Guest Blogger: Jeri Smith-Ready
September 22nd, 2007 by Michelle Diener
Top Ten Soundtracks for Paranormal Writing
Michelle, thanks so much for inviting me to your wonderful blog! Hope everyone enjoys my blathering on one of my favorite topics.
Music is my high-octane creative fuel. I came up with the idea for my first published novel, Requiem for the Devil, while attending a performance of Verdi’s Requiem. I even made a soundtrack for it. My upcoming urban fantasy Wicked Game is about vampire DJs, so I get to combine my two greatest loves.
Like a lot of authors, I listen to music when writing. I find film and TV soundtracks particularly inspiring, probably because they have a narrative attached. Whether I’ve seen the movie or not, I can feel the story, the mood, and the characters manifest themselves in the music.
For my Aspect of Crow fantasy series, I need music that transports me out of our world. For each book, I chose three soundtracks. Every day when it’s time to write, I start the first soundtrack. Sometimes I’ll play a game of Spider Solitaire to settle myself down, but I’m listening to the music and absorbing its weight (really, I swear). After several days of this routine, my creativity becomes like Pavlov’s dog; as soon as I hear the opening strains of the first track, the “WRITE NOW” switch flips on (I’ve stopped the drooling, though).
Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order:
1. Lord of the Rings: I consider all three soundtracks as one continuous score, just as the three films constitute one long story. Howard Shore did an astounding job composing different themes for each character or group of characters. I used these when writing Eyes of Crow.
Highlights: “Bridge of Khazad Dum” (from Fellowship of the Ring), “The King of the Golden Hall” (from Two Towers), and “The Steward of Gondor” (from Return of the King)
2. House of Flying Daggers/Hero/Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon: Though the stories of these three Chinese films aren’t explicitly connected, the first two have the same director and the latter two have the same composer. They all feature themes of heroism, sacrifice, and intense romantic love. I used these while writing Voice of Crow, which oh-by-the-way just became available.
Highlights: “Beauty Song” (from HoFD), “Spirit Fight” (from Hero), “Yearning of the Sword” (from CTHD)
3. Run Lola Run: See this movie! Lola has twenty minutes to raise 100,000 Deutsche Marks or her boyfriend will be killed by gangsters (trust me on this). She relives the same twenty minutes in three successive realities, trying to create a happy ending. The soundtrack has a consistent driving beat and reminds me of Lola’s fierce energy and dogged determination.
Highlights: “Believe,” “Casino”
4. The Matrix: Great for writing urban fantasy or science fiction, or creating any dangerous world where nothing is as it seems.
Highlights: “Rock is Dead” by Marilyn Manson, “Dragula” by Rob Zombie
5. The Crow: one of my favorite films (gee, big surprise). Again, perfect for writing urban fantasy or horror.
Highlights: “Burn” by the Cure, “Dead Souls” by Nine Inch Nails
6. Babylon 5: The sweeping orchestral themes are pure heroical inspiration. I used to play this when writing papers in grad school–the tempo kept me awake and the music reminded me that as tough as Macroeconomics could be, at least I wasn’t fighting the Shadows.
Highlights: “Main Title 3rd Season,” “Geometry of Shadows I”
7. Twin Peaks’ Fire Walk With Me: I’m still scratching my head over what the heck was going on in that movie, but Angelo Badalamenti’s soundtrack is as moody as it gets. Perfect for vampires or ghosts.
Highlights: “Sycamore Trees,” “The Pink Room”
I’m using the last three soundtracks for The Reawakened, the last installment of my Aspect of Crow trilogy.
8. Peter Gabriel’s Passion, the soundtrack for The Last Temptation of Christ: Possibly Gabriel’s best album. He uses a lot of Middle Eastern and African instruments and vocalists, which gives it an otherworldly feel. It’s dark and sensuous and full of mystery.
Highlights: Title track, “With This Love”
9. The Passion of the Christ: Like the previous score, this one has a Middle Eastern feel, but it’s slightly more symphonic. I’ve never seen this movie, which is probably a good thing, in that it allows me to relate the gorgeous music to my own work, not to the powerful visual images of the film.
Highlights: “Mary Goes to Jesus,” “It Is Done”
10. 500 Nations: From an 8-part documentary about indigenous peoples of North and Central America. Composer Peter Buffet gives a contemporary flair to native sounds without sounding like a ripoff or “Indian Muzak.” Most of the songs center on the fight against European invasion and occupation, making it a perfect backdrop for The Reawakened.
What kind of music inspires you to write? Do you use mainly instrumental, or can you write with someone else singing words into your ears? Do you create soundtracks for your books?
Everyone who comments will go into a drawing next Friday for an autographed set of Eyes of Crow and Voice of Crow. So let’s hear your thoughts!
(P.S.: I’ll be flying cross-country most of the day Saturday, but will check in Saturday night to answer questions/address comments.)
25 Responses to “Guest Blogger: Jeri Smith-Ready”
Jeri, thanks so much for blogging today.
I LOVE Run, Lola, Run. It is definitely one of a very select few movies I can watch again and again.
I find I can’t concentrate all that well if I write to music with people singing lyrics, but I do sometimes choose a song, like your Pavlov music
, which I listen to before I start writing to get me in the mood. I have worked out my own soundtrack to my last book, which is set in South Africa, full of great South African music, and I’m thinking of inflicting it on my CPs 
.
Busy busy busy. Yeah, Crow is a great soundtrack for writing. I admit I need silence when I write, but songs are a core of where I get a lot of my ideas too. Music can touch you in ways (well me anyway) that few other things can’t. Great list, and great idea with the gueat bloggers, Michelle. I am doing the author spotlights on Sat and most Tue, but it might be nice to switch Tue to a guest blog. Only if you don’t mind be borrowing from your brilliant idea.
Jeri, I’m listening to the Amazon sampler of 500 Nations right now. This would be great for the right kind of book – but not mine, lol. I’m writing WF.
Very interesting. It would be nice to have some kind of trigger to start me writing, and I’ve thought of getting the “concentration” or “creativity” CD from Target. (I can’t remember the title offhand.) A couple of writers in my chapter use that, and it works for them. Maybe I’ll get it. Like Michelle, I don’t think I could listen to music with lyrics.
My tastes range from alternative rock to Broadway hits. I’ve found Enya and Celtic Women to be my biggest writing inspiration. Maxwell, the Gladiator soundtrack, and Loreena McKennitt are also tops. My goal today is to pick up Fantasia’s CD. Something about her background and where she came from to fulfilling her dreams through singing is just awe-inspiring to me. Knowing that, how I can I not write? And when all else fails, there’s my Tori Amos collection or Rhythm of the Pride Lands (music inspired from the movie The Lion King).
I have a video iPod which can store about 10,000 songs, I guess. Some huge number I might never reach. But I try. I LOVE my iPod and can spend a great deal of time downloading songs . . . and my taste is all across the board–jazz, blues, rock, pop, techno. I put it on shuffle and write. Words, music, classical . . . whatever.
That said, I have EVERY SINGLE one of your selections–LOL. I would add Rob Dougan. If you don’t know his stuff, definitely check him out, given your taste. He is AWESOME and every song is inspiring for urban fantasy or paranormal . . .
E
Jeri, I understand about the music. It just takes you where you need to go. I finally bought an Ipod, and love it! Listening to words while writing used to bug me. I usually choose a song to “trigger” my story, and it’s just a magical way to flip the switch I agree. I love all types of music, and can’t imagine life without it.
Hi, Jeri!
One thing I love to do is check when an author I’m reading makes a soundtrack to their book, I love checking out the songs! and possibly even making a mix of them.
I like the soundtrack to The Crow, especially Burn by the Cure. And also “The Matrix” soundtrack is fantastic.
Moondancer, I have no claim to the idea at all (Edie at MM thought of the guest blog slots anyway
). Lots of blogs have guest slots, so feel free 
.
I love the LOTR soundtracks too. They are great to working on sewing garb. I also love the Gladiator soundtrack, it is haunting and uplifting at the same time.
H
Hi, Jeri! I was just over at your website, reading that wonderful first chapter for WICKED GAME.
I’m also a big fan of “Burn”–I think it’s just one of those songs that can really get a writer going.
A soundtrack that I use when I’m in between books is “Once More with Feeling”–this is the soundtrack from the Buffy musical. (I am such a Buffy fan.) Many of the lyrics are dark and powerful (although others are lighter and funny), and I get drawn in and inspired every time I hear Spike’s song.
Looks like I’m going to have to check out a lot of this music… it all sounds good! I can actually listen to music with words just fine when I’m writing– it comes from years of having on music in the background all the time, and I ignore it pretty easily (of course, this means that when I go to concerts and such I have a tendency to zone out, heh).
For instrumental writing music though, I really recommend the Firefly/Serenity soundtracks, with music by Greg Edmonson and David Newman. Also, the Gladiator soundtrack, and E.S. Posthumous does a lot of epic movie soundtrack music.
I love the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. I don’t normally listen to music while I write. But I do find that quite often a song will spark an idea for me.
I enjoy soundtracks that have a soothing sound to them and are inspiring as well. I have my favorites which are Patrizio Buanne whose voice is magnificent and Lara Fabian who is utterly compelling. These give me motivation and inspiration.
Hi Jeri! Saw you were guesting here from your blog
Hello to the Magical Musings crew!
This was a wonderful blog – gives the reader an insight into what you were listening to and feeling when writing the book.
I can’t listen to music at all – I tend to get distracted and I find myself listening to the music and not writing. Now with revisions – I can listen to music as long as I’m so familiar with the music it more like background noise.
Hi Maria! Nice to have you visit
.
For me it’s not so much about composing an entire soundtrack as it is finding each character’s “theme”–by that I mean: what song sums up that individual best/succinctly wherever they may be at this point in their lives/story.
Wow, so many comments! Sorry I’ve been out all day–beautiful flying weather, though, and it’s good to be back in New Mexico.
Michelle – I’m not usually one for multiple viewings either, but Run Lola Run is one I can see again and again, too. Your South African novel sounds really cool. We need more novels with settings other than New York City and Scotland. Seriously.
Moondancer – Good luck with your author spotlights. I’ve gotten specific ideas from songs, too. I wrote a screenplay (hopefully will become a novel one day, too) originally inspired by Kate Bush’s “The Sensual World,” and one day I’d love to write a story based on Tori Amos’s “Cornflake Girl.”
Edie – What’s WF? (I know I’m going to figure it out as soon as I post this comment.) Does that Creativity CD do something with alpha waves (or is it theta waves?) in your brain? I have a white noise machine with a setting for that but I haven’t tried it yet.
Marcia – I love Loreena McKennitt! She’s one of the best people to write fantasy to. I’ll check out the Gladiator soundtrack–sounds perfect for my WIP.
Erica – ooh, you have great taste.
I’ll definitely check out Rob Dougan. Thanks for the rec.
LaDonna – Glad you brought up specific trigger songs. I have one for The Reawakened, too, aside from the soundtrack. It’s “Don’t Drink the Water” by the Dave Matthews Band. It’s about apartheid in S. Africa and the genocide of Native Americans. It really gets my dander up against the bad guys in the book.
Wendy – OK, I posted the REQUIEM soundtrack here. I haven’t made a link to it yet on the site, because I’m a little sheepish as to how incredibly 90s it is. But hey, the book takes place in 1997-98, so…
And WICKED GAME will have a playlist in the front of the book of all the songs mentioned in the text. One of the big bookstore chain buyers, of all people, suggested it. I haven’t made it up yet, but I fear it will be 90s-heavy, too, since that’s the era the hero is from.
Heather – That’s 2 recs for Gladiator. I’m definitely putting it on my Wish List. Thanks!
Cynthia – glad you liked the excerpt! I love the Buffy soundtrack, too, although I find it kind of sad when heard in its entirety. Spike’s song is so dreamy. My favorite is Xander and Anya’s song.
Celeste – ooh, Firefly/Serenity sounds great! Thanks!
Stephanie – Isn’t LotR the best? No matter how many times I played it, I always stopped whatever I was doing to listen to Billy Boyd’s vocals in “The Steward of Gondor.” That was one of the most powerful movie scenes of all time. (And he’s my LotR crush–y’all can have the elf and the shaggy human, just give me a Scottish-accented Hobbit who can sing and make me laugh.)
Pearl – I like the soothing ones, too, but only if I’m sufficiently caffeinated. “Mists of Avalon” is gorgeous but tends to make me nod off.
Thanks for the recs!
Maria – That’s really interesting–I’m the opposite. I can’t have any music playing when I’m revising, because I’m reading the text out loud in my head. Great to see you hear!
Catie – good point. If I hear a song on the radio I might think, “Wow, that fits [name] to a T!” Then I scramble to write it down without crashing the car.
Good luck to everyone on the drawing!
Jeri, I checked the playlist and it looks pretty good!
I’m so glad Wicked Game will have its playlist inside! I’ve always liked when authors do that.
I have the soundtrack to LOTR. Fabulous. Haven’t tried writing to it yet … will probably have to give it a shot. When I’m writing, I love listening to the Doors. There’s just something about their music. I find it very sensuous and inspirational. Otherwise, most classic rock music will do it for me.
Great blog, by the way. Sorry I’m late in jumping in but its been a rough weekend.
Hello there! I really enjoy all types of music, but it tends to be the quite times when I get my writing done. Have a great first week of Fall!
I can only write in silence – so I can hear my brain think
But when I’m out walking with my mp3 player, and I find myself thinking about my stories, the works of the bands Kasabian and Goldfrapp seem to go well. The electronica must give out an otherworldly vibe 
Have a lovely day!
Liz – I LOVE the Doors. All hail the Lizard King!
Hope your week is going better.
Chris – Yes, sometimes there’s no substitute for silence.
Tez – Thanks for the rec–my husband loves electronica, and it does get the brain going, doesn’t it?
Hope everyone’s having a good week. I’ll do the drawing Friday night and post the winner here in the comments. Good luck!
And now…the winner of a signed set of EYES OF CROW and VOICE OF CROW is…
Wendy!
Congratulations! Just e-mail your mailing address to jeri@jerismithready.com, and I’ll get it right out to you.
Thanks to everyone who commented for making me feel welcome, and thanks again to Michelle for the invitation. I really enjoyed hearing everyone’s thoughts!
Congratulations, Wendy!
And you are very welcome, Jeri. It was such a pleasure having you. I hope we can persuade you to come back again some time
.
Wow! thank you!! I just emailed you. This is so awesome!!