Mixtape: The Threads of Time

Some authors say they can’t write properly unless they are in complete silence; others seem to derive inspiration from having music playing in the background while they work on their manuscript. I fall somewhere between the two, unable to listen to anything with English lyrics lest my concentration break, but also unable to write for long periods of time if nothing is going on sound-wise. Thus, my solution is to listen to mostly video game soundtracks that are more atmospheric in nature. That way, I can choose a piece of music that’s relevant to the specific scene or chapter I’m writing and play it on repeat, helping me maintain focus throughout the
whole creative process.

Here are some stand-out tracks that have helped me a lot when building a scene.

Marcin Przybylowicz – “Kaer Morhen”

This is one of the first tracks you hear when playing the Witcher 3, and immediately it sticks with you. For me, the tune evokes a sense of nostalgia and peacefulness, and I remember playing this on repeat while writing chapters 1-4 of Secrets of Stone, the first book in my series. It perfectly captures the vibe of Whistle-Wind Territory, and I while listening to it, I can just picture Silversong roaming through his beloved forest of rustling pines as the sun shines brightly above the clouds. Because of that, this piece holds a very special place in my heart.

Motoi Sakuraba – “Firelink Shrine”

Moving on to tracks that have helped me when writing book 2, this one is a certified classic in both the gaming space and for me personally. When I listen to the Firelink Shrine theme from Dark Souls 1 on repeat, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of bitter loss, as if things can never go back to how they were. Coincidentally, this is very fitting for book 2 since the plot is now fully in motion, and it’s dragging the characters along with it. Home is far behind them, and they’re coming to terms with the possibility that they may never return.

Bear McCreary – “Deliverance”

Now, I admit I blasted this track all throughout the final action scene of book 2. I knew the moment I first heard it while playing the 2018 God of War that I would one day use this specific tune to write the epic scene I had envisioned in my head. When it finally came time to describe the climactic battle, the words just flowed perfectly out of my mind and onto the page. The song definitely screams climactic moment, and when I listen to it, I can’t picture anything else but a cinematic clash between wind and earth. In my opinion, this song does a fantastic job of building the tension up until the very end, and for that reason, it was a helpful tool while working on the climax of book 2.

Yuka Kitamura – “The Owl”

When it comes to writing regular fight scenes, you can’t go wrong with this track from Sekiro playing in the background! It’s exciting, snappy, and dramatic while not being too over the top. This is one of those themes that really helps me get into the rhythm of describing duels/battles. Like with the previous song, the words just flow directly onto the page, and the only downside is that because the tune is so fast paced, it makes me type out sentences sometimes a little too quickly and without much thought. Thankfully, I can always go back and reread what I’ve written to make sure it makes sense, but during that initial blitz, it’s all about getting the words out with encouragement from this song.

These next four songs aren’t tracks that I listen to while writing, but rather they’re tracks that I think are relevant to the series theme-wise. Whether I’m driving to work or other places, I often have these songs playing on the speakers, and I can always envision my characters being part of a music video featuring one of these songs. It might sound silly, but thinking about these imaginary music videos has helped me better understand my own characters and their personal journeys.

Billy Talent – “Viking Death March”

Resistance, defiance, and rebellion against the system—these are what I think of when listening to this song, and it perfectly reflects Silversong’s journey throughout book 2 as he strives to steer wolfkind away from the Warden’s ironclad authority and toward a more open society. Although I’m not much of a revolutionary, this track does make me dream of change.

Skillet – “Monster”

If you were to ask me what song best represents the character of Rime, one of the main antagonists of book 1 and 2, I would point to this track. The themes of anger, rage, and resentment are integral to Rime’s character throughout the entire story, and this song absolutely embodies those traits in my opinion, so much so that it becomes difficult for my mind to separate Rime from the lyrics.

Of Monsters and Men – “Little Talks”

I’ll admit that I don’t entirely know what this song is about, but sometimes you don’t need to understand something for it to have meaning. For me, the vocals and the instruments mesh beautifully, and it often feels like listening to a fever dream, if that makes sense. But the main reason why this is a stand-out track is that it helps clear my head when I listen to it fully. I guess you can say it’s one of my brainstorming songs.

Wardruna – “Lyfjaberg”

Speaking of brainstorming songs that help clear the mind, this masterpiece of a track from the Norwegian band Wardruna is without a doubt my go-to music piece to have playing at max volume while I subconsciously work on my series. It’s epic in terms of scale, and you can feel the raw power in the vocals as well as the background instruments. This is one of those songs that—like Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin—must be listened to in their entirety to get the most out of it.

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Coltrane Seesequasis is a young fantasy writer of Indigenous heritage who grew up in Gatineau, Quebec. He first began his writing journey on long bus rides to school where he would alleviate the boredom by daydreaming of fantastical worlds, noble heroes, and unwavering villains. He is the author of the fantasy series A Wolf in the Sun, published by Kegedonce Press.

Photo credit Michelle Quance & Tracy Biel