My Musical Inspirations…
Dear Friends,
Many of you know I use music not just as an amusement, but as a tool. So when someone asks, “What kind of music do you like?” I can never give a one-sentence answer. It depends entirely on the moment.
When I’m building a financial model or diving into a scientific paper, I probably have an old-school video game playthrough running in the background. It drowns out background noise and has enough variety to stop from getting repetitive. I recently saw a LinkedIn post explaining why these soundtracks are so effective: they’re designed to create mood, maintain focus, and never distract. My only hard rule? No lyrics. Spoken words destroy my concentration.
If I’m lifting weights, I break out the heavy stuff. Metal, rap, high-intensity video game scores—anything that gets the blood pumping. A personal favorite? Nightwish’s “Planet Hell.” The drums, the strings, the choral intro, and then the guitar slam in just as I hit the set. It’s my go-to for smashing a personal best.
But what do I write to?
That depends on the mood I’m trying to capture. Below, I’ve shared some of the music that helped shape the emotional tone of Son of the Borderlands—without spoiling anything beyond the first chapter. These are the tracks I often shared with my writing coach, Jen Braaksma (jenbraaksma.com), as a sonic compass for a scene’s tone.
For the Ancient City – sacred, mysterious, and perilous:
- “Town of Mysteries” (Silent Hill Origins) – Like the near-ghost town of Silent Hill itself. Brooding, ominous, dangerous.
- “Iifa, the Ancient Tree of Life” (Final Fantasy IX) – No other song says “you’re standing on sacred ground” like this.
- “Book of Sealings” (Final Fantasy V) – The sound of hidden power, awaiting to wake.
For everyday settings – grounding scenes in the world:
The Ultima V: Lazarus soundtrack captures the mood of a living, breathing world.
- “Britannic Lands” – Bucolic, whistling. Especially good for crisp mornings in the Spires.
- Various town themes – Each evokes something different: from sleepy hamlets to bustling cities.
For special environments and tensions:
- “Oppression Theme” (Ultima V: Lazarus) – Perfect for dealing with the deliberations of bad guys and tense aftermaths.
- “Night Attack” (Final Fantasy Tactics) – You can hear soldiers rousing and stalking into the night. A hint of tragedy.
- “Erana’s Garden” (Quest for Glory IV) – A rare, peaceful sense of communion with something greater.
- Cyborg Ninja Battle Theme (Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes) – Tense, ghostly, otherworldly
- “Ocean Palace” (Chrono Trigger) – Nothing says “time is running short” like this.
For the characters themselves:
Agni Kazirian –
- “Final Weapon (Stage 2)” (Mega Man X4 ) – Futuristic rather than fantasy, but it captures his controlled intensity and calculating mind, with an undercurrent of danger and a splash of sorrow.
- “Hunter’s Chance” (Final Fantasy IX) – His “action hero” theme. Valiant, cunning, intense, with a hint of flair.
- “In a Dream” (Tales of Maj’Eyal) – It lifts one out of the Mortal Realms, into the infinite stillness to receive forgotten wisdom.
- “Dark Magic” (Ultima V: Lazarus) – An Agni/Anton theme for the sinister, the goad to darkness.
- “Signs of the Past” (Illusion of Gaia) – Ancient, lonely, for tender moments looking at the night sky…or reflection on his deeds
Anton Kazirian –
- “Blackthorn’s Theme” (Ultima V: Lazarus) – The march of a glorious tyrant holding his people enrapt.
- “Anthem of a Tyrant” (Jade Empire) – Echoes of a forgotten power clawing its way back into the world.
Duchess Sara Ristana –
- “Passed Tense” (Tales of Maj’Eyal) – Plaintive, lost, yet hinting at something locked away within. Something she might play to pass the time.
Duke Verlan Ristana –
- “Count Orsi’s Theme” (Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption) – Arrogant, ambitious, and cruel—like Count Orsi himself.
Kali and Alexander –
- “Buccaneer’s Den Theme” (Ultima V: Lazarus) – Alexander is the hearty man of the sea who might carouse in the taverns and porter’s guilds where this song is played. Kali is not a seafarer, but a lovable rogue. Something in this soaring melody reflects her earthy charisma and rising strength.
What songs did you hear in your head while reading?
Let me know—I’d love to build a reader soundtrack with your contributions.
For the Borderlands,
Joe