Rowan Burks
Many people, when writing genre fiction, curate music that inspires them appropriately. For example, if you write horror, to get in the right mood or creative flow during a writing session, your background music is probably not going to be 2000’s trash pop. What genres, then, would be considered more thematically appropriate?
For many genres, including horror, you’ll have to take subgenre into consideration. For example, folk music pairs well with writing folk horror, while louder, more intense music such as metal helps to set the mood for a slasher. Classical and orchestral music can help set the scene for gothics, and I personally enjoy goth rock for writing horror, as well as the orchestral horror ambiance videos that can be found on YouTube in abundance. Also, for those who enjoy religious horror, Gregorian chants can be a great background track.
There is a wide variety of music genres that can be used when writing fantasy, and which is chosen ultimately depends on the tone of the story and personal preference. Classical and orchestral music are once again strong contenders, as are folk music and, occasionally, sea shanties, and you can find “bardcore” covers of almost any song on YouTube to set a fun and medieval vibe. There are also a few metal subgenres that make for good fantasy backgroundmusic, like fantasy metal, also known as epic metal, and dwarf metal.
With sci-fi, the selection begins to branch out, with genres like dubstep, EDM, and other types of electronic music coming into play. Other examples include synthwave, space rock, and, for grittier stories, especially in the cyberpunk subgenre, metal, rock, and punk are appropriate. Some people enjoy jazz and lo-fi as sci-fi background music, and, while more unorthodox, I personally enjoy Japanese city pop.
Romance background music is pretty predictable. Genres like pop, R&B and jazz take the spotlight. Older artists also tend to shine, with songs from Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Marvin Gaye being popular picks in romantic playlists. Love songs of any genre of music are great for tone setting, and depending on the tone of your piece, “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica might be more appropriate than “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, and “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & the News might be more appropriate than “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion.
Slice-of-life stories warrant more laid-back genres, such as smooth jazz, lo-fi, and bossa nova. Soft rock and singer-songwriter music are also appropriate choices, as are artists like Hozier, Laufey, Mitski, and Ricky Montgomery. Any music with a moderate tempo and soft vibe can aid in setting up a cozy and domestic mood.
When writing mysteries, jazz is a staple when writing noir detective stories. For murder mysteries and darker stories, classical and orchestral music such as Chopin’s “Nocturne in C Sharp Minor (No. 20)” and “Piano Trio No. 2 in E Flat Major” by Schubert are good for setting the scene. For more lighthearted and comical mysteries, I recommend Scooby Doo music or soundtracks from Wes Anderson movies.
Historical fiction is a genre that spans a near infinite number of settings, and, as such, a near infinite number of musical genres. For establishing an appropriate tone for a writing session, you have to consider what your setting is. For example, if you’re writing a story set in 1970’s Japan, you’d want to look into Japanese disco and kayokyoku, while for a story set in 1870’s Russia you’d want to listen to music like Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Alexander Borodin’s Symphonies.
When writing thrillers and action, high energy, up-tempo music is key. Rock, rap, and metal are strong contenders. For spy thrillers, typical music can range anywhere from the Mission Impossible soundtrack to ABBA, and for a psychological thriller you might choose songs like Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” or “Psycho Killer” by The Talking Heads. For a more typical action-adventure story, songs like “I Was Made For Lovin You” by Kiss, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “The Pretender” by the Foo Fighters can invoke a sense of adrenaline and excitement.
Using genre-appropriate music to set the tone of a writing session can be an invaluable tool for those who write with background music, and can help generate further inspiration for a story. The next time you’re in a rut while writing, consider the tunes you have on in the background and whether changing them up, or using them in the first place, might benefit you in getting back into your creative rhythm.