I need music to write to. So I thought it would be fun if we could share music together and also talk about our strange musical habit.
Certain music gives me the muse to write. And I bust out super ideas. But usually it has to be something I haven't listened to.
I usually like to write to music that doesn't have words. Because that is when I get emotion.
Like trance, techno, and classical.
Is anyone else like this?
That it has to be a different song or you can't come up with a different idea.
Could someone recommend some music in the trance, techno, and classical genre to listen to?

In the Classical genre I recommend soundtracks like the ones from the Final Fantasy games, they are very "moody" in that they were made to represent some situation (danger, chill, etc). My personal favorites are the ones from FFXII and FFTA. The soundtrack from V for Vendetta and A Clockwork Orange are pretty good too. If you like variation, you can try Dexter's soundtrack.

I would highly recommend both this: http://ff7.ocremix.org/ and the .hack//SIGN soundtrack. As well as the original Final Fantasy 7 soundtrack. "Place of Memory" from FF9 is also brilliant. .hack//SIGN has hands-down the best soundtrack for anything I have ever heard in my life. "Aura" and "In Your Mind" are particularly beautiful. All of the songs from the above listed give me inspiration like nothing else. Curve is an excellent group for writing, too. :) I simply can't write without music.

And I echo the sentiment, on techno. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzrxopKkpr8 This is a beautiful song, both the music and the lyrics. Inspirational in all senses of the word. I can send the original, though not that specific song, through any messenger or email to anyone who wants it. :)

Oh, I already listen to the Hack Soundtrack.
I like that soundtrack.
My problem is once I've listened to a certain song so many times before I don't get a muse from it any more.
I always need new music or else, I crash.
And I wanted to know if anyone else gets this way as well?

I like this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwen0cPBsZ8

I enjoy writing to pachbel sometimes, but mostly I listen/write to metal, such as:

Nightwish, Leaves' Eyes, Epica, Sonata Arctica, Within Temptation, Stream of Passion.

All are awesome bands and for the most part are symphonic metal with beautiful vocals. Lots of folkness as well =)

I enjoy writing to pachbel sometimes, but mostly I listen/write to metal, such as:

Nightwish, Leaves' Eyes, Epica, Sonata Arctica, Within Temptation, Stream of Passion.

All are awesome bands and for the most part are symphonic metal with beautiful vocals. Lots of folkness as well =)

Cool.
I'll check them out.

Some trance people I listen to is Juno Reactor, Orbital, Lords of Acid

I'd take the approach of listening to music that reflects the mood of what you are writing. I do like the Final Fantasy soundtracks because I'm so familiar with them and there aren't words to distract me. Other than that...sad scene, sad song. Maybe Keith Urban or Staind. Weird, confused scene? The band Tool. Anything by them. Fast paced, perilous scene? More aggressive stuff like Disturbed. Fun, happy scene? Charlie Daniels. Relaxed scene? Relaxed classical.

You get the idea. I'm not saying anyone should look into those bands specifically, just whatever will get you into the mood you want to be in for what you are writing.

Well music always depends on my mood.
But I can tend to listen to a whole rock playlist and still write sad scenes.
I write mostly horror, so creepy classical music helps me more then happy classical music.
The problem with final fantasy music, the music is to fantasy for me. Can't construct a good horror scene with fantasy music.
When I feel like a fantasy story I'll listen to it though.

Look into the battlestar galactica (remake) soundtracks. It might sound daft, but Bear McCreary (the composer) produces some awesome stuff.

I don't listen to music when I write since I'd get too caught up in enjoying the music, or else would just tune it out to concentrate on writing, and what's the point of that?

However, if you like good instrumental stuff, might I recommend ES Posthumus? Their two CDs ("Unearthed" and "Cartographer," a 2-disk set) are kind of hard to find but are really good for music without words. None of that wishy-washy ambient stuff.

The instrumental CD of Nightwish's "Dark Passion Play" is also very good, but the rest of their music has vocals.

Cool thanks guys.
I'm sure those who write with music, who haven't listened to this really appreciate it as well.
Though no one has answered my first question.
All well, thank you.
I'm checking the people now.

I second Nightwish, but not just Dark Passion Play. All of their stuff has an epic fantasy adventure feel. "Ocean Soul," "Last of the Wilds," "Eclipse" and "Dead to the World" are my favorites.

i like to listen to alot of clint mansell's stuff like the requiem for a dream soundtrack and various others, but it really depends on the kind of scene im writing. For romantic scenes i usually go for something slower like the romeo and juliet soundtrack.

Could someone recommend me some good ethnic music?

Some India stuff, I'm talking Hindu Indian stuff.

I like a lot of ethnic music as well, so yeah.
I really need some good ethnic music.

"The Child In Us" by Enigma is an excellent song, somewhat in that vein. As before, any song I name, I am able to send to anyone. :)

I listen to Enya and Enigma.
I really like that type of music as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zIKdeQz4Xo&feature=related

This is another amazing song. I love it so much. It still hasn't lost its effect on me.

How about Organ music?
Anyone know any good organ music?
I'm talking about the instrument organ of course.

Game music is good for you! Game OSTs are are written for atmosphere; it helps you write related scene better. How about some tracks from Golden Sun: The Lost Age?

I'll go try it out Nilfry.

I find anime music, classical music, and game music helps me the most.

But the organ is, in fact, the least musical of all organs.

Some of my favorites for writing:

Land of Confusion-Genesis (The lyrics mean so much, how can you not be inspired?)
Holy Wars...The Punishment Due-Megadeth (Also means a ton, and is very well put together and has extremely musical harmonies between the guitars...so good.)
American Pie-Don McLean (Basically a story song, about some current events at the time.)
Turn the Page-Bob Seger (Very dark, mysterious. Metallica has a cover, but it is not nearly as dark as Seger's version.)
...And Justice for All-Metallica (Whether you are a heavy musician or not, listen to it. The guitars are layered and create beautiful, almost Rimsky-Korsakov like harmonies. Add lyrics about government corruption, 2 sick guitar solos, and a weird coming-home part that reminds me of some sunset scene in some movie, and you get an amazing song.)
ANYTHING BY JIMI HENDRIX OR ERIC CLAPTON
Ride the Lightning-Metallica (Powerful, angry lyrics questioning the justice behind the death penalty. Very heavy, not everyone will like this song.)

Thanks rageagainstclass.
None of it was my style.
Megadeth is trucker rock, and I do not like trucker rock.

Metallica is awesome.
Metallica wooo!

Metallica doesn't usually catch my interest, but "Nothing Else Matters" and "Fade to Black" are both very emotionally-charged songs for me. I love them. :)

I like "Disposable Heroes"
That is a good song, and that is emotionally charged.
I like NIN as well, Nine Inch Nails.

THE NEW METALLICA ALBUM DOESN'T SUCK! HALLELUJAH! :D :D :D


*ahem*

Sorry, had to be said :p

Writing music for me must be sans lyrics or in a foreign language I cannot pronounce.

I'm really into Bollywood music lately.

Oh god, yes it does. At least Hetfield, the singer, and everything he had to do with it does.

Megadeth is nowhere NEAR trucker rock. The guitarist in Megadeth used to play for Metallica, and he's TEN TIMES BETTER than Kirk Hammet, the current one. Megadeth sounds a lot like Metallica, but better. At least, their new songs are better than Metallica's good songs.

Writing music for me must be sans lyrics or in a foreign language I cannot pronounce.

Yes! Me too. Lyrics I can understand puts me to sleep.

THE NEW METALLICA ALBUM DOESN'T SUCK! HALLELUJAH! :D :D :D


*ahem*

Sorry, had to be said :p

I think that their newest albums sucks.
I think anything that they have made in the 2000's sucks.
They are trying to live a dream that has left them.


Still no one has answered my very first question before the music question.

Oh and I like this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PWX3bY97Ps&feature=channel

I can't concentrate with lyrics either, and I'm not really into trance or techno so Classical and Orchestral music are my thing since I started reading with my MP3 player on.

I think that their newest albums sucks.
I think anything that they have made in the 2000's sucks.
They are trying to live a dream that has left them.

I disagree. Everything after the Black Album sucked (even the Black Album itself was a step down after Master of Puppets and Kill em all) but Death Magnetic is alright. Not wonderful, and not back up to Black Album standard. But it bucks the trend of gradually worsening releases.

Actually, I've just remembered. I have a compilation of Metallica songs recored by some German orchestra. That's good to listen to while writing :)

The live Orchestra they did in SF years ago (which was released not long after) was frigging brilliant, as much as i dislike how they have falling from grace after all these years, that, was pure bliss. I listen to it often.

I tried listening to DM a few more times, but think im just ganna trade it in, its just too try hard, and if you've seen all their talk and crap, thats all it feels like. They should have cut there track tme down, it just doesnt do it anymore (somewhat feel the same for tools ladt alb). Doesnt mean its bad, just overcooked.

I think using the term "Suck/s" against something is bad itself, doesnt do justice why its so.

Buying AC/DC's black ice tomorrow. I know i'll hate it, but hey, its a cheap buy and will be fun to listen to in the car.

Myself, im a sucker (sorry) for passion, and i find this in Metal (any sort).

BUT, i spent about 5 hours driving listen ing to Enya recently. Shes seriously an Angel. And only time has to be the best sound in the world, for when your in need for such a thing...

I don't like Ac/Dc either.
The problem with listening to metal is I get to hyped up, and then all my scenes reflect my hyper mood.

I thought I answered the first question. *confused*

For good music with lyrics that are unintelligible, try out Adiemus--the words are all made up.

Also Lesiem--some English lyrics, but most are in Latin. Also Era. Vaguely similar to Enigma.

When I right and listen to music, it enhances the quality and speed with which I write and I hear the music but, as confusing as this may sound, I don't actually "hear" the music. Its like I can tell its their and I enjoy it, but it doesn't distract me at all.

None of these bands are techno or classical and they all contain vocals, but I listen to both Coheed & Cambria, which is progressive rock, and Tool when I write. Coheed & Cambria's CD's are concept albums (they have a sci-fi story interwoven into the songs and each album tells a part of the story) and they help a lot. Tool is progressive metal, but they rely a lot on instrumental parts and they are great. I use Coheed for the action parts and Tool for everything else.

If you can tolerate industrial (if you don't know what it is, its like a mix between electronic and hard rock), than you might like the new Nine Inch Nails instrumental album "Ghosts". If you go to their website or just type in "Nine Inch Nails Ghosts" on google, you'll find the site and you can dowload nine tracks of the album for free. Hope this helps!

I already know Nine Inch Nails is good. I listen to them for my grotesque scenes. Don't know why, even their most "encouraging" make me think of nasty things.
Its their actual music not the lyrics.

My initial question is for those who depend on music:
Is anyone else like this?
That it has to be a different song or you can't come up with a different idea.

I guess I could rephrase it as:
For those who depend on music, does the music you listen to have to be different for you because you cannot get the same muse out of the same music over and over again?

It does tend to lose its effect, yes. At first, my mind gets caught up in the new music, and ideas spring forth from that as I try to understand it. But soon, I memorize the song and am able to listen to it - imperfectly, far inferior to actually listening, but I can hear it - in my head. At that point, the ideas slow to a trickle, often before I'm able to shape them and write them/

Check out work by Christophe Beck - composer of music for a bunch of TV shows and movies, including personal fave, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A CD was released not too long ago containing some of his more popular compositions from that show, here's an example of what to expect: Sacrifice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bP6KI24YWM)

Yes! Me too. Lyrics I can understand puts me to sleep.


Doesn't put me to sleep. Just distracting. I'm a Singer. I'm the guy, when you come to the red light, is singing at the top of his lungs in the car and you couldn't pay me to care if people are watching.

Yeah, that's me. :D

I'm looking for Christopher Beck to hear some of his music.

Another good composer to listen to while writing is Yiruma:

River Flows in You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p_ebSseEq8)

Kiss the rain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so6ExplQlaY&feature=related)

I'll check it out Marina.
Thanks.

Yoko Kanno is good to listen to.

As well as Haishima.

Michael hedges mostly.

I'll check Micheal Hedgers as well.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who uses this style of music as a muse. :)

I personally don't mind lyrics as much, but it really depends on my mood. Sometimes lyrics help me get into the mood and sometimes not. So I have a large collection of music to accommodate both moods. ;)

Some of what I'd recommend has already been listed but this is what I listen to:

Lyrics- Blackmore's Night (folk celtic); Conjure One (electronic ambient); Enigma (electronic trance); Enya (new age celtic); Epica (symphonic metal); Nightwish (symphonic metal); Within Temptation (symphonic metal)

No lyrics- Apocalyptica (neoclassical metal); E.S. Posthumus (neoclassical)

I also enjoy a lot of OSTs of games, movies, and TV shows. I think my favorites in these cases are: anything by Nobuo Uematsu; Lord of the Rings; traditional Japanese music such as OST from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Last Samurai, Hero, Memoirs of a Geisha, etc.; and almost anything by Yoko Kanno.

I also listen to a ton of traditional celtic music. Mostly things I pick up from Target or get from friends.


I hope this helps! :)

Thanks Annu.
I went and checked them out.
It was neat...not my style.

I'm looking for Christopher Beck to hear some of his music.

You can check out a lot of his work here (http://www.imeem.com/artists/christophe_beck/?arpa=t)

Just a minor note, in case you want to look for more, it's worth mentioning that there is no 'r' at the end of his name, it's just 'Christophe'. Otherwise you might end up looking for the wrong guy. :p

Thank you Gone Wishing, I hadn't realized I put the r at the end of the name.
OOops.
I'll check the link out.

I go about musical inspiration a few ways. If I'm writing a planned out story, I make a playlist on playlist.com that reflects the scenes/emotions in chronological order. Or if I can't find a song for that scene, I use anime/videogame soundtracks. No words, full of emotion.

I find it best to listen to something up beat. For me it is usually Alter Bridge, Shinedown, Disturbed, stuff like that.

Classical Adventure: Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks

Modern Action: The Dark Knight soundtrack

Varied Fantasy: World of Warcraft soundtracks, Guild Wars soundtracks

Asian Adventure/Action: Inuyasha OST 1

Varied Fantasy II: The Lord of the Rings soundtracks

Modern Fantasy: Harry Potter soundtracks

Adventure Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda soundtracks

I'm writing an apocalytpic, horror, tragedy, so I'm usually sitting in my car (on lunch break, mind you) listening to Slipknot, Devildriver, Bullet for my Valentine and Korn. I need it, as do you. Although I am in no way assuming that you'd like any of those bands. I can hardly listen to instrumental music, I need the lyrics.

Oh and if you're interested, for maybe a scene filled with anger and despair, listen to devildriver's 'horn of betrayel'. My god that song is just too epic, the bridge to the end of the song and the end itself... "Your selfless lies. Your selfless wave of sorrow washed over me. Like a sea of new memories." It gives me goosebumps.

To get focused, this probably sounds strange, but i listen to Gregorian Chanting. I can think so clearly with it on.

.

I tend to listen to instrumental bands like Explosions in the Sky to get the creative blood pumping.
I'm from Northern Ireland and there's a band around called And So I Watch You From Afar. They are definately worth listening to. It's really inspirational stuff

I usually listen to something rather mellow, yet thought provoking. I prefer Jimi Hendrix, Death Cab For Cutie, and the Killers when it comes to writing.