Writing Soundtracks

For every mood

It’s a pain to be writing a battle scene, and to keep having to shuffle past ballads. Or worse, to be ready to write, but not have the soundtrack ready to accompany you.

The objective: minimize distraction, maximize mood-assisting music.

The following is a list of writing-conducive music, organized by mood. Please comment on the mood and add your suggestions. They will be added to the published document. Ready? Let these smooth tunes loft you into writing your opus.

I will bold the favorites in case you’re a quality-over-quantity type, and don’t mind re-listening. (Hilight to cast your vote.) Songs with discernable lyrics* will have asterisks, as lyrics can sometimes be distracting.

The categories of writing music are: Relaxing, Exciting, Heartfelt, Sad, Creepy, Tense, Aggressive, and Victorious, in that order. Scroll and comment!

Relaxing Writing Music

A great way to warm up your keys in the morning.

“Morning In Jakarta” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Radiological Landscape” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“A Question” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“We Made Pictures” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“I Like Your Nose” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“In Our Quieter Times” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Transfigurations” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Baroque Fugue” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Jakarta” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Adjustments” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Healing Katniss” by James Newton Howard
“Light A Candle” by William Ellwood
“Winter Waltz” by William Ellwood
“Afterglow” by Phaelah, Soundmouse
“Butterfly” by Bassnectar, Mimi Page
“Expression (Air Studios 2013)” by Helen Jane Long
“The Suburbs” by Mr Little Jeans*
“Take Me To Church” by Jasmine Thompson*

Exciting Writing Music

Getting into it.

“Late For School” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Exploration” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“The Exit Code” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“We Made Pictures” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Goodbye” by Ulrich Schnauss
“Earth 2077” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Waking Up” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“The Box” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“We Built Our Own World” by Hans Zimmer
“528491” by Hans Zimmer
“Ocean Kingdom” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Caradhas” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Beside The Night” by William Ellwood
“Ocarina of Time — Song of Storms” by Monsalve
“Eptesicus” by Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard
“Put A Light On” by Generationals*
“Figure 8” by Ellie Goulding*
“Faded” by Zhu*
“Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons*
“Howl” by Florence + The Machine*
“Demons” by Imagine Dragons*

Heartfelt Writing Music

Pull on those heartstrings.

“Undimmed By Time, Unbound By Death” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Another Island” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Baroque Reprise” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Jakarta” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Bella’s Lullaby” by The Twilight Orchestra
“Bella’s Lullaby — From: Twilight” by Black Moon Lovers
“Interlude For Piano” by Peter Bradley Adams
“Spiegel im Spiegel” by Arvo Pärt
“The Gravel Road — Score” by James Newton Howard
“Lucy — Soundtrack” by Hanne Hukkelberg
“StarWaves” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Fearful Odds” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Raven Rock” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Old Souls” by Hans Zimmer
“Paradox” by Hans Zimmer
“Magic Of Love” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Friendship To Last” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Fill My Heart” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Undying Love” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“The bioluminescence of the night” by James Horner
“Rue’s Farewell” by James Newton Howard
“Corynorhinus” by Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard
“Fin de Siecle” by Paul Buchanan
“Golborne Road” by Nick Laird-Clowes
“Jeux d’eau” by Cirque de Soleil
“Remember Me” by Thomas Bergersen
“Oblivion (feat. Susanne Sundfør)” by M83, Susanne Sundfør*
“Coming Home” by Gwenyth Paltrow*
“Stay ” by Shaun Reynolds feat. Laura Pringle*
“Say Goodnight” by Eli Young Band*
“Kiss Me Again (Stuttering)” by Ben’s Brother*
“Falling Slowly” by The Frames*

Sad Writing Music

Go ahead, devolve into angst.

“I’m Sending You Away” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Carol from an Irish Cabin” by Turtle Creek Chorale
“Conception” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Requiem For A Dream — Lux Aeterna” by The London Ensemble
“The Gravel Road — Score” by James Newton Howard
“On The Nature Of Daylight” by Max Richter
“Nothing Else Matters (Live with SFSO)” by Metallica*
“Let There Be Lonely” by Jonathan Jackson*
“Change Your Mind” by Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio*
“Liberator” by Noah Gundersen*
“Mid Air” by Paul Buchanan0*
“Please Stop Time” by Tyler Ramsey*
“The Scientist” by Coldplay*
“Medicine” by Daughter*
“Poison & Wine” by The Civil Wars*
“Not About Angels” by Birdy*
“Skinny Love” by Birdy*

Creepy Writing Music

For when things get weird.

“Man With The Movie Camera” by The Cinematic Orchestra
“The Philosophers” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Underneath” by Adam Lambert*
“Kiss” by Jonathan Jackson*
“Bloodstream” by Stateless*
“Change — In The House Of Flies (Remastered)” by Deftones*

Tense Writing Music

The plot thickens.

“Ashes of Our Fathers” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Temples of Our Gods” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Death Of A Poet” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“The Vote” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“A Show Of Hands” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Losing Control” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Odyssey Rescue” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Overthrow” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Year In The Life” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Bromo” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Reversals Of Fortune” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Game Of Wits” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Radical Notion” by Hans Zimmer
“The Call of Ktulu (Live with SFSO)” by Metallica
“The Very Best Plan” by Alexandre Desplat
“Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem, Rihanna*
“I Need A Doctor” by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Skylar Gray*
“Skyfall” by Adele*

Aggressive Writing Music

An absolute must for writing battle scenes.

“Everlasting” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“El Dorado” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Strength of a Thousand Men” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Winterspell” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Blackheart” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Our Last Hope” by Nick Pheonix, Two Steps from Hell
“Dream is Collapsing” by Hans Zimmer
“Time” by Hans Zimmer
“Juggernaut” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Dark Ages” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Blizzard” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Archangel” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“United We Stand — Divided We Fall” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Love & Loss” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“The Last Stand” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Destructo” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Unexplained Forces” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Norwegian Pirate” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Dragon Rider” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Mountains From Water” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Titan Dune” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Ironwing” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Army of Justice” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Immortal Avenger” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“He Who Brings The Night” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Caradhras” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Sanctuary is Lost” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“What’s Happening to Me” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Aesir” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Heart of Courage” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Master of Shadows” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Moving Mountains” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Fire Nation” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Black Blade” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Invincible” by Two Steps from Hell
“False King” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Protectors of the Earth” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Velocitron” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“1000 Ships of the Underworld” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Tristan” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Breath of Ran Gor” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Infinite Legends” by Nick Phoenix, Two Steps from Hell
“Requiem For A Tower” by London Music Works
“Molossus” by Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard
“Vespertillo” by Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard
“Canyon Battle” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Radiation Zone” by Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Trapanese, M83
“Twenty Agonies” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Rupture” by Nicolas O’ Toole, Jonathan Davis
“Mombasa” by Hans Zimmer
“Dream Within A Dream” by Hans Zimmer
“Freedom Fighters” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“No Leaf Clover (Live with SFSO)” by Metallica*
“Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse*
“Army of Me” by Björk*
“Breath of Life” by Florence + The Machine*

Victorious Writing Music

When your own genius makes you teary-eyed.

“For The Win” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Hoppipolla” by Sigur Rós
“Om Nashi Me” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
“Nero” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Enigmatic Soul” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“Atlantis” by Thomas Bergersen, Two Steps from Hell
“The Ecstasy of Gold (Live with SFSO)” by Metallica
“Coming Home — Part II” by Skylar Gray*

Don’t forget to hilight what you like and recommend what I’ve missed!