Music to feed the soul and move the pen

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. -Victor Hugo

First and foremost, I’m a lover of music, even more than words. It’s the music that pulls the words from me. Since I was a kid, I’ve been the one to buy epic movie and television soundtracks, the one to must see a movie if it features a score by Howard Shore, John Williams or Hans Zimmer. I’m the mom who drives her kids crazy singing Les Miserables and Miss Saigon until they unwittingly sing along. I’m also the one who can possibly (maybe) stomach a horror movie if the music isn’t playing (hello, can’t they hear the scary music to know the hatchet man’s behind them?!).

Music is powerful. It can transform something from simple to complex, from ho-hum to amazing. I don’t think I could write two coherent sentences without the music playing in my ears (or in my head). Surprisingly, what has inspired me while writing both novels this past year have been songs by heavy metal groups.

I like the softer side of metal, and yes, there is such a thing. Since my husband hooked me on “our” song, Silent Lucidity by Queensryche, I’ve felt the pull to the heavier and alternative rock. Older songs from Metallica, Korn, and Linkin Park; newer songs from Five Finger Death Punch, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Hinder, Avenged Sevenfold. They all have plenty of the thrashing, bashing songs I had associated with them, of course, but they also have beautiful, haunting medleys that make me pause to grab my virtual pen. And I love it when the words actually fit what I’m writing at the time (before I wear the song out on iTunes).

So hats off to all the musicians who keep me entertained and inspired, including my fellow Chick Tracey, who wrote our very own theme song. I love recommendations, so please share if you have a favorite artist who inspires you! And fair warning, this probably won’t be the only post I write on music. It’s that important.