What do you listen to when you’re writing? While I know some prefer to write in silence, I absolutely need music to help me focus on the task at hand, rather than on the million and one thoughts whirling around inside my busy brain.
I find I typically need to hype myself up for writing, with a high-energy playlist that helps me find the energy my packed schedule tends to suck away. I often write at the end of the day, once my son is tucked away in bed, and anything too gentle or melodic is likely to lull me off to sleep!
At the same time, I can’t listen to anything with English lyrics, as I’m too easily distracted, especially when I’m hitting a bit of a creative slump. I’ll find myself listening to the words of each song, rather than working on the words on my screen!
That’s why I’m so partial to J-Pop, in particular anime theme songs. High energy pop and rock, with lyrics I can’t understand – a perfect mix that gets me in the mood to pound the keyboard! Right now I’ve been loving Naruto Shippuden theme song playlists (anyone else have a massive love for Kakashi?) – they’re just so bouncy and energetic and fun to listen to! I listen to them on Youtube with my giant headphones on, and let myself drift away on the music while I contemplate my next words.
Funny side story – on one of our trips to Japan, my partner and I stumbled across a concert put on by a popular J-rock band amusingly named Bump of Chicken. We somehow ended up in the concert’s souvenir shop, and my partner left with a Bump of Chicken tour tshirt that has since become one of his prize possessions. Anyone else a Bump of Chicken fan? Anyone else miss traveling as much as I do?
Do you tend to choose your writing playlist based on what you’re writing, when you’re writing, where you’re writing? Are you a mood listener, who picks your musical accompaniment based on how you’re feeling at any given moment? Or, like me, do you have musical favourites you tend to come back to, again and again? I’d love your recommendations!