The influence of music in writing

I write the best whilst listening to Radiohead and Foals, I can only speak to myself but their music sort of takes hold of my mind and places is it just a few levels higher so I can look down on the world and see things to write about.

I'm influenced by music a lot, particularly the early, dark stuff by The Cure. Also some Nine Inch Nails. I don't listen to music with vocals when I write, it distracts me too much, so I listen to instrumental stuff mainly - Mogwai is a particular favourite right now. Sometimes it all just helps to set the scene and fire the brain cells in new directions.

ofcours! although, careful that lyrics can be too influencial. Mogwai, meybe :) .

I am particularly influenced by music when I write. If I'm writing something darker, I usually listen to darker, heavier music, like the Deftones. On the other hand, listening to beautiful pop music can inspire to write similarly. I know music does distract some people but I honestly don't think I could write as much as I do without it.

At the moment I'm working on a novel set in the seventies, and before each session I sit down and have about quarter of an hour skimming You Tube for music of the time. It just takes me out of now and puts me back then. I have to set an alarm to remind me when time's up and I need to start work, though. Otherwise it becomes just another avoidance technique...

My story 'This is Kelly' was written late at night with the Adam and the Ants track This is Marco on repeat play, I'm currently trying a similar technique on a new story, this time with Black's Wonderful Life providing the background (actually it's a live accoustic version of the song recorded under Black's real name of Colin Verncombe). My novel (about an ageing punk band) was mostly written with Ennio Morricone in the background. I am at a loss to explain how western soundtracks helped me write about punk rock.

Ennio morricone good lyricless, also somethings with not much word or same thing over & over, I sometimes make my own music like that to help me keep focus on an exact feeling for a poem.