An interesting discussion came up today (both online and in real life) about what music drives our particular passions. I decided to go through my iTunes library and really see which tracks influence my art, or at least which tracks really drive me in certain directions with the type and style of work I’m doing.
My iTunes library isn’t what you’d call huge, but it’s at least pretty big. So I’ll start this with only the movie soundtracks I have. I listen to quite a few soundtracks regularly, as they can really help push me in new directions. Here’s a starter list of some of my favorite tracks, and what they do for my work.
These aren’t really in any order either.
Drop Zone – “Too Many Notes-Not Enough Rests”
Hans Zimmer
Zimmer shows up on this list a lot because, frankly, I love his music. He offers up so many different styles, and yet has a consistent beauty to them. In this case, “Too Many Notes-Not Enough Rests” is about the the fastest song I have of it’s kind. It’s a driving song, and if I’m ever drawing (painting, sketching, etc., we’ll just call it drawing) scenes that need to be fast and with a lot of energy, this one is perfect.
The Fountain – “Death Is The Road To Awe”
Clint Mansell, Mogwai and the Kronos Quartet
This is one of those songs that really makes me want to be a better artist. When it comes up on this track, I look again at my art and think, “is this timeless?” It’s not, none of my art is. But this makes me want to create the very best work I can, as if the gods are watching. It drives you as you listen, without distracting you from your goal.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events – “The Letter That Never Came”
Thomas Newman
Something I strive for in my work is a sense of emotion, a sense that I’m not just showing you a bunch of fancy lines, but a scene in the life of the characters I’ve drawn. “The Letter That Never Came” makes me stop when it comes on, a pause in the drawing action if you will. There’s an emotion to the song that I can bring into my work, one that reminds me (as the song seems to say) that no matter how dark it is, there has to be some light at the end.
The Rock – “Hummel Gets The Rockets”
Hans Zimmer
Again with the Zimmer. This track is a different feel altogether from Drop Zone, in that it feels so heavy, so serious. There’s a strong darkness to it, but also a big size. Like a big, dark, gothic landscape coming to take it all over. But the last half of the track is faster, very driving. A shock into action, which helps with some pieces.
Tears of the sun – “The Jablonsky variations – Cameroon border post”
Hans Zimmer/Steve Jablonsky”
This track has such an immediacy to it, such a sense of action and yet a real darkness. I use it best on scenes where there is or has been some great action, and this is what’s about to happen or it’s the aftermath. With the African voices throughout it gives it a sense of personal action, a real question of whether the charaters will make it or not. Which makes sense considering the context in the film (this music covers the final battle/rush to the border).
The Shawshank Redemption – “So Was Red”
Thomas Newman
When this track comes along, it’s always a reminder of what the character of Red says at this point (and the whole last ten minutes too): “Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’ “. It’s always a reminder that I’m lucky enough to get to do art for the fine folks of the world, and that’s the best thing I can think of doing. It also reminds me that if I’m willing to put whatever it is I’m working on out there it better be the best I can do.
There are lots of other tracks that really make an impact on what I do, tracks that help me define what it is I’m trying to create and what I want the world to see. Here are few other tracks you might try with your own work. Apologies if it’s Zimmer-heavy.
Hans Zimmer
Backdraft- “Show Me Your Firetruck“
Beyond Rangoon- “Waters Of Irrawaddy“
Black Hawk Down- “Gortoz A Ran – J’Attends“
Black Rain- “Charlie Loses His Head“
The Da Vinci Code- “Che Valiers De Sangreal“
Gladiator- “Barbarian Horde“
Gladiator- “Now We Are Free”
King Arthur- “Woad To Ruin“
The Peacemaker- “Devoe’s Revenge“
The Power Of One- “Mother Africa Reprise”
The Rock- “Rocket Away“
Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimerron- “Run Free“
The Thin Red Line- “Journey To The Line“
Batman Begins- “Molossus”
The Dark Knight – “Why So Serious?”
Crimson Tide – “1SQ”
Javier Navarrete
Pan’s Labyrinth- “Long, Long Time Ago“
Trevor Jones
The Last Of The Mohicans- “Elk Hunt“
The Last Of The Mohicans – “Promentory“
