Sometimes it's just one thing, one little element of a song, that'll keep me coming back. There's actually one Japanese metal song that I don't even like, but I keep listening to it because the final repetition of the chorus contains a like five second flourish from a backup singer that works really well.
Speaking of Japanese music, I also like listening to music sung in languages I don't speak, because when the lyrics don't have any meaning to them I can concentrate more on how everything sounds. Japanese and French, in particular, can have some particularly nice sounding lyrics, whether they work as actual sentences or not.
Just generally, I really enjoy complex, unified music, where each individual instrument is distinct and skillfully played, yet combine into something equally wonderful. That's why I like classical music too; a well placed violin flourish or brass kick can help transform a piece I otherwise might not enjoy so much.
With rock, I need momentum, a consistent sense of speed or inertia, if that makes sense. Music has a sense of physicality to me, the rock stuff especially; I've always thought that if a song can make me design an action scene or narrative beat from what I'm currently writing around it, it has succeeded. It's something I've always done, imagined little diegetic scenes around pieces of music that particularly strike me.
Conversely, a lot of my own music comes about the same way in reverse: here's a scene, it needs a soundtrack.
Speaking of Japanese music, I also like listening to music sung in languages I don't speak, because when the lyrics don't have any meaning to them I can concentrate more on how everything sounds. Japanese and French, in particular, can have some particularly nice sounding lyrics, whether they work as actual sentences or not.
Just generally, I really enjoy complex, unified music, where each individual instrument is distinct and skillfully played, yet combine into something equally wonderful. That's why I like classical music too; a well placed violin flourish or brass kick can help transform a piece I otherwise might not enjoy so much.
With rock, I need momentum, a consistent sense of speed or inertia, if that makes sense. Music has a sense of physicality to me, the rock stuff especially; I've always thought that if a song can make me design an action scene or narrative beat from what I'm currently writing around it, it has succeeded. It's something I've always done, imagined little diegetic scenes around pieces of music that particularly strike me.
Conversely, a lot of my own music comes about the same way in reverse: here's a scene, it needs a soundtrack.
"YOU take the hard look in the mirror. You are everything that is wrong with this world. The only thing important to you, is you." - ronedee
Want to see more of my writing? Check out my (safe for work!) site, Unprotected Sects!
Want to see more of my writing? Check out my (safe for work!) site, Unprotected Sects!
