Storytellersunplugged

Where Words Meet

How Music Inspires….

November 11

I was in New York City for a few days and meant to post this early….

How Music Inspires…

By Sephera Giron

This month I want to address the idea of music and stories.

Right off the bat, I should mention for those that don’t know, I was raised by musicians. That’s right, mom and dad are musicians. Even more romantic, they met at Oberlin College when mom was playing piano in a practice room and my dad peeked in on her.

My parents are classical musicians. Mom has been playing piano forever, and has given a bazillion concerts and taught even more classes. She taught at UWO and the Royal Conservatory. She still teaches her favorite students out of the home.

My father is a composer. He writes contemporary music for all ranges of instruments. He’s even invented some of his own percussion instruments to create sounds he needed. He has been heard on the radio and there are recordings of his music. Orchestras and soloists play his music around the world. He taught at UWO as well.

My dad writes music for my mom to play at concerts. It doesn’t get much more romantic then that, does it?

Anyway, no surprise, my brother and I grew up playing instruments. I played violin for many years, my dad learned how to play too and he would practice with me when I was young. I played in the London Youth Symphony Orchestra and got to go to Scotland for three weeks with a detour to London, England for a couple days, at the tender age of 14 to play in festivals. A couple years later, the orchestra spent a week in Banff at the Fine Arts Center for another festival.

I loved to sing and dance. I was always in trouble in kindergarten because I would sing along with the records at naptime. My most vivid memories of school before I came to Canada was standing in the corner because I was singing.

Music flows through my veins and still does. I was very good at the violin when I wanted to be, but it didn’t interest me as a career choice. Even though if I had kept it up, I probably would have been a better violinist then author, it wasn’t a lifestyle I wanted. I didn’t want to be a classical musician.

Our house was filled with music all the time, my mom playing the piano or the stereo going with opera or orchestras. I wasn’t exposed very much to other music.

When I was about 13, I saw the movie TOMMY at the theatres, and I heard this other type of music. I was already familiar with opera, musicals and Broadway shows since I took drama and was in musical theatre productions. Then I realized there was something to this rock and roll stuff too.

I loved the Who and went on to enjoy the new type of music that was invading North America, Punk Rock. My parents nearly had heart attacks when they heard me cranking the Sex Pistols.

I’ve grown up enjoying all types of music. Except country. I just can’t really cotton on to country that much. I can appreciate some Johnny Cash tunes, but that’s about as far as that goes.

I still love classical music. I love many Broadway shows. I love rock and roll. I love a lot of rap, especially the artists that have a sense of humor such as Eminem and Ludacris. I love laughing at Little John’s “oh yeahs” interspersed into songs.

What the hell does this have to do with writing?

Everything and nothing.

I put words together as I do notes when composing. My best writing work has a cadence and lyricism that exposes my years of classical training. I pay attention to the rhythm of my sentences, or at least I try to when I’m not rushing deadlines.

Music gets in my head and I can’t get it out until I write something about it. Nearly every single work I’ve ever done is related to a piece of music.

I can’t help it, music is inside of me, running through my veins, tapping through my toes.

The irony is that I can’t write while listening to music. It’s far too distracting.

MISTRESS OF THE DARK, which will be coming out from Leisure in a couple of weeks has all sorts of music through it. The Who, Ludacris, Eminem, Linkin Park and ACDC all have a mention in there.

BORROWED FLESH is my homage to rap music. I had a character who was an Eminem wannabe and she raps throughout the book. The witch’s spells are another form of music.

Short stories directly inspired by music were “I Stand Alone” in Queer Fear 2 from the song, you guessed it, “I Stand Alone” by Godsmack. Another Godsmack song, “Voodoo” inspired “Sycophantic Rapture” in Decadence. “Schism” by Tool inspired “Wrench” in Hot Blood 11. “Somebody Put Me Together” in R.A.W. was inspired by Faith No More. “Light Reign O’re Me” was a combo effort from the Who’s “Love Reign O’re Me” and Our Lady Peace’s “Hope”.

The list goes on but you get the idea.

I find music inspiring and I believe that other writers do too. If you find yourself stuck in a rut, slap on your favorite album, lie on the floor and let the music wash over you as your mind wanders or dance around the living room. You may find yourself inspired and energized. Music can be a trigger for ideas and emotions. Let it help you work through your creativity.

Sephera Giron

Related posts:

1. THEME MUSIC

Share on Twitter

If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.