What music do you listen to when you write? [Poll]

Gotta say, I think minimalist music, whether ambient, drone or classical is the best to write to. It doesn’t intrude on the mind and thought process involved in writing like… say, Lil’ Wayne might.

Like Brian Eno said, “ambient music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting.”

Without being too self-laudatory, here is a blog post about how ambient music can enhance travel, long train rides, writing or just lying awake in bed, reflecting.

http://matadortravel.com/travel-blog/united-states/bfsewell/the-way-travel-and-music-work-together

The only music I can listen to when writing is chanting or something soft and repetitive. Otherwise, it distracts me horribly.

Of course, when I’m working in wifi cafes I have no choice and have to listen to whatever is playing. Lionel Richie and Madonna are two favorites at a wifi place near our house. Those I’ve learned to ignore completely so I can work.

Nothing against either of them, but they go in my what do I listen to while cleaning list.

i like listenin to some explosions in the sky when i’m doing homework and/or studying.

brian,

thanks for the comments and for sharing the link

agree that ambient is overall the easiest to work with. it’s just kind of ‘neutral’

some cool sounding groups you listed in your article.

will have to do some checking out.

can you link any more websites here in this comment thread?

thanks again.

hands down. All India Radio. They are based out of Australia. All time favorite

http://www.allindiaradio.com.au/

I don’t feel like any of the vote options reflect my tendency. I used to be able to listen to any kind of music and write, but not anymore, and I’m not sure what changed. It doesn’t seem to be what kind of music so much, but what it is I’m writing. There’s a synergy between the two–the rhythm, beat, and lyrics of the music and the theme of what I’m writing and how it’s flowing–but that synergy’s never static.

So important and I think about this all the time, too. For me, it’s always specific songs rather than full albums and they are usuually mellow/acoustic ones with great lyrics. They inspire me much more than distract. Every few weeks I burn another “writing cd” with new songs based on what I’m writing. Encompasses everything from Coldplay to Brett Dennen to John Denver to Ben Harper to Ryan Adams to Lyle Lovett to Springsteen. Sometimes I’ll get into straight-ahead jazz when the writing necessitates, but I generally find my way back to the favorited acoustic tunes with lyrics.That’s just me.

I absolutely cannot listen to music while writing. I’m one of those really annoying people who has to sing everything, so if I’m listening to music I’m always compelled to fling aside my laptop and serenade myself opera-style.

Super topic.

I like to think Favreau was listening to some Feed the Animals beats while writing the SOTU, particularly the Supreme Court shout out.

Music definitely helps me write better. Slower acoustic jams like old-school Paul Simon, Bon Iver, José González, and Elvis Perkins put me in the best flow.

The instrumental/ambient scene varies for me: All-instrumental bands like Tosca make me anxious while writing, while Whitest Boy Alive and Pretty Lights are great, even with vocals. The minimalist guys like Philip Glass and John Adams have some sweet tracks for writing.

Bands like Of Montreal, Phoenix and Spoon energize, albeit distract me. And Biggie, Lil’ Wayne, and GirlTalk give me edge if I want to feel like I’ve had 5 coffees.

I can’t really put down a ‘type’, but there is some music (the coldplay and mark knopfler variety) that flows just right for me when I’m writing. So much so that I don’t even really notice it. But I do need the music, I find it hard to write in complete silence. Also when the weather is absolutely horrid – dark, wet and depressing – I can write only to Hindi music. I don’t know why, but it works for me.

I’ve got the ability to block out anything and everything when writing, and reading too for that matter. To the extent that people can even talk to me and I won’t hear them, or I will respond without actually noticing I’ve nodded, hence I end up agreeing to all kinds of things with no conscious recollection of it.

I think it comes from having a very irritating little sister who tried all kinds of things to wind me up when we were kids – I loved to read and she loved to get attention! (I love her now…)

Right now, for example, I’ve just written a mini guide to Casco Viejo in a hostel bar area (only place with wifi). Until I read this blog I didn’t even think about it, but I’ve endured Queen, Metallica and, currently, Led Zeppelin. Given a choice though, at home I’d put on some classical music because I’ve heard it enhances brain activity… Maybe some Fleet Foxes, Darjeeling Limited Sountrack or my ‘Cello’ or ‘Warbly high-pitched tunes’ playlists. Anything but something like Jack Johnson or Dave Matthews Band – irritating bland crap, IMHO!

Sure David. I’ll start with the obvious… http://www.pandora.com . Such a great site, too bad you can’t use the service in many countries.

http://www.ambientmusicguide.com/index.php …. for anyone partial to ambient music or anything close to ambient: techno, dub, lounge, chillwave, you’ll probably find it here.

http://www.lala.com . Like Pandora or Rhapsody, look up an artist, learn and listen.

For kicks, here is a Pico Iyer essay from the Buddhist magazine, Shambala Sun, his approach to writing is fascinating… and resonates with the philosophy of music of people like Brian Eno, Arvo Part, Philip Glass and others. http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2848&Itemid=0

Finally, bands like Talk Talk, Can, the guitarist James Blackshaw and ambient composer Tim Hecker have all influenced my writing.

I find that more often than not folk and singer/songwriter music helps get the words flowing. Bands like Needtobreathe and singers like Alexi Murdoch are great because if you get stuck their songs are catchy and can get you into the rhythm of both the music and your own words.

But I also find that anything is better than nothing when I write, with some exceptions of course. Now music when I read is a diferent story…

It depends on the mood and the current location (I like a lot of variety). However, my usual favorites are:

Niyaz (http://www.niyazmusic.com/)

Keny Arkana (www.keny-arkana.com/)

Mínus (http://www.myspace.com/minus)

Carmen Rizzo (http://carmenrizzo.com/)

Wu Tang Clan

or Colombian Cumbia, Porro and Joropo.

i like to listen to post-rock. i can’t sit there and sing along so, i have to listen to stuff like explosions in the sky, caspian, saxon shore, or this will destroy you. At times, I’ll listen to death metal/ grind core like Beneath the Massacre or All Shall Perish, but that’s moreso when i’m studying or getting ready for a test.

I’m one of those annoying people that cannot help myself from singing if I know the lyrics. I can listen to lyrical music when I write, but only if I don’t know it already. That limits me to no lyrics, or borrowing some music from a friend. Pandora works sometimes too, but hate that when right in the middle of some good writing my favorite song comes on…I can’t turn it OFF…must jump up and sing.

I’ve got a Writing Playlist on iTunes that I start up whenever I write. It’s mostly the mellow stuff my mom used to listen to on Sunday mornings…smooth jazz, classical, Enya, and Yanni. Its a massive playlist, so sometimes I get surprised and fun Latin stuff, like the Gyspy Kings. Thanks for the distraction!

Can’t do lyrics and write – too distracting. Rather than listening while writing, I like to get psyched up beforehand by listening to something trippy. Cranking up “It’s All Too Much” by The Beatles usually starts the wheels turning, but anything by Medicine or Cocteau Twins will do.

sweet.

thanks for links.

I also have a hard time listening to music with lyrics while I write, although sometimes I will go with some more instrumental based jam bands like Phish or Moe. What I listen to most however is jazz, mainly Miles Davis or Thelonious Monk.

I definitely can be productive while listening to music, though there are definitely times I’d rather have silence.

Sigur Ros has always been great for while I’m writing. I don’t understand the words (even if they are real words) and the melodies are so inspirational it keeps me moving pretty quickly.

Similar to several of the above comments, lyric-less music works best for me. I can’t write a single sentence with a singing voice coming out of the speakers but put on some ambient music and I can write for hours without stopping…

Sometimes specific songs correspond to specific pieces, but it’s usually safe to listen to a familiar musical soundtrack. Somehow, the story in the music is able to suppress all the other random stories in my head away and allows me to focus on the story at hand. It only works, though, if I like (or tolerate) all of the songs and I know them well enough not to get wrapped up in catching the nuances.

The one exception so far is Footloose, because there is one song I cannot stand and it always distracts me (80s freestyles about dancing being religious are NOT OK. EVER.)

when I am writing, I very much prefer to have total silent or just with soothing, uplifting and inspiring music. It makes sense for me as I am focusing on writing something inspiring at most time and thus inspiring music will help to bring inspiration. Just no song … I’ll tend to concentrate on the lyrics instead of the writing.

i can’t listen to music with lyrics when i write. i dig drones mainly – where everything kind of blends together. basically anything by Schole label. my fall back album that always helps no matter what is 71:36 by Sabi/Kiyo perfection

I’m with Emma on this one. I have to go into a total zone to write, and I need peace and quiet. The same with reading. And then I shut everything out, including people trying to talk to me. I need quietness to get into that zone.

Paradoxically I have a playlist called “music to write by” which inlcudes a few instrumental tracks from movies, and Massive Attack, and a couple of classical pieces that I listen to when I’m writing something that’s not important/creative.

Songs with lyrics are a disaster, like others here, I just wanna sing -

Very interesting article. I find music to be quite a distraction when I’m working. I often listen to Miles Davis: Kind of blue.( It is a pleasure to listen to if you can handle jazz music) I’ve also found that house music is good for writing. Music that I haven’t heard before is usually a bonus. I might take Brian’s advice and try some Brian Eno or something.

Ludovico Einaudi.

Lei que estuviste en Buenos Aires, asique te voy a contestar en castellano porque se me hace mas facil que ponerme a traducir lo que quiero decir

Creo que es bastante relativo. Uno escribe lo que siente, y la musica ayuda a expresar esos sentimientos, SIEMPRE!.
Aun asi, la musica instrumental, siempre me ha sido de gran ayuda, ya que al no tener una lirica que te limite a sentir lo que el cantante sintió, ayuda a poder plasmar un sentimiento más propio.

El problema está cuando la musica es muy depresiva, o muy oscura… eso puede hacer que termines escribiendo algo oscuro, y tal vez no sea esa la intencion de lo que queremos escribir… o tal vez si! eso va a depender de que tengamos en la cabeza al momento de sentarnos a escribir.

Por lo general, Sigur Rös (y el post-rock en si), es una banda que me ha ayudado siempre, tanto a escribir, dibujar, y pensar claro.

by the way.. king coya rlz!! hope you can keep writing wile you’r listening to him!!

gracias por el commment jupa.

no podia imaginar escribir mientras escucho sigur ros, pero bueno, asi fue la idea de este post–ver la diversidad y los habitos de la gente.

voy a tener que chequiar tu tumblr. chau.

I’m an Electronic Dance Music aficionado — specifically House (Dark/Tribal/Progressive sounds, Tech House, Deep House, Funky), Trance (Tech, Progressive, Classic), Techno (minimal, Progressive, Acid) — who loves to attend huge EDM events in Montreal & Toronto.
I find Ambient beats as well as very chill DJ sets (either Trance or House) works great for me. There can’t be any pounding beats or I’m gonna move my head to the beat and then get up and dance by myself.

I also enjoy listening to classical music by Vivaldi (4 Seasons), Bach (Brandenburg concerto) or other composers where there’s a great deal of violin activity. I love the sounds of a violin!!! They inspire me which leads to better creativity if I have to write (words or programming code).

I like something more electronic or instrumental. Anything with lyrics and singing, just ends up causing me to sing along (in my head at least).

Depending on the tone of what I’m writing I listen to whatever best reflects my choice. If it’s raining outside and I’m feeling somewhat more artistic than usual, I’m probably going to listen to something soft or mellow. If I just finished having the time of my life at a local pub and club stop and want to keep up that energy, I’ll listen to something more upbeat.

Simple as the mood.

I listen to Gonzaga University’s “All Classical” station. No commercials. Human voices only at the top and bottom of the hour.
Lyrics confuse me when I’m writing (and can be intimidating if they are really good…Elvis Costello for example!)

I love listening to lounge music while writing or reading. I first heard what real lounge music was like in Israel at a LOUNGE club. Before then I always thought lounge music was like elevator music.

Music For Midnight podcast is great, some lyrics though. http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/381-music-for-midnight

Groovera is also great streaming: http://groovera.com/

Thievery Corporation is also a goodens.

Russian Circles and Red Sparowes are more rock, but no lyrics at all.

my fave thing to write or read to is the album What We Must by Jaga Jazzist

but often the best thing for me to write to is just something that isn’t familiar to me, like an album that I haven’t listened to yet

I have different genres that I listen to depending on the mood of what I am writing. For example: While writing a fight scene, I’ll listen to Symphonic Metal and Rock. Or if writing a romantic scene I’ll listen to R&B and Soft Rock.

But often I find that classical, such as Wagner and Mozart, is the best choice for me. No words leave plenty of room for inspiration.

I like movie scores or soundtracks for writing. My current favorite is the Daf Punk score for the movie ‘Tron.’ Another good one is from the movie ‘Finding Nemo.’ I go through phases. 

I like movie scores or soundtracks for writing. My current favorite is the Daf Punk score for the movie ‘Tron.’ Another good one is from the movie ‘Finding Nemo.’ I go through phases. 

Try this song, it is a song from halo but I find it quite easy to write to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFw1FwfnbiI