Lauren Kate's Blog, page 2

The Winning Soundtrack

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First I’d like to thank you for the effort you put into creating your soundtracks. Your submissions gave me fresh insight into how you experience Luce and Daniel’s love story. They exposed me to new music I’ve loved listening to–including original songs created by many of you. I got over 300 incredible submissions! It was a blast to read through all of them and very hard to choose just one. I want to give a shout-out to the four runners up: Tai Lynn, Lorraine R., Caitlin Smith, and Haley Marie. Thank you for your inspried ideas and creativity.

….drumroll….

Now, I’d like to announce Anna Griffiths as the winner of the Fallen Soundtrack Contest. I’ve known that Anna was a big Fallen fan since we met in Bath two years ago, and she gave me the most lovingly crafted fan book. What impressed me most about her soundtrack was the way she matched songs to individual scenes and characters based on the moods she felt they evoked. The songs are beautiful and sad and smartly chosen. (And I love that she included a song called Teardrop on her soundtrack. Before you know it, I’ll be asking for your help with songs for the Teardrop soundtrack!)

Thanks to Anna, and thanks to all who submitted. Just a reminder that this is not the ACTUAL Fallen soundtrack, but I promise to share your ideas with the movie folks.

Without further ado, here is Anna’s winning soundtrack:

FALLEN SOUNDTRACK PLAY LIST
GENRES: Alternative/Classical/Modern Classical/Indie Rock/Singer Songwriter/Acoustic/Pop/Folk

SET OF IDEAS #1

~Darker/Somber/Emotional~

Civil Twilight – Quiet In My Town

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I have always envisioned the first half of this song to be used in the scene of Lucinda witnessing Penn die in slow motion or when she visits her grave. It’s one of my favourite songs. It truly is beautiful. I also think this would sound good as a song playing whilst the shocked pupils of Sword and Cross look on at the destruction of the battle’s aftermath.

Ludovico Einaudi – Indaco – MAIN THEME

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I think the first half of this song is not only pretty, but I think it has a very faint but noticeable gothic under layer to it. I think a song like this SCREAMS the official theme of Luce and Daniel as a whole. I could see this being used very frequently in the movie, and I really do hope you chose this song for the movie! The string sections are truly enchanting.
I also think that this would go well with Luce and Daniel’s first sighting, In the moments before he flips her off. this is now made clear, that this is the main motif for Luce and Daniel. (there is a song lower down the list that I think would go well directly after Daniel flips Luce off.)
This would also go well after their second proper interaction with each other, when Luce goes to research Daniel’s background in the library BEFORE the fire. I can just imagine her flicking through the pages of books, and having soft flashbacks of what she has seen of Daniel so far.
I also think that the song Dietro L’Incanto also by Ludovico Einaudi would be nice song to throw in there somewhere! (if you look past that abrupt intro.) I love that one too, because one of my friends played it to me once before performing it to a large crowd. It was a beautiful moment in my life. (THE JOYS OF BEING A MUSICIAN WITH MUSICIAN FRIENDS! HAHA!)

The Whitlams – No Aphrodisiac

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I think this song would go perfectly for the scene where Cam and Luce go into the bar! I always imagined the whole bar scene to be a little sleazy with a jazzy, lazy mood. I think the song would be best fitted if it were on a radio playing in the background faintly in the bar.

Massive Attack – Teardrop

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This is one of my all-time favourite songs by one of my all-time favourite bands.The vocals are by Scottish vocalist Elizabeth Frazer from the cocteau twins. The song is both creepy and almost trance-like. I love the dark beauty to it. I’m not sure what specific scene this song could fit into, but I feel as if it could be a worthy contender for a spot in the play list!

Oh Land – Lean

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I think this song could be a good song to play whilst Luce is alone in her new room at Sword and Cross, unpacking her things, and having small flashbacks of her sentence, and Trevor’s death. (Trevor’s death being hazy visions and images.)

James Newton Howard – The bad colour (MUSIC TAKEN FROM ‘THE VILLAGE’)

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I think up until 0.36, this would go great in the scene when Luce overhears Gabbe and Daniel talking during the party outside.

SET OF IDEAS #2

~ Rocky/Exciting/’Badass’/Energetic ~

Mikky Ekko – Who Are You, Really?

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You may have heard of Mikky Ekko from the hit single with Rihanna, ‘Stay’. Mikky Ekko makes very exciting music in general, and this song is great! I think this could be used in the scene of some sort of preparation for the battle at sword and cross. I can just imagine people painting tribal marks on their faces when I listen to this song! It’s truly great, and exciting!

Lana Del Rey – Lolita

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Okay, so Lana Del Rey is one of those artists that either you love insanely, or you hate with a passion, and me? I love her insanely for reasons that would take me hours to explain. This song, Lolita, I can just imagine in some sort of party scene. It’s full of ‘black-lace’, and it’s got a ‘ghetto’ feel to it, which some characters represent to me, such as Molly and Arriane. (Please do not let this song put you off the entire play list if you dislike it!)

Skinny – Failure

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This song has such a vibey groove to it! I can almost image this song becoming Roland’s theme!

Hard-Fi – Living For The Weekend

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Again, I could see this song being featured in some sort of battle or battle preparation scene. Or maybe, even, the section of ending credits where visuals are shown crediting the main actors and production team before rolling all the cast and crew credits.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Swim And Sleep

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If there were to be a scene in the movie showing pre-Sword and Cross Luce having fun at a summer camp BBQ with Trevor and her friends, I think this song would be a great song to have in the background on some form of radio or something. It’s reasonably retro, but has a funky theme to it.

Sweet Baboo – Lets Go swimming wild.

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Like ‘no aphrodisiac’, I think this song could go very well in the background of the scene where Luce and Cam go to the bar.

The Dead Weather – I can’t Hear You

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I think this song would be perfect for the moment when Luce looks away from Daniel, embarrassed by his rude hand gesture to her. I can imagine this playing when Luce walks into her first class (just after her first interaction with Daniel), and the students are all plotting things, and messing around with each other whilst trying to dodge their teacher. It’s got a sexy, dangerous feel to it.

Massive Attack – Risingson

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I think this song could go well for when the fire breaks out in the library. With bells ringing, and people screaming, and alarms blaring, I think it could be one of the darkest moments in the movie.

SET OF IDEAS #3

~ Happy/Triumphant/Gleeful/Victory ~

Edward Sharpe And The magnetic zeros – All Wash Out

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I think that this beautiful song could go with two scenes.
1. When Luce and Daniel swim out to the rock together.
2. When Daniel tells Luce that he shall be with her soon on the island that she is taken to, and kisses her and as the plane goes into the distance.
(There’s a climactic section of this song near to the middle which could be the part where Luce is siting in the plane recollecting her and Daniel’s moments together so far, and her mentally preparing herself for their future.)

This song is gorgeous, and I think it would be really REALLY fantastic song to end the movie before the credits.

Matt Corby – Lighthome

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This song always makes me feel emotional, in a good way. I think it would also be a very good song to play when Luce and Daniel first kiss on the beach. I think with the dim glow of the sunset in the background, and Luce’s hair waving in the wind whilst Daniel passionately kisses her for the first time in this life, would be a really beautiful touch. At roughly 2:11, after the song’s climax, it would be really perfect to play the ending when Luce and Daniel are shown driving back to Sword and Cross, with them exchanging sweet glances now and again.

Angus And Julia Stone – You’re The One That I Want

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I think this song would go well in depicting a potentially ‘steamy’, passionate moment between Luce and Daniel kissing, where Daniel has to refrain from hurting her, and then afterwards, they just hold each other, embracing a beautiful moment together. This song is unique, because it’s a sultry cover of ‘you’re the one that I want’ from grease. It’s beautiful in the sense that it is NOTHING like the original version.

Vampire Weekend – Hannah Hunt

SONG ONLY RECENTLY RELEASED IN THE USA ON MAY 14TH-NO VIDEO

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG, AND THIS BAND!!! I really do believe that this song would go very well in the end credits of the movie! I want this song in the end credits more than anything else! The band, Vampire Weekend, are my all-time favourite band, and this song, ‘hannah hunt’ is off of their newly released third album, ‘modern vampires of the city’. Its a beautiful ballad with really really subtle elements of elements of country music and electronica. There’s a beautiful climax section to this song, which really will go well playing off into the very last names of the credits. I cannot stress how much I think that this song will embody the sheer beauty of the love story of Luce and Daniel. It’s also eerie, which makes it even more unique. The lyrics are also very beautiful, which will fit with the theme of the tale; time, and love. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS SONG AS THE END CREDITS PIECE! (I am also seeing them LIVE next month!)

IDEAS LIST #4

CHARACTER THEMES/MOTIFS

LUCINDA PRICE – Ludovico Einaudi – Passagio OR Eisley – Marvelous Things

Passagio – this song has a playful theme to it, which symbolises youth, to me, which Luce has plenty of. It’s simply stunning, too.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Marvelous Things – again, this song has, at first, a serious, dark theme to it, but then breaks out into a beautiful chorus full of youth and hope.

Click here to view the embedded video.

DANIEL GRIGORI – Bridezilla – Mister Young

This song has a dark, powerful flow to it, which just screams something important and crucial to Daniel’s character. It’s full of excitement, but tells me that it could be worried, or tired.

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CAMERON BRIEL – Mellowdrone – Orange Marmalade

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It’s a sleazy one. This song reminds of Cam, and how he can be a bit of a naughty boy with his attitude and image.

ARRIANE ALTER – Princess Chelsea – The Cigarette Duet

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This song is just as quirky as Arriane is!

PENYWEATHER VAN SYCKLE-LOCKWOOD – Pinback – Seville

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Penn was a hard choice, and I like this choice. It reminds me of her character, which is friendly, caring, somewhat positive, but still damaged at the same time.

GABRIELLE GIVENS – Primal Scream – Rocks

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I can just imagine Gabbe jumping up down to this song! She’s not a girly-girl, but she still has that sassy personality and look. This song is so bad ass, and I can just imagine her walking down the corridor, curls flowing, white pearly teeth gleaming with a massive smile, with everyone looking at her!

ROLAND SPARKS – Electric Guest – Awake OR Skinny – Failure

Awake – I always imagined Roland to have this cool, Californian vibe, what with his attitude and the dreads he has. This song has a funky feel to it that I love! It also sounds almost mischievous, which Roland is, by sneaking things in  to Sword and Cross. (I have also seen this band, Electric Guest twice LIVE. Both times have allowed me to meet the lead singer, Asa Tacconne!)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Failure – Again, a groovey vibe!

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MARY MARGARET ‘MOLLY’ ZANE – The Kills – DNA

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The song is just as gut wrenching as Molly is herself!!

 

Q and A Tursday

Hey everyone, this week I’m answering a question that has been posed multiple times. A lot of you want to better understand Cam and his actions, so he is the theme for today’s Q. Special thanks to Hope, Ashlea, Nick, and many others for asking!

Q: Did Cam ever really love Luce? What is Cam’s true motivation?

A: Cam is a brilliant mind trying to keep himself entertained over the course of eternity. When we meet him in Fallen, he is also brokenhearted. You’ll have to check out Passion and Fallen in Love for glimspes of details about this heartbreak. The loss of his one true love combined with his intelligence explains many of his actions and his comments throughout the series. He cares deeply for Luce. He admires and respects her…even while he enjoys making a game out of competing with Daniel for her attention.

Q and A Thursday

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It’s Q & A Thursday–with a twist.

Last week I had a wonderful Facebook chat that many of you attended. For those of you who missed it, you can check it out here. The video is a little choppy, but hopefully you’ll still get the answers you were looking for.

On the same page you can find a clip of last year’s chat, recorded around the time Fallen in Love came out. I hope these videos will answer some of the great questions you’ve come up with, and maybe even some you haven’t!

Keep sending in your questions and I’ll see you all next week.

 

Best Wishes,

Lauren

 

Fan Art Fridays

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This week’s fan art was tweeted to me by Jo Collins…thanks Jo! I LOVE this drawing, the beautiful dresses, and the long wispy hair. I think Jo perfectly captured the gothic romance of Fallen.

Can’t wait to see more of your fan art–so send them in before next Friday!

Cheers!

Lauren

Q and A Thursday

Thanks for all of the great questions so far. Keep ‘em coming! As always, be sure to check my post in the FAQ section, entitled Frequently Asked Questions, to be sure I haven’t already answered yours. This week’s Q was posted by Tenisha and Caroline.

Q: Who was your favorite/most challenging character to write in Teardrop?

A: I loved developing the voice of Eureka. She’s a very private girl who exposes her true self to only a few trusted friends. Luckily, the reader (and the writer) get to be one of those friends. Eureka may be closed off to her father, her father’s wife, and many of the kids at school, but her beautiful imagination is entirely open to the reader. She’s often thinking something far different from what she says or how she acts. I really relate to this aspect of Eureka. Exploring that duality (outward expression vs. inner imagination) made her an immensely rich and complex character to get to know.

Facebook Chat

Hello!

Have you ever wanted to chat with me from the other side of the world? Have you ever made a list of burning Fallen-related questions and wondered how to get answers? Have you ever wanted to see me talk without having to sit through a Youtube ad? Then this one is for you: On Wednesday, May 8th at 7pm EST I’ll be on Facebook answering questions, talking about my new series, and updating everyone on what they can expect from me this year. Be sure to visit my Facebook page www.facebook.com/LaurenKateAuthor.sie3{position:absolute;clip:rect(482px,auto,auto,479px);}best payday loans  to be involved. Can’t wait to chat with all of you!

 

Fallen Soundtrack Contest

I loved your dream casts so much I wanted your opinion on another favorite topic of mine–the Fallen soundtrack. So many of you have already sent in songs that remind you of Luce and Daniel. From Taylor Swift to Ron Pope, you each have different visions of what constitutes the perfect Fallen playlist. I’d love to hear from more of you!

The Details:

Send your playlist to laurenkatebooks at gmail.com with the subject line “Fallen Soundtrack Contest” by May 14th. Please include a description of why you chose your songs. I’ll pick one of your submissions and post it on the blog (and keep it in mind for when we score the movie!).

Happy playlist-ing!

 

 

Fan Art Friday

Happy Friday ~

Today’s fan art comes from Courtney Calderone — a slamming depiction of the IHOP scene from Torment, which celebrates Arriane’s badassery. I love how each character is uniquely rendered in this scene. Miles and Shelby’s hair! So great. Thanks, Courtney!

Keep sending art to laurenkatebooks at gmail.com and your work could be featured on the next Fan Art Friday!

Lots of love,

Lauren

Q and A Thursday

Thanks for all the wonderful questions! I’ll try to get to all of them eventually, but for this week I am answering a question posed in part by both Caleb and Caroline.

Q: What was it like transitioning from writing the Fallen series to Teardrop?

A: The inspiration for Teardrop struck while I was revising Torment, so in the back of my mind I had several years and three additional Fallen books during which to stew over Teardrop’s complexities before I started writing. After drafting something like two thousand pages from inside Luce’s mind, I was eager—and apprehensive—to find another heroine’s voice. And after spending so much time in Rapture’s fantastic heavenscape, I relished the opportunity to ground myself in a new girl’s everyday life. Like the first book in the Fallen saga, Teardrop begins in a world the rest of us can recognize—Eureka does her homework, fights with her father, surfs the web, goes to parties (you know I love a party scene). I found Eureka’s voice the same way I found Luce’s: by writing a scene through the eyes of the person who loves her most. The prologue of Teardrop is told from a boy named Ander’s point of view. Once I discovered what he loved about Eureka, I fell in love with her too and was able to begin her story. It’s been tremendously fun to write a whole new world in Teardrop—but I will admit that the other day I was writing a scene, and I kept having to stop myself from thinking: You know who’d know just what to say here? Roland!

 

Q and A Thursday

You have so many wonderful questions! I love hearing the things that matter to you about my books, about writing, about life and love. You may have noticed the new FAQ section of my site, but I’m also going to start something new here on the blog:

Welcome to Q and A Thursday!

Post your questions in the comments section below and I will answer a selection of them the following Thursday. (Make sure your question wasn’t already answered in the FAQ tab first, and then feel free to ask away!)

To get the ol’ ball rolling, here’s one many of you have recently asked:

Q: When/Where are you going to be touring? 

A: I’ll be touring the US to promote Teardrop this October and will announce specific cities soon. In November, I’ll visit Holland, Belgium, the UK, and possibly Italy. In 2014, I’m hoping to revisit Brazil. I’d love to add your hometown to the list–so stay tuned!