One of the first things I do when I work on a novel is create a playlist of songs to listen to when I write. It sets the mood and overall tone, and it helps me get into my character’s heads.
In honor of Not My Time publishing in January 2023, I wanted to share the playlist with you. You can listen to the entire playlist on Spotify! Here, I’ll be sharing who each song is for and some recommended chapters for listening.
Little Dark Age by MGMT
If you’re on TikTok, you probably know this song as it’s been responsible for at least one trend per year. But the tone of the song plus the lyrics make this a great fit for both Kane and Rory, who both struggle with coming to terms with themselves after everything they’ve been through.
“Oh-oh, forgiving who you are, for what you stand to gain
Just know that if you hide, it doesn’t go away
When you get out of bed, don’t end up stranded
Horrified with each stone on the stage, my little dark age”
Eleanor Rigby by Cody Fry
This Beatles cover is epic. While the lyrics of the actual song don’t exactly fit the story as well as the others on this playlist, there’s something about that orchestral choir singing, “Ah, look at all the lonely people” that made for great writing fodder, especially when writing moments where Hematite is feeling introspective.
Hayloft by Mother Mother
Another “here for the vibes” selection, even though the lyrics are about something totally different, the tone of Hayloft just fits, especially for the final fight scene.
Star by LOONA
This song by K-Pop group LOONA (#StanLoona, btw!) perfectly encapsulates the feelings Kane and Rory have for one another. The song is all about wanting to be with someone to the point of selfishness, and dreaming about being with them but while you’re so close, there’s something holding you back.
Washing Machine Heart by Mitski
This song fits Kane and Rory both so well. The lyrics as a whole perfectly describe them and there’s a sort of sadness in the longing of the song that I just love (especially for Chapter 7).
t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l by WILLOW feat. Travis Barker
This is a great song for Rory, who uncovers the identity of anonymous YouTuber Stone Breaker.
“I don’t fucking know if it’s a lie or it’s a fact
All your little fake friends will sell your secrets for some cash
Smile in my face, then put your cig’ out on my back
If you ever see me, just get to runnin’ like The Flash
I knew a boy just like you
He’s a snake, just like you
Such a fake, just like you
But I can see the truth”
But the chorus in particular makes this a great song to listen to when you read Chapter 14. I won’t say anything else to prevent spoilers!
“Transparent soul
I can see right through, just so you know”
Oblivion by Grimes
This song should be used in a future movie trailer (if you’re from a Hollywood studio and interested please hmu I’m very ok with a film adaptation let’s talk). It encapsulates just about the whole book and was my background music for a solid chunk of it.
“I never walk about after dark
It’s my point of view
‘Cause someone could break your neck
Coming up behind you
Always coming and you’d never have a clue
I never look behind all the time
I will wait forever
Always looking straight
Thinking, counting all the hours you wait”
It makes perfect sense, right? Rory is stalked and has PTSD, and the song about the paranoid feeling you get with PTSD.
My Ordinary Life by The Living Tombstone
This song might as well be Hematite’s anthem and was also listened to extensively while writing. Without spoiling too much of what’s going on inside Kane’s head, he struggles with his identity as Hematite and why he has powers. I’ll let the lyrics do the rest of the explaining.
“They tell me that I’m special, I smile and shake my head
I’ll give them stories to tell friends about the things I said
They tell me I’m so humble, I say, “I’m turning red”
They let me lie to them and don’t feel like they’ve been misled
They give so much to me, I’m losing touch, get me?
Served on a silver platter, ask for seconds, they just let me
They tell me I’m a god, I’m lost in the facade
Six feet off the ground at all times, I think I’m feeling odd
No matter what I make, they never see mistakes
Makin’ so much bread, I don’t care that they’re just being fake
They tell me they’re below me, I act like I’m above
The people blend together but I would be lost without their love
Can you heal me? Have I gained too much?
When you become untouchable, you’re unable to touch
Is there a real me? Pop the champagne
It hurts me just to think and I don’t do pain”
Freaks by Surf Curse
I love this song for Kane, for similar reasons mentioned above.
“Don’t kill me, just help me run away
From everyone. I need a place to stay
Where I can cover up my face.
Don’t cry, I am just a freak”
Oh Klahoma by Jack Stauber
Better known as the song for the TikTok ghost trend, Oh Klahoma is on this playlist for Rory as she struggles with PTSD at the beginning of the novel.
“Tears falling down at the party
Saddest little baby in the room
Fears, tell me fears, don’t get me started
I get a little grey hair for every scare you share”
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Malia J
I love this Nirvana cover from the Black Widow film. The vibes of Malia J’s cover fit the novel super well as a whole, and different chunks of lyrics fit different characters pretty well. Kurt Cobain wrote some contradictory lyrics, which play into Stone Breaker and Hematite’s dynamic and ideals.
THE ONE by BABYMETAL
Another great song for the vibes! Nothing more to say here except I love BABYMETAL (they’re my fave).
MAMMAMIA by Måneskin
And another one for the vibes, especially with lyrics like this:
“Oh, mamma mia-ma, ma-mamma mia-ah
I feel the heat up, uh, I feel the beat of drums
Call the police, I’ll do it, they’ve stolen all my fun
I’m breaking free, but I’m stuck in a police car
Oh, mamma mia-ma, ma-mamma mia-ah
They treat me like if I did something criminal
All eyes on me, I feel like I’m a superstar
I’m not a freak, I just thought it was carnival”
LOONATIC by LOONA
I love this song and recommend listening when you read Chapter 6.
“I gotta take you into our moonlight
Before I let you inside of my heart”
My Alcoholic Friends by The Dresden Dolls
Recommend listening to this when you start Chapter 2 and enter Kane’s point of view since that’s the scene I wrote while listening to this!
“Should I choose a noble occupation?
If I did I’d only show up late and sick
And they would stare at me with hatred
Plus my only natural talent’s wasted on my alcoholic friends”
creature by half•alive
This is a religious song, but I’m taking some of the lyrics out of context here for Kane, who struggles with the fact that he was born with superpowers.
“I am creation, both haunted and holy”
After Dark by Mr. Kitty
Listen to this song when you read Chapter 13. You’ll understand.
Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender
Some of the lyrics really stood out to me for Rory’s PTSD. I remember the rage that comes as you start to heal hitting me like a freight train, becoming angry as you realize what happened to you, so I recommend listening during the fight scene in Chapter 10.
“I was far too scared to hit him
But I would hit him in a heartbeat now
That’s the thing with anger
It begs to stick around”
To The Bone by JT Music
Yeah, this is an Undertale fan song. No judging! I love the game and the song is a banger.
I can’t explain why this is here. It just is. Let’s chalk it up to vibes and call it a day.
