All my life music has made imprints on my heart. From the very first song I remember hearing, Need You Tonight by INXS to boy bands, emo and then indie. Music is forever changing my soul and sometimes the direction of my life.
It is why I wrote Musical Awakening and here are the songs that inspired the book.
Each chapter of Musical Awakening is a song. The song has significance to me and to the chapter. I hope that you can listen and feel something when you hear each song after reading each chapter.1. To Whom It May Concern - My good LA friends Marlon and Kristal first told me about The Civil Wars. I fell in love immediately. I remember in 2014 when I was going through my divorce, that this song was a reminder for me that the person I was meant to be with was out there. In 2022, I finally found him!
2. Kiss Me Darling - I am a HUGE Dashboard Confessional fan and was able to meet Chris when he was in the band Twin Forks. This song and album helped me to meet one of my writer idols!
3. Who's Gonna Save Us - I remember the very first time I ever heard a Gavin DeGraw song. It was 2005, I was living in Fairfax, VA and driving in to tour DC. It made a dent in my soul and he became my love guide during a solo road trip. My husband and I even danced to one of his songs at our wedding.
4. If You Ever Want To Be In Love - I honestly cannot remember who told me about James Bay, it was probably The Music Maven, but I fell in love immediately. He has some really fun songs and then some truly romantic swoon worthy songs. This is one of those. At the end of his concert I was a crying mess!
5. Thinkin Aboutchu - This was another Music Maven recommendation and the entire album by Dan Croll is so fun. I was able to attend a unique Trolley Show of his in San Diego (might recognized this experience from Musical Awakening!) and then see his show.
6. Skip The Charades - Cold War Kids have so many swoon worth songs, but when I listen to this one something happens to my soul. I love singing this as loud as I can in the car, windows down. Very cathartic. #Pisces
7. Christmas At Our House - A Silent Film was a huge inspiration to me, my life path and Musical Awakening. When I wrote the Christmas chapter set in Oxford, England, I knew I had to include this beautiful song.
8. Lean Into The Fall - Another Music Maven recommendation, do you will see a theme here? MONA is the cool band. When I think rock band, this is who comes to my mind. Not only do they look the part, their music feels raw and passionate.
9. Something To Believe In - Another A Silent Film song, I remember the first day I heard them. The song was Harbour Lights and it turned my life in a different direction. In chapter 1 of Musical Awakening that is what I imagine June is listening to. I'm forever grateful for their lyrics, songs, community and camaraderie through the years I traveled to see them, write and photograph them.
10. In Your Arms Again - While living in San Diego a good friend Susan asked me to come see Josh Ritter with her. If you ever have a chance to see him live, he will make you a fan. He has the best stage presence, joy and crowds. This was one of those life changing concerts!
11. Hands Down - Dashboard again! I had to include one of the songs that has inspired me as a writer for years! In my creative writing class in college I was obsessed with being like him.
12. The Heartbeat The Soul - My Pisces sister Kirstin introduced me to Dark Waves and this song hit my soul hard. His whole EP actually. The logging is contagious.
13. Scream To The Sky - I'll give this one to my friends at High Voltage Magazine. I use to listen to their radio show while living in San Diego and Semi Precious Weapons was featured. This is my favorite song of theirs but others are...Drink, Semi Precious Weapons, Cherries On Ice...just go #ListenForYourself!
14. This City Is Contagious - At the end of the emo era, The Cab caught my heart. I love excitement of this song and it is perfect for June's time in Paris, because isn't that city contagious?!
15. Cocoon - A family affair was had at a Catfish and the Bottlemen show in Denver. Their album The Balcony was on repeat and even to this day, it is a perfect all the way through listen, loud in the car with the windows down! I especially love their music video with my crush Ewan McGreggor!
16. Listen For Yourself - The thesis of the entire novel! Musical Awakening has this hashtag through out and the band behind this song are some of my favorite people. Read this and you'll know why, let me know if it sounds familiar!
That, my friends, is MUSICAL AWAKENING. The passion, lyrics and love put into these songs have inspired my writing and my life. You can listen to the playlist here, let me know if you #ListenForYourself
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