Most-played songs: 'Devil & Dust,' 'Cry to Me,' 'Moments'
Today's featured authors — Sandra Lake, author of The Warlord's Wife; Crystal Green, author of Hot and Bothered; and Alex Rosa, author of Tryst — share the top three songs on their playlists, for writing or otherwise.
Sandra Lake, author of The Warlord's Wife
My three most-played songs:
When I researched my own musical taste, I had a bit of a shock. My top three "most-played" have no musical genres in common. They don't seem at all connected, not until I read the lyrics.
• Devil & Dust by Bruce Springsteen was at the top of the list. Haunting folk song that makes you feel like you're in a smoky dive bar. I can't really tell you where this song takes me, but when I hear it, I usually lose my train of thought, drawn in by the evocative lyrics: "What if what you do to survive, kills the things you love. Fear's a dangerous thing. It can turn your heart black you can trust." According to iTunes, I'm addicted to this song, which probably explains why the sentiment of this song so perfectly description the mind-set of my character Magnus in The Warlord's Wife.
• Running for Home by Matthew Good Band was second on my list. Matthew Good songs are pure rock poetry, painting a story of bottomless frustrations and of a heart strung out alone on a desolate plane. Take a cup of graveling anger and mix it with the disappointment of adulthood. The Beautiful Midnight album came out when I was tapping into all of those themes in a big way. I think my heroine, Lida, can strongly relate to this song, that is if they had rock music back in medieval time.
• Gold Guns Girls by Metric gets my butt out of my chair and sends me into a sweaty, limp flailing dance every time. Great tune to get me to the gym. I crown Emily Haines the queen new-wave-indie-post-punk-rock goddess. Katia, my feisty heroine in The Iron Princess, would definitely agree with me.
What do these songs have in common? Well, great lyrics for a start, and a message of someone not yet ready to give in but someone who wants to keep fighting back when life kicks them down. Becoming an author was a dream that I never dared to speak out loud; none of my family or friends supported me. You see, I'm not known for being an academic type. I think what these three songs tell me is that we're all on our own, and if I want something, then I need to pick myself up and go after it.
Lida, my heroine in The Warlord's Wife, feels alone in her struggle to provide a good life for her daughter, riddled with self-doubt, but she keeps picking herself back up and pressing forward to reach her goals. I dare say the two of us have that in common.
Find out more at sandralakeromance.com.
Crystal Green, author of Hot and Bothered
I don't listen to music during my writing, but I was definitely inspired by these three songs that were on my playlist during my brainstorming for Hot and Bothered …
• Cry to Me by Solomon Burke. You know this one. Anyone who has ever watched Dirty Dancing does. (Think of Baby and Johnny alone in that cabin, finally getting it on. Yeah, that song!) Burke's voice carries such longing as it weaves through the swaying beat that you can't help but to yearn for your own hero to sweep you into a steamy dance. Favorite lyric: "Nothing could be sadder than a glass of wine alone. Loneliness, loneliness … such a waste of time." Truer words were never sung.
• Dedication to My Ex by Lloyd. Here's another song with an irresistible beat, although it's not very romantic to listen to this story about being cheated on because a lover thinks the lovin' ain't very good these days. (Ouch.) But this is another one of those tunes that just dares you to sit still. You will not be able to resist the hot beat, guaranteed.
• Safety Dance by Men Without Hats. Yes, this '80s gem is worlds away from the first two songs, but it makes me very happy, and we all need happiness. I even have a theory that listening to evocative beats during my brainstorming helps to cultivate a lively "voice" for the book. (Seriously!) Fun fact: I had no clue what the heck the lyrics are about until I looked them up and discovered that they have something to do with people who were "pogoing" on a dance floor and then protesting when the bouncers tried to stop the dancing. The things you learn.
About Hot and Bothered:
On the dusty outskirts of Vegas, there's a down and dirty saloon where all sorts of lethally charming—and genuinely dangerous—men carouse to seduce the women who happen to venture inside on their way to and from Sin City.
Despite the many women he's bedded over the years, Gideon Lane has never been able to get Rochelle Burton completely out of his head. He certainly never expected to see the city girl again, now a successful author, all grown up in all the right places and asking for his protection.
After their disastrous night together, Rochelle was determined to put Gideon—and the things he made her want—far behind her. But when an obsessive fan expresses their anger over her latest book in a disturbing way, Rochelle's overprotective cousins insist she hire the best bodyguard the Rough & Tumble saloon can offer.
Both Rochelle and Gideon intend to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when the threat to Rochelle puts them in close quarters , Gideon can't help wanting the chance to prove that some things are better the second time around…
Find out more at crystal-green.com.
Alex Rosa, author of Tryst
I think any writer who enters their writing cave on a daily basis knows how important music can be to set the mood, or tone for ones goal-orientated mornings/evenings; Whether that means writing, editing, researching, or mindlessly updating and checking social media.
I realized that these three songs are on my playlist no matter what, and with powers combined, I'm put into a mental Zen of productivity when listening.
• From Eden by Hozier.
• Moments by Tove Lo.
• Chloroform by Phoenix.
I have an affinity for mellow indie music, and catchy electronic beats. I'm not sure how the two go together, but they create this epic playlist.
I love dark melodies, and I especially love crafty lyrics that transport my mind, while still being able to keep me centered.
• Hozier mixes dark yet still heartfelt themes, acoustic instruments and a fresh sound that has me never getting sick of their songs, and especially the song From Eden. The intro always sets me up for a perfect session of writing or editing. Plus, this guy's voice makes me melt.
• Tove Lo is a badass chick (and singer) who I think totally gets what it's like to be a girl in her 20s, and when the song Moments hits my ears, I feel understood (except for maybe the whole drug part). The natural angst of her music tends to amp me up for writing, while still managing to get me to nod and hum along. Her music kind of reminds me of a beautiful chaos, which can feel like what I might be creating.
• Phoenix's Chloroform easily made this list. This song gives me that buzz that electrifies my fingertips and helps me write. It's this electronic, yet mellow, tune that draws me into a trance, and still manages to pull me into a moment of focus. I don't know what it is about this song, but I get in the zone when it's on. Maybe it's the dreamy intro that makes me wish I was in a Sofia Coppola film, or that I wish I had an artsy boyfriend who would write me moody melodic songs like this one. Regardless, I'm immediately put into a good mood when this tune hits my eardrums.
All of these songs really help me feel grounded and centered, and to prove my point (to myself), I've had this three-song playlist on repeat since writing why I love them, and ya know what? I'm sure I've made the right choices.
I love how music has this power of giving me a sense of Zen, while still making me feel like it understands me.
Find out more about Alex at www.authorarosa.com.