This week on the Deb Ball we’re talking music, specifically what we listen to when we’re writing. I’m in the ‘need music to write’ camp … with one key stipulation: when I’m drafting, I listen to one song — and one song only – on repeat, sometimes for hours at a time.
Music helps me tune out distractions – it quiets the part of my brain that needs quieting so I can focus in on my writing, especially when I’m writing out and about. I like the visual white noise of a coffee shop, but if I forget headphones I’m useless – the constant chatter is so distracting, and I can’t help but eavesdrop (though on occasion this has provided me with some great character fodder).
When I choose a song to play on repeat for hours, I try to pick one that a) I love (you’d better love it if it plays for hours!), b) evokes an emotional response in me, c) and would be considered a ballad – like poetry set to music. And because the song repeats, I also don’t get distracted by a change in tempo as one song switches to another – something I’ve realized can pull me out of a great writing session.
So having said all of that, here’s my most recent playlist (in no particular order):
John Legend – ALL OF ME
Jason Mraz – I WON’T GIVE UP
Christina Perri – A THOUSAND YEARS (This would be the theme song for COME AWAY WITH ME, based on how many plays it got…)
Jason Mraz & Christina Perri – HUMAN
Train – MARRY ME
Ron Pope – A DROP IN THE OCEAN *His voice is … sigh … amazing.
A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera – SAY SOMETHING
Ben Harper – BELOVED ONE
Jewel – HANDS
K.D. Lang – HALLELUJAH
Damien Rice – THE BLOWER’S DAUGHTER
Imogen Heap – HIDE AND SEEK
Do you listen to music when you write? What’s on your playlist?
We have frighteningly similar tastes in music, Karma!
Well, of course we do Amy! 🙂
Oh my gosh — we have two of the same songs on our playlists! Love the feels they invoke. Great list!
Great minds, Colleen! Or, we both just write sad stuff that requires melancholy music 😉