Music and Entertainment Provide a Galaxy of Inspiration

You just have to close your eyes and open your mind

Jon Solo Sebastian 07/27/2024:

I need music. I grew up with music in one way or another. I briefly played guitar and bass, and I sang in a few metal bands with some unbelievably talented musicians. Music is in my blood so much so that I can’t function without listening to it. That holds true while I’m writing. When writing, the music choices are quite different depending on the daily quest as opposed to being out doing yard work or road tripping. For activities such as those, I listen to my eclectic range of music; metal to rock to classic rock to grunge to 80’s and 90’s to hair bands, etcetera etcetera.

I can’t listen to music like that while I’m writing; anything with lyrics distracts me from my creativity. So for writing these nifty little articles or writing my books, I listen to classical music. What I find works for me, might not work for others, but I listen to movie and video game soundtracks. Two of my go-to soundtracks for that are The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. These two soundtracks tap into the creative juices in my brain in a way that nothing else can, and I’m grateful for the composers who created these beautiful tracks.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

For a while, this album was the only thing I listened to when I’d run down to the writing studio, also known as, the Fortress of Jonitude. This soundtrack came out when I was finishing drafting my comic book. I’m certain I’ve mentioned I’m not an artist by now, but I spent many nights posing action figures and using a desk lamp to set up the lighting and scenes for my comic book—and then I poorly drew them out. This album got me through those nights. While the comic book isn’t in any relation to The Witcher, its music inspired me, and every time I listen to it, it pulls me into the vibe I need to get my writing mojo. The lead composer Marcin Przybylowicz is a Polish composer and sound designer. If you’re a fan of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Cyberpunk 2077, you’re likely a fan of his work.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Soundtrack on Spotify

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

In 2017, this movie came out and while it has received some low rankings and reviews, it’s actually a banger. I’m not here to review the film, but it’s underrated and if you like films in the genre then you must watch it! The soundtrack composed by Daniel Pemberton, who is also known for composing the Into the Spider-Verse Spider-Man animated movies, punched out a very unique soundtrack for a very different style of storytelling for the beloved King Arthur. It’s truly a masterpiece and it draws you right in. The third track slowly builds into this intense breathing accompanied by a matching intense percussion beat that gets the blood flowing. It’s my “Eye of the Tiger” for writing. The rest of the album is a mix of that same intensity and some mellow tracks that carry you along the journey. I’ve found this album to be helpful when I’m trapped in the realm of writer’s block. It’s truly inspiring and I never know where my writing adventures will lead while I’m jamming out to this wonderful album.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Soundtrack on Spotify

These two albums aren’t the only ones I listen to while I’m in the writing process, but they are always in the rotation. I made a small playlist with the popular songs from movies like Rocky and The Karate Kid that I jammed out to while writing the screenplay for a short film based on movies in that genre. A few others are playlists rather than soundtracks. A Supernatural playlist with all sorts of rock songs, a Halloween playlist with themes from horror movies and shows, and a playlist called Ambient Synthwave for those sci-fi writing vibes are all perfect depending on what I’m writing.

When you have the time, try adding The Witcher or King Arthur soundtracks to your rotation even if you’re not a writer because these tracks can relax your mind; and possibly spark your imagination. If you’re interested in the playlists I’ve mentioned, please reach out and I’ll send you the links to those.