What music do you listen to when you write?

[KRHolbrook]

Being ADD, I don't listen to music unless it's more instrumental. The words from songs get in my way and I end up focusing more on them than on my own writing.

 

[Addison]

Most of the time I need background noise, whether it's music, movie or Tv. Ironically I can't write if the noise is sleep over chaos or general kid chaos.

 

[ArthurWalterson]

Usually I listen to Two Steps from Hell (or similar). It kinda keeps me going while I'm writing.

 

[Tom_Bombadil]

@ArthurWalterson, same. I also listen to other movie soundtracks and some ambient indie music. Depends on the scene I'm writing.

 

[Addison]

LOVE soundtracks!

The best music for me is either instrumental or a music where the music and the lyrics are in harmony.

 

[Tom]

Mostly Celtic/folk from a local artist called Penny Whiskey. It gets me in the mood because I write stuff with a strong Celtic influence. I also like Gaelic Storm, The Chieftains, Gentlemen of the Road, and other Celtic bands. I also listen to Christian hip hop like TobyMac when I'm writing urban fantasy.

Like Ophiucha, I can't listen to Les Mis because no one likes it when I belt out its songs at the top of my lungs, but I listen to it when I'm alone. Les Mis is the best.

 

[DFWriterX]

If you're writing, post what you're listening to right now!

I'm listening to Katy Perry -- Teenage Dream. I've also got a little Kelly Clarkson ready to go. Maybe a little Nicki Minaj too.

What are you gals and guys listening to?

I listen to these artists too! Most recently I've been listening to Now! That's what I Call Music! 101 album and a few new songs by Ariana Grande and Little Mix.

 

[SeverinR]

 

[Azeroth]

All forms of metal and hard rock, ranging from late 1960's (lots of proto-metal, psychedelic) to the present. I find bands like Opeth and Dimmu Borgir can set a decent dark fantasy mood, while some power metal bands (Blind Guardian, whom dedicated an entire album to Lord of the Rings, by the way) can set the mood for heroic actions and large scale warfare.

The grunting/screaming element of modern metal is an acquired taste, though. Luckily I find it easy to tune out to while I focus on what I am writing, because it is often incomprehensible. It's when the odd beautiful melodic voice floats in out of nowhere that you stop and forget what you're doing.

 

[WynnLandry]

It depends on what I’m writing, but I’ve been writing to a lot of Japanese House and Daughter lately.

 

[MorioKitsune]

For me it is J-pop or anime opening music. I can understand Japanese but i have to really consentrate on it. I have found that if I use English speaking music then I find it really distracting to have in the background.

 

[Ned Marcus]

Nothing. I need silence when I write fiction. If I'm writing a blog post, then baroque harpsichord music works best, particularly Soler.

 

[James Morton]

I am strongly compelled to burst into song, which is counter-productive.

 

[Hir i-Chorvath]

I usually listen to the Lord of the Rings movie soundtracks, I find them very inspirational. I used to listen to the Black Piper as well but for some reason it got discontinued.

 

[skip.knox]

Psybient, from the Internet Archive. Marvelous mixes, typically an hour long or so, with no real lyrics. Occasional vocal samples.

 

[Svrtnsse]

Psybient, from the Internet Archive. Marvelous mixes, typically an hour long or so, with no real lyrics. Occasional vocal samples.

Oh... I've done a few sets in that vein. They're available here: Chill by svrtnsse - please have a look and let me know if any of that works for you.

 

[skip.knox]

Digging Downwind. Just the right sort of mix for my tastes.

 

[Svrtnsse]

Digging Downwind. Just the right sort of mix for my tastes.

Great. Happy to hear it.

 

[skip.knox]

Digging Downwind. Just the right sort of mix for my tastes.

... and just rolled over nicely into Lost in Dreamland. Down in the groove, even when all the grooves are just electrons in the wind.

 

[Svrtnsse]

... and just rolled over nicely into Lost in Dreamland. Down in the groove, even when all the grooves are just electrons in the wind.

Nice, that one was meant to be soundtrack for Lost Dogs #4, but it didn't really happen like that - it's a bit more varied as far as styles go.