Drift by David Caesar, the artwork used for the cover of Moon of the Crusted Snow
I don’t usually listen to music while I write. Sometimes I’ll put on some powwow music or ambient heavy metal during the creative process, but I typically find anything with discernible English lyrics distracting when I’m trying to put English words together. I do draw a lot of inspiration from music, though, and I’ll play a song or two before I sit down to write, and again when I’m done for the day.
Many songs influenced the writing of Moon of the Crusted Snow and were part of that pre- and post-writing ritual. Songs with speculative lyrics or dystopian themes were obviously in high rotation, given the story’s post-urban setting and plot. I also found myself drawn to songs that felt like cold, bleak winter. And to counter that darkness, I also played tunes that hinted at renewal and a more hopeful future. So here are some of the tracks that carried me through writing this novel, in no particular order:
Nine Inch Nails – “The Day the World Went Away”
PJ Harvey – “The Ministry of Defence”
Propagandhi – “A Speculative Fiction”
Deltron 3030 – “3030”
A Tribe Called Red – “Burn Your Village to the Ground”
Metallica – “The Four Horsemen”
ISIS – “20 Minutes/40 Years”
Red Fang – “Prehistoric Dog”
Sepultura – “Refuse/Resist”
Stevie Wonder – “Higher Ground”
Björk – “Pluto”
Alexisonfire – “The Dead Heart”
Biipiigwan – “Nibaak”
Danny Brown – “When It Rain”
Iron Maiden – “Run to the Hills”
And on another audio-related note, the Moon of the Crusted Snow audiobook is available at Audible!
