I enjoy having music on in the background while I write. It’s inspiring. It’s a friend in the wee hours as I run off with my muses.
Sometimes there’s a specific album that feels right. Most of the time, though, I prefer a mix. I usually have two playlists around. One has a mix of mostly instrumental music ranging from gentle to thunderous. The other has bright pop and Bollywood.
Current Writing playlist, a mix of mostly instrumental music from soundtracks, played on shuffle and repeat:
- Nothing Else Matters by Apocalyptica
- Fade to Black by Apocalyptica
- Passacaglia (from Battlestar Galactica) by Bear McCreary
- The Shape of Things to Come (from Battlestar Galactica) by Bear McCreary
- Admiral and Commander (from Battlestar Galactica) by Bear McCreary
- The Arrival and the Reunion by Dead Can Dance
- Saltarello (Instrumental) by Dead Can Dance)
- Arise (AFC Championsip Theme on CBS) by E.S. Posthumus
- On Earth as It Is in Heaven (from The Mission Soundtrack) by London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Gabriel’s Oboe (from The Mission Soundtrack) by London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Crusaders (from Kingdom of Heaven Soundtrack) by Harry Gregson-Williams
- Light of Life (Ibelin Reprise) (from Kingdom of Heaven Soundtrack) by Harry Gregson-Williams
- The Riders of Rohan by Howard Shore
- Hymnus Orbis by The Immediate
- Glory Seeker by The Immediate
- Invictus by The Immediate
- Return to Outremer by Irfan
- Hagia Sophia by Irfan
- The Ludlows (from Legends of the Fall) by James Horner
- Seven Years in Tibet by YoYo Ma, John Williams
- Star Trek by Michael Giacchino
- The Heart Asks Pleasure First (from The Piano) by Michael Nyman
- 160 BPM (from Angels and Demons) by Hans Zimmer
- 503 (from Angels and Demons) by Hans Zimmer, Joshua Bell
- 3200 Years Ago (from Troy Soundtrack)
- Remember (from Troy Soundtrack) by Josh Groban
- Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor, K. 626: Sequentia – Lacrimosa
- Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor, K. 626: I. Intoitus: Requiem aeterna
- Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor, K. 626: II.Kyrie
- Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor, K. 626: III. Dies irae
- A Little Night Music by W.A. Mozart
- Pachebel’s Cannon
- The Eternal Vow (from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) by Shanghai National Orchestra
- Fringe Main Title Theme
- Prelude (Cello Suite No. 1), YoYo Ma
- Sybilla (from Kingdom of Heaven)
- Chansoneta Farai Vencut (from Kingdom of Heaven)
- France 1186 (from Kingdom of Heaven)
- The King’s Death (Inedit Song) (from Kingdom of Heaven)
- Chevaliers de Sangreal (from DaVinci Code)
- Reel Around the Sun (from Riverdance) by Bill Whelan
Got sludge? Apply the bopping and Bollywood playlist! Shuffle, rinse, repeat.
- Let’s Party by Ganesh Hegde
- Do It Like a Dude by Jessie J
- The Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga
- Mindblowing by Ganesh Hegde
- Meri Mehbooba from Pardes
- Closer by NIN
- Phantom of the Opera by Nightwish
- A Little Priest from Sweeney Todd (2007)
- Marjaani Marjaani Kasame from Billu Barber
- Love Mera Hit Hit from Billu Barber
- Dilbara from Dhoom
- Dhoom Again from Dhoom2
- Crazy Kiya Re from Dhoom2
- Kuzu Kuzy by Tarkan
- G33k & G4M3R Girls by Team Unicorn
- Woh Ladki Jo from Baadshah
- Touch Me from Dhoom2
- Shikaboom from Dhoom
- Deewangi Deewangi from Om Shanti Om
- Chammak Challo from Ra-one
Image Credit: Tim Geers on Flickr CC by-SA 2.0