The Music Behind "A Different Familiar": Part I
Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post, but I hope you’ll be happy to know that this particular post will be the first in a blog series about the music that inspired me while I wrote A Different Familiar.
As you may have noticed, there is a section of my website entitled “Book Extras” where you can find all sorts of bonus information about the novel, including photos, maps, music, quotes, etc. Today, I’d like to focus on the music section by highlighting the Spotify playlist on that page. If you haven’t seen the playlist yet, you can find it here!
I was very fortunate to grow up in a musical family, so there was always music at home, in school, in church, and in extracurricular activities, so I tend to use music as a support system when I’m writing (and when I’m not writing, too!) because it’s been so prevalent in my life. That being said, the Spotify playlist on my website is just a small sampling of the music I listened to while I was writing my novel, but I tried to select songs that I feel are best-suited to the themes of A Different Familiar.
My plan for this blog series is to highlight a few songs from the playlist and explain my own reasoning/interpretation of how the song relates to the novel. Please be aware that the songs won’t necessarily follow the order in which they appear on the Spotify playlist. To play an individual song without launching Spotify, please click on the song title below. Headphones/speakers highly recommended!
The Sailor’s Bonnet – The Gloaming
I listen to quite a bit of instrumental music while writing because it helps me stay focused on the task at hand when my mind wants to wander. This particular instrumental track balances the idea of finding the beauty in the melancholy, which seems to me like a perfect introduction to the story. The song begins with a slow, soft, and sad intermittent sound, then gradually increases to something not quite happy, but a bit more upbeat than the beginning. Its progression is very much like the plot of A Different Familiar – it mimics the image of several different threads braiding into one story strand – so naturally it seemed like an excellent introductory track to “set the mood” for the story.
Chasing Rubies – Hudson Taylor
When I lived in Ireland, I spent a weekend in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, and due to a banking delay, had no access to any funds aside from the small amount of cash I had tucked away in my wallet. Despite the circumstances, I used my money to buy a long-awaited for album: Hudson Taylor’s Singing for Strangers, which wasn’t available in the United States at the time. Later that year, I was fortunate enough to see Hudson Taylor perform in Galway (and met up with them for a pint and a chat afterwards!), so they were an absolute must for my novel playlist. Their beautiful music video for “Chasing Rubies” was filmed at Salthill in Galway, oddly enough, and the lyrics fit perfectly with the sort of ideas I wanted to capitalize on in the story. “I hardly know you, but I don’t want to let you go,” is an especially striking lyric and can be applied to almost every major character in the novel; it speaks to the transitory nature of some relationships, yet also notes their lasting power over us.
I Found – Amber Run
One of the most harrowing lyrics in this song is: “I’ll use you as a warning sign that if you talk enough sense, then you’ll lose your mind.” Immediately upon hearing this haunting song, I thought of Ronan. Ronan finds himself enveloped in a constant battle for control within his own mind, and the way he copes is by grasping at what seems logical (attempting to forget ugly memories, shying away from making personal connections with others, burying himself in mundane activities) and eventually, this causes him to suffer a breakdown. Quite unexpectedly, though, Ronan discovers connections that he simply can’t ignore. The lyric “I found love where it wasn’t supposed to be – right in front of me” is a perfect descriptor for his revelation, and one that I hope carries through each of the characters’ relationships with one another until the end of the story.
Need the Sun to Break – James Bay
If you’ve ever been to Ireland, you know that the sun is rarely seen for great swathes of time, to the great consternation of many locals and visitors. However, the Irish weather is a beautiful metaphor for something much deeper, in my opinion. Just as people long for the sun to shine in a physical sense, they also pine for the sun to break metaphorically in a way that eases their burdens. This song initially reminded me of the burdens of my characters, which, at times, manifest as silently festering wounds and other times as loud, brash insecurities. When listening to this song, I tend to associate the first verse with Ronan, the second verse with Stephen, and the chorus with Ellen.
Dive – Ed Sheeran
This song is probably my favorite on Ed Sheeran’s most recent album – I love the bluesy sound of it as well as the uncertainty and trepidation the lyrics convey. As far as the novel goes, this song reminds me of Stephen the most, especially because he struggles with his own insecurities while simultaneously attempting to trust someone else with his heart. He treads a dangerous path – one many of us have undoubtedly traveled at some point in our lives – and he finds that seldom do the two mix well. Luckily, though, Stephen learns that his inherent value does not change based on another person’s inability to give him the respect and affection he deserves. The sound of this song captures both the fear of vulnerability as well as the revelation that, in the long run, self-respect ultimately matters more than garnering the approval of others.
Not only does this song relate to the characters in A Different Familiar, but it also feels quite personal. Putting any sort of writing out into the world is a frightening prospect, so to me, this song relates to the way writers often must flirt with the uncertain and hope for the best. There is an element of “diving in” to the unknown – but how can anyone succeed without first taking a leap of faith?
That’s all for this post, but be sure to stay tuned for Part II of this series! Likewise, if there are any songs you associate with A Different Familiar, be sure to submit them using the contact form on my website and I’ll eventually post a reader-inspired Spotify playlist with your suggestions.
Thanks for reading (and listening)!
Rhian
As you may have noticed, there is a section of my website entitled “Book Extras” where you can find all sorts of bonus information about the novel, including photos, maps, music, quotes, etc. Today, I’d like to focus on the music section by highlighting the Spotify playlist on that page. If you haven’t seen the playlist yet, you can find it here!
I was very fortunate to grow up in a musical family, so there was always music at home, in school, in church, and in extracurricular activities, so I tend to use music as a support system when I’m writing (and when I’m not writing, too!) because it’s been so prevalent in my life. That being said, the Spotify playlist on my website is just a small sampling of the music I listened to while I was writing my novel, but I tried to select songs that I feel are best-suited to the themes of A Different Familiar.
My plan for this blog series is to highlight a few songs from the playlist and explain my own reasoning/interpretation of how the song relates to the novel. Please be aware that the songs won’t necessarily follow the order in which they appear on the Spotify playlist. To play an individual song without launching Spotify, please click on the song title below. Headphones/speakers highly recommended!
The Sailor’s Bonnet – The Gloaming
I listen to quite a bit of instrumental music while writing because it helps me stay focused on the task at hand when my mind wants to wander. This particular instrumental track balances the idea of finding the beauty in the melancholy, which seems to me like a perfect introduction to the story. The song begins with a slow, soft, and sad intermittent sound, then gradually increases to something not quite happy, but a bit more upbeat than the beginning. Its progression is very much like the plot of A Different Familiar – it mimics the image of several different threads braiding into one story strand – so naturally it seemed like an excellent introductory track to “set the mood” for the story.
Chasing Rubies – Hudson Taylor
When I lived in Ireland, I spent a weekend in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, and due to a banking delay, had no access to any funds aside from the small amount of cash I had tucked away in my wallet. Despite the circumstances, I used my money to buy a long-awaited for album: Hudson Taylor’s Singing for Strangers, which wasn’t available in the United States at the time. Later that year, I was fortunate enough to see Hudson Taylor perform in Galway (and met up with them for a pint and a chat afterwards!), so they were an absolute must for my novel playlist. Their beautiful music video for “Chasing Rubies” was filmed at Salthill in Galway, oddly enough, and the lyrics fit perfectly with the sort of ideas I wanted to capitalize on in the story. “I hardly know you, but I don’t want to let you go,” is an especially striking lyric and can be applied to almost every major character in the novel; it speaks to the transitory nature of some relationships, yet also notes their lasting power over us.
I Found – Amber Run
One of the most harrowing lyrics in this song is: “I’ll use you as a warning sign that if you talk enough sense, then you’ll lose your mind.” Immediately upon hearing this haunting song, I thought of Ronan. Ronan finds himself enveloped in a constant battle for control within his own mind, and the way he copes is by grasping at what seems logical (attempting to forget ugly memories, shying away from making personal connections with others, burying himself in mundane activities) and eventually, this causes him to suffer a breakdown. Quite unexpectedly, though, Ronan discovers connections that he simply can’t ignore. The lyric “I found love where it wasn’t supposed to be – right in front of me” is a perfect descriptor for his revelation, and one that I hope carries through each of the characters’ relationships with one another until the end of the story.
Need the Sun to Break – James Bay
If you’ve ever been to Ireland, you know that the sun is rarely seen for great swathes of time, to the great consternation of many locals and visitors. However, the Irish weather is a beautiful metaphor for something much deeper, in my opinion. Just as people long for the sun to shine in a physical sense, they also pine for the sun to break metaphorically in a way that eases their burdens. This song initially reminded me of the burdens of my characters, which, at times, manifest as silently festering wounds and other times as loud, brash insecurities. When listening to this song, I tend to associate the first verse with Ronan, the second verse with Stephen, and the chorus with Ellen.
Dive – Ed Sheeran
This song is probably my favorite on Ed Sheeran’s most recent album – I love the bluesy sound of it as well as the uncertainty and trepidation the lyrics convey. As far as the novel goes, this song reminds me of Stephen the most, especially because he struggles with his own insecurities while simultaneously attempting to trust someone else with his heart. He treads a dangerous path – one many of us have undoubtedly traveled at some point in our lives – and he finds that seldom do the two mix well. Luckily, though, Stephen learns that his inherent value does not change based on another person’s inability to give him the respect and affection he deserves. The sound of this song captures both the fear of vulnerability as well as the revelation that, in the long run, self-respect ultimately matters more than garnering the approval of others.
Not only does this song relate to the characters in A Different Familiar, but it also feels quite personal. Putting any sort of writing out into the world is a frightening prospect, so to me, this song relates to the way writers often must flirt with the uncertain and hope for the best. There is an element of “diving in” to the unknown – but how can anyone succeed without first taking a leap of faith?
That’s all for this post, but be sure to stay tuned for Part II of this series! Likewise, if there are any songs you associate with A Different Familiar, be sure to submit them using the contact form on my website and I’ll eventually post a reader-inspired Spotify playlist with your suggestions.
Thanks for reading (and listening)!
Rhian
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