5 Musical Artists That Inspire My Writing

Taylor Swift

Because I love the way she uses a lot of double-meanings and plays on words. I’ve realized that’s naturally organic to my own style as well, but I didn’t truly learn how to do it more intentionally until I studied many of Taylor’s lyrics.

Here’s an example of a lyric love:

Roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool
And if my wishes came true, it would've been you

Or

We never painted by the numbers, baby
But we were making it count

Bob Dylan

Because, simply, his writing is poetic. I’m not a big user of purple prose, because I think it should be used sparingly in moments that are more emotional or thoughtful in a story, but when I do want to drop some in, I’m always inspired by Bob Dylan poetic prose.

Some favorites include:

She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns

She said I’ll give you shelter from the storm

And

I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame

And every time I pass that way, I always hear my name.

Joni Mitchell

Because of her vulnerability. Vulnerability is what makes a protagonist likable for me. They can be flawed, in fact, they should be. And they can definitely do some unjust things or think some unsavory thoughts. But if they’re vulnerable, I want to connect.

Some favorite Joni Mitchell lyrics include:

So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through

And

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions that I recall
I really don't know love

Eminem

Because as a 90s kid, of course I’ve always admired his magic with words, but most specifically his ability to talk about traumatic events or hard topics while also making the listener laugh or feel shocked during the same song. Some people consider this distasteful, but I believe everyone has a right to take back their trauma and tell the story about it in whatever way is cathartic to them.

One of my favorite Eminem songs is Mockingbird:

I remember back one year when daddy had no money

Mommy wrapped the Christmas presents up and stuck 'em under the tree

And said some of 'em were from me

'Cause daddy couldn't buy em

I'll never forget that Christmas; I sat up the whole night cryin'

'Cause daddy felt like a bum

See, daddy had a job, but his job was to keep on the table for you and mom

But at the time, every house that we lived in either kept getting broken into and robbed, or shot up on the block

The Beach Boys

Because their songs evoke joy. Even though I enjoy writing about darker topics sometimes, one of the number one things I want my readers to get out of the experience of reading my work is joy. The world is hard and complicated, so I want to entertain. While my stories always are based on themes I want to explore about humanity, I believe if I’m not entertaining my reader first and foremost, I’m not doing my job right.

Favorite joyful Beach Boys lyrics include:

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new?
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

And

Let the bees make honey
Let the poor find money
Take away thеir sorrows
Give 'em sunshine tomorrow