Inspiration Through Music

As a writer, one of the most important things for me is to be able to put myself in a scene with my characters. Therefore, when I’m writing, I tend to listen to music that will help put me in touch with the scene I’m trying to create, especially if I’m writing horror or dark fantasy. I study songs for the emotions they evoke. When I finish a novel, I will often post a “soundtrack” of the music that I’ve listened to so that others may hear it and understand how I was inspired. In turn, I hope they become inspired by it as well.

Imagine this:

A moldy-looking antique shop on the edge of town that no one ever seems to go into. Except you of course.

The home you left so long ago that has been ravaged by sickness and war. It’s your first time back in over thirty years.

A darkened path in the woods that you don’t remember being there yesterday. You follow it, the air growing heavy and the light dissipating behind you.

There’s a man who has been following you ever since you left work. It’s late, most of the shops are closed and the streets are clear. You’ve started to walk faster but his pace has stayed the same, slow and even. Who is he and what does he want?

‘Inspiration Through Music’ is a weekly blog post discussing certain projects of mine and the music that assisted me to write them. I’ll post youtube links to the songs so that you may open them in a separate tab and listen as you read the blog post.

January 7th, 2012 – Limbo: A Short and Sweet Soundtrack for Horror Writers

January 10th, 2012 – Aequitas: Inspiration Through Music

January 17th, 2012 – Vox: Inspiration Through Music

January 23rd, 2012 – Hurricane: Inspiration Through Music

January 30th, 2012 – Pan’s Labyrinth Original Score

February 6th, 2012 – Massive Attack

February 15th, 2012 – Loreena McKennitt

February 20th, 2012 – A Beautiful Mind Score Soundtrack

February 27th, 2012 – Philip Glass

March 6th, 2012 – The Glitch Mob

March 12th, 2012 – Dark Ambient

March 19th, 2012 – 90’s Movie Music Edition

March 26th, 2012 – Frederic Chopin

April 2nd, 2012 – Trailer Music

April 9th, 2012 – KT Tunstall

April 16th, 2012 – Cry of Fear Soundtrack

April 23rd, 2012 – Jaws Soundtrack

April 30th, 2012 – Nina Simone

May 7th, 2012 – Trent Reznor

May 14th, 2012 – Antonin Dvorak

May 21st, 2012 – Dear Esther Soundtrack

May 28th, 2012 – Norah Jones

June 4th, 2012 – Johnny Cash

June 11th, 2012 – Qntal

June 18th, 2012 – 90’s Movie Music Part Deux

June 25th, 2012 – Bob Dylan

July 2nd, 2012 – Sarah Fimm

July 9th, 2012 – Heavy Rain Soundtrack

July 17th, 2012 – Dario Marianelli

July 23rd, 2012 – Florence and The Machine

July 30th, 2012 – Bond

August 6th, 2012 – Maynard James Keenan

August 15th, 2012 – Wye Oak

August 22nd, 2012 – Imogen Heap

September 1st, 2012 – Portishead

September 4th, 2012 – Fringe Soundtracks

September 11th, 2012 – Neil Young

September 17th, 2012 – Daniel Licht

September 27th, 2012 – Snow Patrol

October 1st, 2012 – Alan Wake Soundtrack

October 10th, 2012 – VAST

October 15th, 2012 – Dead Island Soundtrack

October 26th, 2012 – Understated Horror Movie Soundtracks

November 1st, 2012 – Unusual Horror Music

November 5th, 2012 – Craig Armstrong

November 14th, 2012 – Feist

November 19th, 2012 – NEEDTOBREATHE

December 3rd, 2012 – Jesper Kyd

December 3rd, 2012 – Alela Diane

December 14th, 2012 – George Winston

December 19th, 2012 – Lou Rawls

December 24th, 2012 – To The Moon Soundtrack

January 3rd, 2013 – Erik Satie

January 7th, 2013 – Journey Game Soundtrack

January 14th, 2013 – Stacey Kent

January 21st, 2013 – The Civil Wars

February 7th, 2013 – Little People

February 15th, 2013 – Fleet Foxes

February 20th, 2013 – Kings of Convenience

February 28th, 2013 – The Walking Dead Game Soundtrack

March 7th, 2013 – Three Days Grace

March 13th, 2013 – Emancipator

March 20th, 2013 – Bat For Lashes

March 26th, 2013 – The Cat Lady Soundtrack

April 3rd, 2013 – Fink

April 14th, 2013 – Brandi Carlile

April 24th, 2013 – Bersarin Quartett

May 5th, 2013 – Celldweller

May 27th, 2013 – Kosheen

June 10th, 2013 – Aurah

July 2nd, 2013 – Atra Aeterna

October 24th, 2013 – Beyond – Two Souls Soundtrack

November 8th, 2013 – Night Time, Dotted Line Soundtrack

January 15th, 2014 – A Walk in the Dark Soundtrack

January 20th, 2014 – Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Soundtrack

January 27th, 2014 – Max Richter

February 5th, 2014 – Akira Yamaoka

February 12th, 2014 – Amarante

February 24th, 2014 – The Wolf Among Us Soundtrack

March 6th, 2014 – Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness Soundtrack

March 18th, 2014 – The Last of Us Soundtrack

April 8th, 2014 – Year Walk Soundtrack

April 21st, 2014 – Daughter

May 1st, 2014 – Mary Fahl

May 20th, 2014 – Stateless

Jun. 12th, 2014 – Seeing a Scene While Listening to Music and Writing

Jul. 20th, 2014 – Top 10 Beautiful Game Soundtracks

Oct. 23rd, 2014 – Neverending Nightmares Soundtrack

Dec. 7th, 2014 – MEMENTO MORI

Mar. 9th, 2015 – Johann Johannsson 

Mar. 23rd, 2015 – Tomb Raider (Nathan McCree)

Apr. 6th, 2015 – Rayman 2: The Great Escape Soundtrack

Apr. 13th, 2015 – alt-J

May 4th, 2015 – Legend of Dragoon Soundtrack

May 28th, 2015 – Broken Age Soundtrack

Jun. 15th, 2015 – Maenum – Jami Seiber

Jun. 23rd, 2015 – Blackmill

Jul. 13th, 2015 – Jeremy De Tolly

Jul. 20th, 2015 – Arvo Part

Aug. 11th, 2015 – City and Colour

Aug. 31st, 2015 – Lisa: The Painful RPG Soundtrack

Sep. 14th, 2015 – The Village Soundtrack

Nov. 11th, 2015 – Become Ocean – John Luther Adams

Nov. 25th, 2015 – Undertale Soundtrack

Jan. 1st, 2016 – Top 10 Game Soundtracks of 2015

Any music you’d like me to check out for this blog? Just send me an email at kasilva@katherinesilvaauthor.com!

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