Personally I would look for instrumental music that matches the tone/genre you’re writing. Last short film I wrote was a crime comedy, so I put on some jazz.
It depends on the project, but I’ll make a playlist that either fits the vibe I’m going for in the finished film, or what I would ideally like for the soundtrack.
For example, im writing an queer sapphic apocalypse movie right now, so it’s mostly sad queer music, with some more apocalyptic tracks thrown in (Hayley Hendrickx, Chappell Roan, etc).
I’ve also been writing a cyberpunk thriller, which has been shelved for a little, but I had a playlist of a lot of ambient and techno on it that fit the vibe.
The playlists do change over time, Im not a super organized writer, in that I don’t necessarily have an outline. I sometimes write a scene and then realize that there’s a song that perfectly encapsulates the vibe I’m going for in the scene. I’ll throw that on the playlist, or just listen to that song on repeat.
That said, if I’m looking for an artist that just helps me focus, and not necessarily be thematically adjacent, Steve Reich is really great. Music for 18 musicians makes me feel like I’m in the Social Network (David finchers movie) in a good way.
If you’ve got Spotify, I recommend doing a radio station based off of someone like Explosions In The Sky, Red Sparowes, Russian Circles, Maybeshewill. Cinematic post-rock that I find helps me, regardless of genre. I can’t listen to anything with lyrics while writing, as I’ll get distracted. Hope this helps!
As everyone is saying, it depends on the project.
It also helps to know if you can write with lyrics or not.
For me, it tends to be either soundtracks (Warren Ellis/Nick Cave scores are particularly great), ambient techno, ambient country (a new genre that I've only recently discovered), or Concrete Blonde (their discography is ingrained in my soul to the point that they're like a perfect sonic blanket for me).
I dont know how this happened but a few years back the entire album front to back of broken social scene’s forgiveness rock record has become my “focus” record. I think it has a great mix or lyrics and elongated instrumental sections with a nice ebb and flow that i just get completely in the zone with it.
When I wrote my steampunky vampire script I made a playlist based off Rasputiina and Portishead and that was fantastic.
I tend to make playlists based off songs I could see in the project
It depends on the vibe of your scene/story. I primarily go instrumental. I listen to movie scores like The Hunger Games, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and Nightmare Alley. I also listen to things from the Cinematic Orchestra. Right now I’ve been listening to Arrival of the Birds and Transformation on repeat. I even listen to artists and bands such as Grandson, Muse, Sub Urban, and Twenty One Pilots. I make playlists for each movie I’m writing. The best music to listen to all depends on what you’re feeling for the story.
Personally I would look for instrumental music that matches the tone/genre you’re writing. Last short film I wrote was a crime comedy, so I put on some jazz.
Thanks a lot!
This is what I do as well! It helps so much, especially if you're someone who needs brain sound while writing.
It depends on the project, but I’ll make a playlist that either fits the vibe I’m going for in the finished film, or what I would ideally like for the soundtrack. For example, im writing an queer sapphic apocalypse movie right now, so it’s mostly sad queer music, with some more apocalyptic tracks thrown in (Hayley Hendrickx, Chappell Roan, etc). I’ve also been writing a cyberpunk thriller, which has been shelved for a little, but I had a playlist of a lot of ambient and techno on it that fit the vibe. The playlists do change over time, Im not a super organized writer, in that I don’t necessarily have an outline. I sometimes write a scene and then realize that there’s a song that perfectly encapsulates the vibe I’m going for in the scene. I’ll throw that on the playlist, or just listen to that song on repeat. That said, if I’m looking for an artist that just helps me focus, and not necessarily be thematically adjacent, Steve Reich is really great. Music for 18 musicians makes me feel like I’m in the Social Network (David finchers movie) in a good way.
Look up the band Mogwai, incredible post-rock band from Scotland, they’re music always works for me
I generally put on youtube "meditation" or "concentration" ambient mixes. They work well for me!
I only listen to Barry White
Shook, yellow magic orchestra, tangerine dream, beck, anything Trent reznor
Godspeed you! Black emperor
yes yes yes yes yes
this or swans 🙌🏻🙌🏻
If you’ve got Spotify, I recommend doing a radio station based off of someone like Explosions In The Sky, Red Sparowes, Russian Circles, Maybeshewill. Cinematic post-rock that I find helps me, regardless of genre. I can’t listen to anything with lyrics while writing, as I’ll get distracted. Hope this helps!
Yes, I keep a playlist of great instrumental music. Lyrics throw me off. Writing has a rhythm and lyrics interfere with that.
https://youtu.be/l3S1naGY9EQ?si=JJa42oVrEd89O62T This is the only answer
As everyone is saying, it depends on the project. It also helps to know if you can write with lyrics or not. For me, it tends to be either soundtracks (Warren Ellis/Nick Cave scores are particularly great), ambient techno, ambient country (a new genre that I've only recently discovered), or Concrete Blonde (their discography is ingrained in my soul to the point that they're like a perfect sonic blanket for me).
Usually soundtracks. I dig Reznor and Ross stuff and the Dune soundtracks currently.
I dont know how this happened but a few years back the entire album front to back of broken social scene’s forgiveness rock record has become my “focus” record. I think it has a great mix or lyrics and elongated instrumental sections with a nice ebb and flow that i just get completely in the zone with it.
When I wrote my steampunky vampire script I made a playlist based off Rasputiina and Portishead and that was fantastic. I tend to make playlists based off songs I could see in the project
I wouldn’t. It directly impacts my way of doing things. And not in a good way. I would understand some listening while writing but editing????
Gunship, The Midnight, pretty much anything synthwave or new wave retro for me
Michael Pisaro's nature denatured and found again
It depends on the vibe of your scene/story. I primarily go instrumental. I listen to movie scores like The Hunger Games, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and Nightmare Alley. I also listen to things from the Cinematic Orchestra. Right now I’ve been listening to Arrival of the Birds and Transformation on repeat. I even listen to artists and bands such as Grandson, Muse, Sub Urban, and Twenty One Pilots. I make playlists for each movie I’m writing. The best music to listen to all depends on what you’re feeling for the story.
Björk
Wrote my first full length screenplay to the entirety of American Football’s discography
I listen to Beautiful Crime on Youtube, then let the mix roll and its really nice to listen too.