Imagine you’re sitting at a table by the window on the third floor of the library. The sun is pouring through as you pull your computer and books out of your bag. The deadline for your essay is fast approaching, and as you stare at the pages of writing on your computer screen, you put your headphones in.
In order to ease the inevitable panic that is essay-writing, I have compiled a list of songs that inspire me while I write, in hopes that they will inspire you. I tend to listen to slow indie songs that I find relaxing, but I have included a mix of classical songs as I know that many people cannot write while listening to lyrics. Music allows the writing process to be a little more bearable, so here are some tunes to motivate you for your next essay.
“Prom Queen” by Catie Turner
Catie Turner, 19 years old, rose to fame after her appearance on the 16th season of American Idol. This song of hers features the soothing sounds of plucked guitar strings overlaid with beautifully poetic lyrics. Turner’s voice is full of emotion as she sings about the relatable desire to be noticed within a crowd. I adore this song, and I love to write with its gentle tune in the background.
“My Heart is for You” by Peter Sandberg
This song is a slow jazz piano piece. The lack of lyrics helps me focus, and thus is suited for working on more academically challenging writing pieces. The soothing piano and soft drum combo throughout this five minute song is perfect for the writers who enjoy a classical lyricless piece.
“Approaching Storm” by Mia Strass
The fluid piano notes of this piece smoothly guide me through my writing process. It’s perfect for my days spent on the third floor of the library. Again, it has no lyrics and allows one to delve deep into the world of their writing.
“Breathe Me” by Sia
Released in 2004, “Breathe Me” begins with gentle piano notes, which are eventually combined with Sia’s beautifully rough voice. The bittersweet nature of the song inspires me to write — as do Sia’s passionate vocals. Additionally, “Breathe Me” ends with an expressive piano feature, which makes for a perfect combination for those that want lyrics and instrumental sounds.
“Slow it Down” by The Lumineers
When I listen to this song, I can instantly imagine the vocalist, Wesley Shultz, strumming the tune on his guitar inside a run-down bar in town. If you cannot write to songs with lyrics, then I would stray away from this one; however, I find that the raw nature of his voice allows me to forget about the outside world and focus in on my writing.
“Like Real People Do” by Hozier
This song, and the overall “Hozier” album, was one of the first songs that I downloaded to my Spotify playlist. But specifically, “Like Real People Do” captures more of a bluesy harmony than the other songs on my list, but it offers a sweet ode to the restorative nature of love. I would highly recommend the whole album, as Hozier explores deep concepts of love with such lyrical ease.
“Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
This is another song that has such a strong sense of emotion trapped inside the lyrics. When I listen to Lewis Capaldi sing, I can feel the loss and devastation within his voice; however, I must mention that out of the other songs on this list, “Someone You Loved” has the loudest vocals and background piano accompaniment. If you cannot write to songs with stronger lyrics, I would save this one for another time.