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Music & Writing: Crafting the Perfect Scene with Playlists

Lyanna-May O'Connor

Music is a game-changer for me when I'm writing. It’s not just background noise; it genuinely helps set the mood, especially when I'm diving into my WIP.


Thrillers rely heavily on tension and suspense, so setting the scene is essential to writing a decent novel. The right playlist can bring out the intensity and depth in every scene, ensuring that each moment resonates with readers. It’s an essential tool in my writer's toolkit, and allows my story to flow through my mind like a movie.


Here are some of my favourites that I use to help me write certain scenes or set the right mood:


1. Tension: Stakes are High


  • Heebie Jeebies / Spotify playlist

  • Luna - Pascal Schumacher and Echo Collective / Song

  • Geaissvearra - Natalia Tsupryk / Song



2. Scary: Fear and Unease


  • Jump Scare / Spotify playlist

  • Fragor - Tim Hodgkinson / Song

  • Lonely Void - Mica Levi / Song




3. Anger/Revolt: Rebel Within


  • Pissed Off / Spotify playlist

  • Watch The World Burn - Falling In Reverse / Song

  • Riot - Three Days Grace / Song



4. Sadness: The Weight of Sorrow


  • Jacob and the Stone - Emile Mosseri / Song

  • Birds Of Paradise - Gísli Gunnarsson / Song



5. Sensual: Stirring the Senses


  • Spicy/ Spotify playlist

  • River - Bishop Briggs / Song

  • Like A God - Lia Marie Johnson / Song




6. Romantic: Love in the Air


  • Romantic/ Spotify playlist

  • Hold You In My Arms - Ray LaMontagne / Song

  • Let It Be Me - Ray LaMontagne / Song




7. Joy: Uplifting Vibrations


  • Bubbly / Spotify playlist

  • On My Way - Phil Collins / Song

  • Taper Jean Girl - Kings of Leon / Song





8. Peaceful: Tunes for Serenity


  • Peaceful/ Spotify playlist

  • Everything We Need - Imaginary future / Song

  • Opaline - Novo Amor / Song


Music is used in TV and film for a very good reason: it helps us connect to the scene as viewers. For a lot of writers, listening to music while writing can enhance the connection to the scene, resulting in a more authentic and emotional scene. Even if you don't usually listen to certain kinds of music, exploring genres out of your comfort zone could help unlock some creativity - give it a try!

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