaby by Epica Entertain You by Within Temptation We Go to War by Within Temptation Ghost Love Score by Nightwish Poet and the Pendulum by Nightwish

I found a playlist with lofi covers of emo songs from when I was in highschool on Spotify that I like.

Currently, Olivia Rodrigo's album "GUTS". But not that long ago, it was a playlist of UPSAHL songs, and before that Devil Town by cavetown (1hr version).

mitski and lana are my go to for writing

Country songs of a wide variety (old and new), as well as recently, I was Made for Loving You covered by YungBlud.