Why David Bowie was My First Lodestar

(This blog was originally published on the YASquad blog.)

“And love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the light…” Under Pressure

Music is a huge part of my creative process, a huge part of my life, as I’m sure it is for most of you. I don’t play any instruments and I only sing in my car, but I devour music as a listener. I’ve attended countless concerts and used to wear out vinyl back when that was a thing.

And back then- it was always Bowie for me. You know how it is as a teen and music is EVERYTHING, because it’s the constant soundtrack to everything you do – with your friends, by yourself, in your car. You have endless debates with friends about bands and solo artists and can quote lyrics like a pro. 

I remember listening to music based on my mood, the time of day, or the event (whether real or imagined). I still do this today, and getting my playlist just right for my novels is a critical step of my writing process.

But back to Bowie- all that stuff I just babbled about really began with him. Discovering his music was like discovering a key to a world I didn’t know existed. His persona and his music was – is – brilliant, and as full of character and story as the best novels.

I’m an ‘80s girl so you might think I’d be raving about the Let’s Dance album, which was fun and poppy, but the albums that spoke to my soul, that stole my heart and my breath, were Space Oddity, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Heroes, Young Americans, Changes….okay, everything that came before Let’s Dance