Music soothes the savage beast
November 11, 2012 at 6:24 pm | Posted in real life | Leave a commentTags: music, real life
So, it’s been a while, internets. Even longer than what’s normal for me. That’s mainly because life is kicking me in the metaphorical nuts right now, and has been since September. First it knocked me down, then it kicked me while I was down there a few times, and just when I thought I was going to be able to get up, it’s kicking me again. So far my health is the only thing that has stayed relatively stable in recent weeks, and even that is only a matter of time, probably.
Anyway! When sucky things like the last few weeks happen, I generally take refuge in music. So I’m going to share with you some songs that have made me happy lately. They are all New Zealand bands/singers, and I encourage you to check them out, because they are fab.
First up, Shapeshifter. These guys are a Drum and Bass band, which is a genre–along with hip hop, soul, and funk–that heavily influences a lot of NZ music. I don’t know what it is about this country, but the Kiwis love their beats. Shapeshifter love their epic, 7-minute, mostly instrumental songs, which depending on your taste can get a little tedious, but this song is a beautiful exception. Paora Apera’s voice shines in this one. He’s got a real yearning quality to his voice which I love.
Something to note, if you’re at all sensitive to strobe-like, flashing lights, skip this video.
On the more rocky side, we have Six60. I have a real soft spot for these guys. They are great live. Singer Matiu Walters also has a yearning quality to his voice that can be really, really beautiful in their slower songs.
The Wyld are a relatively new Kiwi band putting out music that’s a really intriguing mix of genres which took a while to grow on me, but now it has I think they’re amazing. The singer has a certain quality to his voice, something that’s not at all a theme of this post…hmm. But I could listen to 2:15-2:35 over and over again until the end of time.
Last but by no means least, Kimbra. The world knows her as the female voice in Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know, but her solo work is fantastic. Judging by how many YouTube videos I found of her doing American promotion, I guess at least some of the world knows that by now? This song is so beautiful I can hardly stand it.
So, there you go. Kiwi music. Not bad, not bad at all.
Music and writing
November 27, 2011 at 3:37 pm | Posted in Dreamspinner Press, Equilibrium, tinsel and dust, Writing | Leave a commentTags: dreamspinner, equilibrium, music, tinsel and dust, writing
Music is very important to my writing process. I only write without music if I absolutely have to, which thankfully isn’t often. The music I listen to while writing has an impact on the mood of the story: a dark story has to have a soundtrack full of dark music, while a more lighthearted story can have a more lighthearted soundtrack. Each of my published stories has a soundtrack, either a mix of songs from different artists, or a single artist; for Equilibrium it was a mix of songs, for Reasonable Force it was Velvet Acid Christ, for Eyes Wide Shut and Rust Red: Galvanized it was Midnight Oil. For Tinsel and Dust, my upcoming Equilibrium sequel, it was the John Butler Trio. Music actually plays a larger role in Tinsel and Dust than it ever has before, in that the music of the John Butler Trio actually features in a scene.
Now, I’m not going to give away what that scene actually is, because that would be telling. 🙂 But what I will tell you is what songs I was thinking of when I wrote it. To me, they fit Michael and Ryan’s situation to a tee.
Both of these songs are off the album Sunrise Over Sea. The first is called Peaches and Cream:
For so long I’ve sung this sad ol’ song,
And it feels like my time is up.
For she came and landed in my arms,
And she filled my half empty cup.
Yes she filled my half empty cup.
There you are right in front of me,
A brand new day sunrise over sea.
No longer my cup half empty cause there you are…
and the second is called Seeing Angels:
Why do I deserve such a visit
From the one I thought I’d never meet.
Beyond my greatest expectations.
You exceeded everything.
Well here I am
Take me for what you see
For I’m transparent in the light of you.
And look inside,
See that fire burning bright
The same one you rekindled inside me
My mouth was dry
only you quenched my thirst
I thought I was last
You told me I was first.
So there you have it, two great songs for my boys. Tinsel and Dust should be released mid-December, I have a tentative release date of December 14th for it. That’s not set in stone at the moment, but if I learn any different I’ll be sure to let you all know.
A picture’s worth a thousand words…
August 1, 2010 at 10:59 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: inspiration, music, writing, writing tools
Recently, I’ve been writing a story set in and around this place:
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Meredith Shayne 