We’ve left it open for you, so you don’t even need one of those little keys. Because writing is life, and keeping it real means forgoing the line between the personal and the professional.
A Playlist For The Inspired Writer
Many newsletters ago, Stuart shared 10 albums he enjoys that have no words (or else have lyrics in a foreign language, which serves somewhat the same purpose), allowing the mind to simply engage with rhythm and tone. The right soundtrack can make you feel more whole while you are writing, more grounded in your experience and more enthusiastic about the prospects of what you are doing.
It seems our subscribers agree as people loved the list, and so a year later he shared 8 more albums. Now, it’s my (Madison’s) turn.
I have taken a different approach and, rather than a tidy list of albums with little writeups for each, I have simply compiled 30+ of my favorite wordless or non-English songs into a banger playlist.
There are tracks that were recorded in the mid 1900s and songs that were released just last year by brand new gen Z artists (a tell: the refusal to use capital letters). There are brass bands and French disco and Acholi crooning. The only unifying element? These are songs that stir something within me, that lend inspiration and energy, that quiet the noise and allow me to move towards clarity.
Given the playlist’s erratic range, you will likely dislike a few of the songs. And you will surely love some–most?–of them. Just promise me one listen through, please. (And if you do find yourself vibing with the entire playlist, we’re almost certainly destined to be friends and you should let me know/give me recommendations of your own).
Without further ado:
Hablaojos – Michelle Blades
Pays imaginaire – Polo & Pan
Sweet Disposition – Feeling Blew
fiano – the wine is ok
soft shadows – signac
(The Death of Ruby) – Ruby Haunt
À Los Angeles – Pomplamoose
Brontosaurus – Funkmammoth
La femme a la peau bleue – Vendredi sur Mer
Lait de coco – Maya
Pista (Fresh Start) – Los Bitchos
Give Me Everything – Stripped – Archer Marsh
Ciao Ciao – La rappresentante di lista
Low Sun – Hermanos Gutiérrez
Santé – spill tab
doces bárbaros interlúdio – papi, Jyu
Quedate Luna – Devendra Banhart
Algum Ritmo – Gilsons, Jovem Dionisio
CANYON SUN – Distant Cowboy
Calcanhar – Concê
Redbone – Sean Angus Watson
L’enfer – Stromae
Corazón Adentro (Escorpio) – Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana, ASTROPICAL
Ladyfingers – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Makambo – Geoffrey Oryema
Peur des filles – L’Impératrice
Mulberry Mouse – Alan Gogoll
Soul Makossa – Manu Dibango
Pontos de Exclamação – Jovem Dionisio
Minha Voz – Versos Que Compomos Na Estrada
Ma quale idea – Pino D’Angiò
Monstre d’amour – Clara Luciani
La Noche De Anoche – Milky Chance
Futuro Incierto – iiis, Dromedarios Mágicos
Sara’ Perche Ti Amo – Ricchi E Poveri
Nucléaire (Unplugged) – Odezenne
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