I love music.
Well maybe love isn’t strong enough a word, because it has been instrumental (pun intended) in my personal writing process.
So to all the musicians out there-thank you.
Below are the specific songs that were integral to the writing of my romantic thriller ‘Unseen’; which introduces you to Samantha Locke, a volitive assassin, and Matthew Burke, a straight-edge spy, while they work for Erebus a nefarious agency headquarterd in Washington D.C.
The titles which have a (+) after them mean that from now until the end of time when I hear that song I’ll instantly think of a man’s final wish (Precious), when we first meet Lilly (Boys Wanna Be Her), or Matthew walking through the streets of D.C. (The Tune).
The songs with an (*) are far fewer and what I like to call inspirational if you will. The songs were written long before I started the novel, but when I hear them I feel as if they were composed specifically for me to create ‘Unseen’.
Titles that are italicized are either directly or indirectly mentioned in the novel ‘Unseen’.
During the early stages of writing ‘Ava Adore’ by Smashing Pumpkins resonated strongly with me, so much that if I were to give the entire novel one song to sum it up, that would be the song to do it.
So get on your favorite music app and listen to some great music while reading a thrilling book.
Jack
-Precious by Depeche Mode+
Recruitment
-Boys Wanna Be Her by Peaches+
-Hurt by Johnny Cash
The Test
-The Tune by Wax Tailor+
-Strawberry Bubblegum by Justin Timberlake
-Bad Girls by M.I.A.
Stiff
-Bury Me With It by Modest Mouse
– The Letter Edged In Black by Johnny Cash
-Over and Over by Hot Chip
-Criminal by Fiona Apple
The Last Time
-Bang Bang Boom Boom by Beth Hart
– Wandering Star by Portishead
Locke’s First Mission
-Rollercoaster by Bleachers
-This Is A Trick by (Crosses)+
–End Of The Line by Sleighbells+
Looking Glass
– Written In Reverse by Spoon
–King Night by Salem+
-Man In Black by Johnny Cash+
-Dirt Off Your Shoulder/ Lying From You by Jay Z & Linkin Park
– Bad Blood by Taylor Swift
– Terrible Lie by Nine Inch Nails+
Three Women
– No You Girls by Franz Ferdinand
– Summertime Sadness (Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais) by Lana Del Rey & Cedric Gervais
– Wasted Time by Best Coast
Truth or Truth
– Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It! By Kishi Bashi
– You Go Down Smooth by Lake Street Dive
– Ava Adore by Smashing Pumpkins*
– Ghosts n Stuff (Nero Remix) by deadmau5
– When I’m Small by Phantogram
Paris
– 6 Underground by Sneaker Pimps+
– Hong Kong Garden (with strings intro) by Siouxsie & The Banshees
– Let It Fall by Lykke Li
– Elevate by St. Lucia
– Young Blood by The Naked and Famous
Night Terrors
– Harlequin Dream by Boy & Bear
– Every Day Is Exactly The Same by Nine Inch Nails
– Gooey by Glass Animals
Damaged Goods
– The Cat With the Cream by Belle and Sebastian
– Cut It Out by Kitten
Seven Cards
– Devil’s Spoke by Laura Marling
– I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash+
– No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses
The Broken Promise
– Highly Suspicious by My Morning Jacket
– Devil In Me by Gin Wigmore
The Arc
– Ink by Coldplay+
– Killer Bangs by Honeyblood
– Black Out On White Night by Sage Francis
– Crown On The Ground by Sleigh Bells +
Skin and Bones
– Lead Me Home by Jamie N Commons
– Something Is Not Right With Me by Cold War Kids
– I’ll Believe In Anything by Wolf Parade
– Always by Blink-182
– Video Games by Lana Del Rey
– Somplace by Jake Bugg
– Breakin’ Dishes by Rihanna+
Maggie’s/Saul’s Night
– Black Tongue by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
– Phazing by Dirty South Featuring Rudy
– I Told You I Was Mean by Elle King
– It’s All Over by Johnny Cash
Locke’s Last Mission
– Female Robbery by The Neighborhood*
– Sing by Travis
– Bullet With Butterfly Wings by Smashing Pumpkins
– Tell ‘Em by Sleigh Bells
– Magic by Bruce Springsteen+
– Good Lookin Out by Kurt Vile
– Gamma Ray by Beck
– Why Do You Love Me by Garbage
– In Circles (Remastered) by Sunny Day Real Estate
Bleach
– Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton
– Lady Luck by Richard Swift
– No Below by Speedy Ortiz
– Christina by Kitten
Friends With Benefits
– Bad Girls (feat. Missy Elliott & Rye Rye) [Switch Remix] by M.I.A.
– Animal (Switch remix) by Ke$ha+
– The Lament of Pretty Baby by Cursive+
Gasoline and Matches
– You Don’t Get Me Twice by Sleigh Bells
– Knives Out by Radiohead
– Video Games by Lana Del Rey
– Army of Me by Björk *
– Bitter Rivals by Sleigh Bells
– I Know by Fiona Apple+
Golden State
– To Hell With You by Sleigh Bells+