Music

Can you listen to music and write? What song did you hear today?

When writing it really depends on what mood I’m in and what I’m writing. If I’m writing something that is coming from me, without the need for research and fact checking, then yes. If it’s something that I have to write that I’m perhaps not as interested in then no. I find I have to concentrate a lot more so I tend not to listen to music or I’ll find myself getting easily distracted and singing rather than writing!

Right now my artist of the week is Jason Mraz. I went to his concert at Auckland’s Civic Theatre in November 2011 with my good friend Jessica. I listened to his catalogue of albums in prep for that and also bought his live album there which I like listening to at work. I love Jason Mraz’s music and can always find songs to suit whatever mood I’m in. I love that a lot of it is upbeat and cheers me up but he also has what I call Sunday afternoon chill out tunes – which are those easy to listen to songs that you can tune in and out of whilst chilling out or taking a nana nap on a Sunday afternoon in the sunshine!! Perfect summer tunes!! My all-time favourite Jason Mraz song is still ‘I’m Yours’ – it’s such a great song and always puts me in a good mood.

I am part of the iTunes and iPod generation though so I always have music with me wherever I go. Music for me are like smells and photos for other people. I hear a song and it instantly reminds me of somewhere or something or someone.

When I travelled around the world for a year when I was 19 I took a lot of music with me. Alanis Morissette was a favourite then so when I hear songs from her ‘Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie’ album it reminds me of travelling on the trains in India. Hotel California by The Eagles reminds me of being in Singapore. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Greenday reminds me of living in South Korea. Addicted to Bass by Josh Abrahams reminds me of living in Melbourne, Australia when I was 19 but also my friend Ben in the UK as he loved it too. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol reminds me of the day I left the UK to go and live in South Korea. The Drugs Don’t Work by The Verve always reminds me of an ex-boyfriend from college. Matchbox 20’s album ‘Yourself or Someone Like You’ reminds me of my first year at university. Toploader’s Dancing In The Moonlight reminds me of Natalie, my housemate during the second year of uni, who played that song ALL the time when it first came out – strangely enough I loved and still do love that song. dDub and Six60 remind me of A.R.E.A. 9 Festival in Ohau, New Zealand and She’s A Lady by Tom Jones makes me laugh and think of my current boyfriend Rory, who always sings it to me. And the list goes on…….