THE CREEPING’s playlist has 46 songs on it. And because iTunes is awesome, I know how frequently I’ve played them all. Here are some of my favorites.
1. I’m already cheating. This isn’t one
song; it’s all of Lorde’s Pure Heroine album (32 plays from start to finish). This
album is main character Stella Cambren’s theme music. These are her anthems. In particular The Love Club and Team
capture Stella’s attitude when she questions her devil-may-care best friend,
Zoey. These songs are strong, deep, vulnerable, complex, and a little bit
whimsical, just like Stella.
2. Wishing Well by Wild Cub (64 plays). This
was my go to song whenever Stella and Zoey were at their secret beach with
their friends. It conjures up summer and cove days for me. All of Wild Club’s
songs made it easy to imagine I was baking in the sun, strawberry seeds stuck in
my teeth, hair wet, and skin smelling of coconut sunscreen.
3. Fire
Breather by Laurel. This song is sexy laced with darkness. Its three minutes
play out like a seduction. No surprise it was on repeat 174 times.
4. All I Want
by Kodaline. Guys, this is Sam’s song – SAM WORTH. You don’t know who that is
yet, but you won’t be able to miss him.
5. Cool Kids
by Echosmith. This song’s 46 plays put me in the mood for writing a pivotal
bonfire scene. It has a laidback feel, but its lyrics are meaningful and poignant,
with a deeper subtext.
6. I’m going to cheat again. These next three are what
I think of as my instant dread failsafe: When
the Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash, Kettering
by The Antlers, and Oats in the Water
by Ben Howard. I love these songs. They’re
dripping with imagery, but they also have an eerie tone that puts me on edge
when I need it. They’re similar to THE CREEPING in that there’s an undercurrent
of sinister that’s difficult to shake off.
And last but not least....
7. Fangs
(District 78 Remix) by Little Red Lung was listened to 286 times. Everything
about this song put me in the mood to write THE CREEPING. The song is
atmospheric; it’s off-putting but sexy. There are languid, gorgeous sections
and then there are intense interludes that take you by surprise. There were
nights I’d hear this song in my dreams. It’s hard to let go of and
intoxicating.
What am I listening to now? London Grammar is keeping me
going as I edit my second book. I’d love to hear what songs inspire you. Tweet
them at me.
Alexandra Sirowy is the author of THE CREEPING, a debut thriller for young adults coming August 18th, 2015 from Simon and Schuster’s Books for Young Readers. To learn more, visit Alexandrasirowy.com or follow her on Twitter. |
Great choices! Having read the ARC, I can imagine where they fit and how they'd enhance your prose's already thick atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI always love the idea of playlists for each manuscript but I don't do it! Your music sounds amazing. I love the words you use to describe it.
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