The Empire, Nevada Playlist

When I started forming the idea for this novel, I wanted to find music that set the tone I wanted for the book. I was looking for songs that had a lithe quality, but with a hint of darkness around their borders. I worked on finding the right combination for a few hours, and have ended up with a playlist that I think captures the feeling I want very well. The songs are not meant to be literal one-to-one backdrops for scenes in the book, but some do connect to certain scenes I am writing. Others just serve as mood setting for the whole work.

If you listen to the lyrics too closely, you might assume some things about my work that will not end up being true when you read the finished work. I could have made a much more literal, “this is how I would score the book if it was a movie and I wanted a song for each scene.” But that would have been a less interesting playlist for me to listen to when I wanted to get in the writing mood. Sure, it may have helped provide more focus for the scenes as I wrote them, but I am more concerned with capturing a wistful, yet melancholy feeling through this work. That is not to say there is no action in the story. As a matter of fact, I am starting with writing the end of the book, and things are quite action-packed.

Without giving away too much, I will just tell you that the book is about growing up, and how the way you think the world works as a child changes as you see the world for what it really is. The same goes for friendships and family relations. You learn about things, and they loose a bit of their sheen. It is easy to put the past in a perfect little bubble in your mind, when the truth of the matter is that there are always both good and bad things happening. Even though you might be having a grand time, that doesn’t mean that the world you are living in is perfect.

People tend to forget that, and that is why I think nostalgia can be a very dangerous thing. We put blinders on to the things that were not perfect about or past. Sometimes, we do the reverse and concentrate too much on the negative things that happened to us. If anything, I would say that my book is a plea to try to take a measured look at the world around you. See the good and the bad, and do your best to have your actions add to the good column.

Track Title         /       Artist           /           Album

1. The City Is Here For You To Use / The Futureheads / The Futureheads
2. Warning Sign / Talking Heads / More Songs About Buildings & Food
3. Riot Coming / Elliott Smith / New Moon
4. God Knows I’m Good / David Bowie / Space Oddity
5. Dead / They Might Be Giants / Flood
6. I Want To Live / Talking Heads / Sand In The Vaseline (Disc 1)
7. Summertime / The Fire Theft / Fire Theft
8. I Was Born In Omaha / The Gloria Record / Start Here
9. Stella Was A Diver And She / Interpol / Turn On The Bright Lights Was Always Down
10. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up / Tom Waits / Bone Machine
11. Cabron / Red Hot Chili Peppers / By The Way
12. Ask / The Smiths / The Best Of The Smiths, Vol. 2
13. Waiting On Wild Horses / The Good Life / Novena on a Noctourne
14. Please Come Back Home / Glasvegas / A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like a Kiss) – EP
15. Home Sick Home / Faith No More / Album Of The Year
16. All In Your Mind / Beck / Sea Change
17. Snowbirds And Townies / Further Seems Forever / The Moon Is Down

You can find the playlist on Spotify at http://spoti.fi/NAYXDd,  or on iTunes at https://c.itunes.apple.com/us/imix/empire-nevada/id537032195