Hello! Thanks for tuning in to my blog today. Over on IG, I mentioned that I want to bring back my 2014 era self when I would obsess over my work on DeviantArt and WattPad. I woke up, cleaned some of the house, haven't even showered yet like a heathen, but I got listening to music while scrubbing down the kitchen and I remembered the playlist blogs I'd post on DeviantArt and figured that's what I'd do with my morning. So grab a cup of tea or coffee, relax, and listen along with me!
I don't know if anyone will find it interesting, I know it's hard to see someone else's vision for a song because you might interpret these songs completely differently than I do. I'll try to include spoiler-free explanations.
Most of these songs are songs that got me though the 12 years it took me to write From the Ashes.
(Note: this is for fun, clearly none of these amazing artists are affiliated with The Acros Raiders at all. But it would be my dream for them to be on an official soundtrack.)
1) At Least I Have Nothing by Saint Motel (Scotty)
Of course we have to start with the main character, Scotty. I didn't find this song until close to publishing, but it's PERFECT for her. The name "From the Ashes" refers to her (and the other Raiders) rising up from their life's low point. For Scotty, that low point was Mike, her fiancé, dying. She joins the Raiders thinking she has nothing to live for anymore. She even has two moments where she contemplates if she should keep living, but she finds that she can't give up yet.
She also lost Grover, her brother, before the start of the book. She had high hopes for what she, Mike, and Grover would accomplish, but at the end of the day she has no more family left in her town and sets her sights on revenge, even if it means she'll probably die.
2) This Love, This Hate by Hollywood Undead (Jean)
Preface: Hollywood Undead is one of my favorite bands and I'm not afraid to say their lyrics inspire the heck out of my work.
This song spawned the Traitor Arc in The Acros Raiders (YES! The biggest part of the plot!)
I pinned it on Jean because his part in the Traitor Arc is very special as the team's leader. He wasn't always the leader, back when Oliver and everyone were still alive (in a far gone version of the story) Jean was always vocal about thinking there was a traitor. I don't have much to say about it honestly (to avoid spoilers), but through From the Ashes (and Down in Flames) I hope it is apparent that Jean feels like he's being led astray. He finds it hard to cope with at times.
3) From Now On We Are Enemies by Fall Out Boy (Withorn, Scotty, Jean)
This one makes me think of these three characters separately. "I just want to be better than your head's only medicine" makes me think of Withorn. He's the medic of the team whose mentor and mother figure just passed away. He has a huge weight on his shoulders as the team's only leader, and when a god comes to him and he learns he is their apostle, his feels a renewed sense of purpose.
"Lunatic of a god or god of a lunatic?" makes me think of Scotty. A god is drawn to her in book 1, but it's not touched on until book 2, so I'll say no more to avoid major spoilers!
"Composer but never composed" reminds me of Jean. He was originally supposed to play the sumera and sing around the campfires when they were on breaks. Unfortunately, those scenes made book 1 WAY too long, but I think I salvaged one scene in book 2. Either way, as leader, he loses his composure through his arc, so it still stands.
It just makes me think of these three characters as they navigate their arcs and "fall to thier knees" as they're brought lower than they ever expected.
4) Dreamers by Awolnation (The Acros Raiders)
Yeah, this song just reminds me of the team. After Jericho joins early on, the team officially has 9 members. It's just a good battle song. I've had high praise for the actions scenes in From the Ashes, so in the less emotional battles, this is a great song.
5) Bad Moon by Hollywood Undead (Withorn)
One of Withorn's big plot point chapters is named after this song, but it is relevant because there are two moons that represent two of the gods. If I say any more, it'll be major spoilers!
6) City by Hollywood Undead (Scotty)
I'll try to not let this devolve into just listing Hollywood Undead songs that I like.
This one is very simple. Scotty wants to burn down her hometown, Hayward City, where High Preistess Tapscott also lives. It's the seat of the Theocracy and if the city is taken out, so will the Castist Regime, which is what makes most of Scotty's problems.
7) Riot by Hollywood Undead (The Black Glove Scouts)
The Scouts mostly just have this song's vibes. HU's funnier songs always make me think of the Scouts doing silly stuff. I'm so excited to write from their POV in book 3. They're genuinely so funny to me and I've had people tell me they're really scary villains in book 1.
8) Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet by Fall Out Boy (Harland and Scotty)
Genuinely don't know how to talk about this without including spoilers. I have no idea where I'm taking the Harland and Scotty plot in book 3. "What?" you ask. "There's more to that one character that I think only showed up once in book 1?!" Yeah.
9) Dangerous by Big Data (The Traitor)
The song is pretty self explanatory. Traitor doing traitor things. They also love someone.
Well, thanks for checking out my playlist! I'm also going to do one for book 2, so keep an eye out for that!
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