A Playlist to Write a Folklore & Mythical Poem
“Writing more and more to the sound of music, writing more and more like music. Sitting in my studio tonight, playing record after record, writing, music a stimulant of the highest order, far more potent than wine.”
—Anaïs Nin
When it comes to writing, does music help guide your practice? If so, it is crucial to ask a couple of questions: what genre is your poem, and what type of mood are you trying to convey? It is important to choose music according to the project you are working on. For instance, if you are writing an epic poem, throw on an epic soundtrack. If you are looking for ways to settle and focus your mind, music could be the answer as well; music has the power to hush the external sounds that may distract you. Music can also improve your writing, as it activates the right and left regions of the brain, stimulating your creativity. For optimal effect, remember to select songs that will connect with the story your poem tells.
Writers have several ways to plot their work in progress. Along with mood boards, many writers like to create playlists. They are two methods that provide a visualization of their work. Music is helpful to conjure the temperament of your poem and can produce an emotional reaction. It is a musical library for writers. Before your next writing session, try putting on some background music, and see where it takes you. Here are 20 songs specially curated for a folklore or mythical poem.
- “Ameno” by ERA
- “A Song of Adarlan” by Victoria Carbol
- “Burn the Witch” by Shawn James
- “Closer Than Sisters” by Abel Korzeniowski
- “Dante’s Prayer” by Loreena McKennitt
- “Demons” by Hollywood Vampires
- “Dance with the Dragon” by Dark Sarah feat. JP Leppäluoto
- “Elizabeth” by Kamelot
- “Ghosts” by James Vincent McMorrow
- “Goëtia” by Peter Gundry
- “Ghost Love Score” by Nightwish
- “In the Woods Somewhere” by Hozier
- “Jenny of Oldstones” by Florence + The Machine
- “Love Remembered” by Wojciech Kilar
- “Rún” by SKÁLD
- “The Phantom Agony” by Epica
- “The Ghost” by Fernando Velázquez
- “The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie” by Colter Wall
- “The Secret History” by Kerry Muzzey
- “UMA” by Shireen
A writing playlist can be a useful tool in every form of creative writing: poetry, short stories, novelettes, plays, screenplays, and novels, among others. No matter the genre, making a playlist for your project can give you renewed inspiration. Literature and music are two powerful mediums that have the power to carry you into new worlds, and fusing them can be fuel for creativity.
