Lit Playlist: May 2019
I can’t begin my day without an espresso or two in the morning, and starting to write requires a similar kind of easing in – like a caffeine fix by way of music.
Which is why I open this playlist with “Evoke” by British modern classical/ambient musician and composer Steve Gibbs. The track is aptly titled, as it evokes the type of feelings I want to have before I settle into a writing project, akin to the type of “reset” you get with a morning meditation practice. It’s the transition I need to go from bed to kitchen table or busy street to WeWork “hot desk.” Gibbs’ music has been used in film and TV, and it really does set the scene for compelling storytelling. What I love most about this song, is that it ends with a note rising upwards, as if asking an open-ended question. A prompt perhaps?
If you like this track, Gibbs’ vinyl “Adrift” is out now – and might be the perfect thing to throw on the record player (if you’re old-school like me) as a backtrack to some long-form writing.
While classical music and bimodal beats are great for productivity, I find that acoustic indie-folk also does the trick. Sometimes all you need is a soul-baring soprano like Irish singer-songwriter Rosie Carney’s. On the track “Thousand,” the production is stripped down, with the picking of an acoustic guitar and gentle vocal harmonies (with former Damien Rice band member Lisa Hannigan) weaving together a warm tapestry that can swaddle and calm even the most Type-A, over-caffeinated minds (AKA mine). Rosie also has an album out this year, so if you like this song, you can get more of the goodness right here.
If I were running a race, Betical’s “Runnin” ft. Tailor is where I’d be on mile 2-3, no longer winded and starting to find my rhythm; in the zone with the trees whipping past. In word-land, this is the point where I have overcome the writer’s block and am just putting text on the page, knowing I can go back and edit later. It’s the point where my fingers take on a life of their own, and the beat prods on and while they’re are lyrics, they’re repetitive and do not distract – but rather create an urgency that inspires action. I catch my shoulders hunching as they always do when I’m cranking something out. This is the type of song that I might put on repeat because it elicits a visceral reaction in my fingertips and keeps my brain in go-mode.
A few tracks down is Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mac DeMarco’s loping retro single, “Nobody.” I’ve listened to full albums of his while writing because his relaxed retro style, ft. warping synth over folk elements and a soothing vox, create something that’s as familiar, comfortable and classic as a signature white tee. Which is a fitting comparison, as the few times I’ve seen him perform he’s worn just that – a look that personifies and underscores his easy-going, dressed-down brand of music.
Of course had to include some classic jazz in here – but with a lo-fi twist. Paranoid Dandroid (Marc Ziegenhagen and Daniel DeMuth) uploaded a re-working of the classic Miles Davis’ "Blue in Green" seven years ago, and it somehow just came on my radar. With no lyrics and just the right cymbalism (see what I did there) this is background music at its best. If you like this, check out their other tracks or dive into the original here.
The last track on the playlist is Lana del Rey’s cover of Sublime’s song “Doin’ Time” (off of their third self-titled album released in 1996 for any true fans out there). Some covers try to do too much and you lose the integrity of the original. But this track stays intact, with a downtempo, slackened twist, like spinning saccharine sugar into cotton candy. Lana’s signature languid voice gives it an effortlessly hazy “I woke up like this” feel. I obviously love the original, but as far as music to write to – this one fits the bill.
I typically pull ~5 tracks from the playlist to add context to, but could do more or less based on what’s resonating. So if you like what you hear or read, drop me a line – or send recos of songs or artists you think should be included via my Contact form. My ears are perked and I’m always listening.