Writing & Music

Here are the highlights of my latest writing playlist, named “Samuel”, after the character over whom my tight-lipped third person limited-omniscient narrat(or)-camera hovers for the latter half of my third novel.  Included in this list, culled from well over one hundred songs, are the powerhouse tracks that really influence me.  I’ll explain why for each.  Come, take a tour of my soul.  Or something.

1. California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade ~ The Decemberists. Making Samuel’s playlist was a challenge at first, because he’s a relatively new character, and other playlists have focused more on tone and content of writing, rather than the personality of a character.  Once I got near the POV switch I began splitting the extant playlist for the novel in two, one for Samuel and one for Sam’s father, David.  I came to realize eventually that what I was trying to contain in the playlist didn’t need contained at all.  A kid is scattered, pulling himself together anew daily, finding and losing his voice constantly.  With that in mind, I set out to make this playlist contain multitudes but more importantly weaker voices.  This Decemberists track achieves quite a lot.  It’s anthemic, it sets a strong tone, and yet very clearly it’s for the more tremulous among us.  A huge thank you to The Tall Brunette for introducing me to this song.
2. The Black Crow ~ Songs: Ohia. This is as dark as things get.  This novel more than any other is marked by death–slightly odd, considering the subject matter of the others.  When I listen to this song I can’t see anything for the iridescent feather-black in my eyes, and its desperation is perfect for both Sam and David, characters who feel helpless to change the world around them.
3. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) ~ Arcade Fire. As made clear by the award-worthy preview of Where the Wild Things Are, Arcade Fire’s Funeral is an album for youth.  Every note hums with the weight and significance all events have when you’re younger.  Running away seems possible.  If you could walk as far as the horizon what was behind you would no longer be there.
4. 16, Maybe Less ~ Iron & Wine and Calexico. Another youthful song that speaks to the mythic, ethereal presence our earlier years have on our lives.  Where Arcade Fire brings snow to mind, this song is deep green, trees and vines and cut grass, a song of summer.
5. Crosshair Chapel ~ Knife in the Water. This is a band few people have heard of, and I can’t sing their praises loud enough.  Excellent stuff.  Soothing, menacing, entrancing.  Like staring into the eyes of a snake.  Crosshair Chapel in particular has an apocalyptic feel to it that’s mirrored in my work.  Sam is a very perceptive kid, and he sees things are going wrong everywhere you look, and it colors his views.
6. Bottom of the World ~ Tom Waits. The world seen through the broken lens of Tom Waits’ head.  There are enough bridges for everyone to sleep under, and just enough beans and barrel fires. Sam will dream of this sort of existence from time to time, but of course he hasn’t been knocked around like the narrator in this song has.  He doesn’t know what’s out there.
7. New Doomsdays ~ Mimicking Birds. Another dark song.  I imagine this floating through my head at the bottom of a well.  This song is probably too mature for Samuel, but it hints at a depth to his character that he’ll grow into.

I thought of adding in a few of my postrock picks, but the explanations would be boring: “makes me think of the end of the world”, for every one.  And the postrock is all in another playlist anyway, for the less-human moments in the book.  I tried to make my mentions at least somewhat lesser known, and I hope I’ve exposed some of you to something new.  Next up I’ll talk a little about Butcher’s Crossing and maybe a book I just picked up, a debut novel from Brian Hart called Then Came the Evening.