A story that is steeped in art needs a killer soundtrack, and I have one for you.
On April 9th, 2024, my dark fantasy novella, Muse, will be available through all major retailers. Being the book is about art, trauma, exploitation and inspiration, of course there is a playlist to go along with it. Being a musician myself, as well as an artist and author (someone once called me the Anti-STEM) I rely heavily on music to help shift my perception as I write complicated scenes. Muse pulls a lot of references from art history, particularly the 20s post war art scene, known as Dadaism, when modern art was born and very, very weird. It was the beginning of everything. Photography, Film, Furry Spoons, and of course, Jazz.
But Art stretches infinite in all directions and so to fill out that vibe I brought in songs that feel like New York City, like the sense of awe you get in an art museum and like the growing tension of a conflict that you know is going to explode. I characterize the story and the conflicts in somewhat chronological order throughout, and finally bring it to a close with a touch of the infinity of inspiration, the underlying theme through the story. Below is a sampling of the major movements of the list and the story. The full spotify playlist is at the bottom of this post.
Montagues and Capulets by Sergei Prokofiev
The thunderous conflict of Prokofiev’s ballet masterpiece was a great dark opening to represent the ongoing brewing conflict in the house of the associates
Poison Heart by The Ramones
I would be hard pressed to make a list without The Ramones, who always make me think of the New York underground scene and the stripped down side of art. “Poison Heart” in particular speaks to the jaded ideals of some of the characters in Muse.
Mack the Knife, by Louis Armstrong
“Mack the Knife” is one of those songs that sounds like a great time until you listen closer, much like the character it speaks to, and the associates in Muse.
New York State of Mind by Billy Joel
Billy Joel has a gift for baking his songs of the mundane with such poignant emotion that you can feel that same longing for the city that he is feeling. Muse takes place mostly in NY where Cedric Fleck and the city are tightly bound.
No Roots by Alice Merton
This song is a lot of fun, and I’m not going to give away too much about why I included it here except that roots play very much into this story.
White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane
In my head there is a scene halfway through the book where this song starts to play quietly in the background.
I Want You by Cabaret Voltaire
Caberet Voltaire named themselves off the dada indie film, featuring the darling of dada, Kiki de Monparnasse. The song captures the chaos of certain scenes of the book where nothing is quite what is seems.
I Put a Spell on You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Who belongs to who and who is casting the spell?
Puppet Theater by Claptone
This haunting song presents a story about manipulation, media exploitation and the slow draining of will that runs parallel to themes in Muse.
Heads Will Roll by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
As we get to the climax of the story, readers find out just who’s heads are rolling.
If I had a Heart by Fever Ray
OMG this song might be a spell of its own. The haunting driving deep rhythm compels a sense of dread but even more a sense of awe that runs through the bloody climax of the book.
Eclipse by Pink Floyd
This song has always evoked the same sense of infinite as creation does for me. While humans play out our petty dramas for minutes in history, art transcends time.
I really hope you enjoy, and would love to hear how you feel each song plays into Muse.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the songs, on what they could mean, and, once you read the book, I’d love your own suggestions for this playlist.
Muse is available now for presale, just about everywhere.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/4BxwStJC1fD7z5cw2idQfk?utm_source=generator
LC W. Allingham 
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