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