Playlisting

I don’t think this notion is unique, but when I’m working on a fiction project—especially a novel—I work to a curated playlist. Based in equal parts on the mood I’m trying to create and diverse musical tastes, these soundtracks help me frame the story as I see it play out in my head. I’m the kind of crazy that sees these stories as movies in my head, and I score them accordingly. Whether it’s mid-90’s hip-hop driving a street basketball scene, or classic rock playing behind an emotional conversation between exes, a good song list helps me find the right narrative thread to pull on.

My current work-in-progress is called Underground Rhapsody, and it’s inspired by the legions of talented musicians that I happened upon in the New York subway system growing up. The city’s “always-on” nature and its reputation for hustle and grind allows musicians and dancers to build a platform on… well, a subway platform. New York City is legendary for its wealth of creative talent, and this thing I’m working on is a love letter to that.

The playlist I’m compiling is based on the musical diversity of my hometown. On any given day you might hear classic or contemporary jazz, rock, new age, hip-hop, R & B, ska, reggae and more bumping from someone’s window of someone’s car or apartment. The same is true for the tunnels beneath the city. The MTA allows musical performances on subway platforms without a permit, and various talented artists ply their trade to a dynamic and hard-to-impress audience. While my playlist doesn’t expressly include these artists, it’s not for lack of trying.

Anyway, here’s a rundown of the songs that provide the mood and feel of Underground Rhapsody:

- Give It Up, Kool & The Gang

- Down and Out in New York City, James Brown

- Make Her Mine (Instrumental), Mayer Hawthorne

- Learn, Knxwledge

- Faithful Man (Instrumental), Lee Fields

- The Bottle, Joe Bataan

- Eternal Light (Instrumental), Free Nationals

- After the Dance (Instrumental), Marvin Gaye

- Wish You Were Here (Instrumental), Lee Fields

- Changes (Instrumental), Charles Bradley

- Hipps, El Michel’s Affair

- Mercury’s Odyssey, The Olympians

- Brokenfolks, Georgia Anne Muldrow

- Indigo, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

- For Those who Like to Groove, Ray Parker, Jr.

- Feel It, The Crusaders

- Gentle Thoughts, Herbie Hancock

- Sugarcane (Instrumental), The M.G.’s

- Mystic Brew, Ronnie Foster

- Lester Diamond, Free Nationals

- I Want You (Instrumental), Marvin Gaye

- Grazing in the Grass, Hugh Masekela

- Make The Road By Walking, Menahan Street Band

- Reachin’ 2 Much (Instrumental), Anderson.Paak

- Long in the Tooth, The Budos Band

- Measly Peace, Magic in Threes

This is, of course, a partial list, and stands to be increased as I work on this project.

I know that I’m not the only one who works to music. Whether you write or not, what music gets you through the day?