I'm not sure how many others are like me, but I prefer to write to songs without words. Lyrics tend to distract me from what I'm trying to write, and there's some interesting emotional elements to music that has to rely on its instruments only to convey feelings. I've listed a couple here, and I'd like it if others who feel the same would share their favorites as well. Songs with vocals are permissible by the way.

Enjoy

I can't write without listening to these two.





And the first one Lady B posted also, but I know it under a different name.

When I am feeling particularly epic:




A few of my other favorites:

In the House In a Heartbeat, John Murphy. I never liked the film it was meant for, but the way it builds up is great.

Beautiful songs everyone. I was going to link some of my favorites- a big source being the Xenosaga soundtrack- but it turns out there were some background words I had never heard.

Game soundtracks are always so gorgeous.. especially Square ones.

i have full playlists, this is the one i'm currently listening too:

Pretty much anything by Clint Mansell is amazing, but this song is my favorite and always kills a block.



And anything from Two Steps From Hell. Short songs (mostly stuff for trailers), but definitely mood setting.

Here's some I like:

click

click

click

~lily

I don't use this all the time, only when I'm in need of some sorceress vibe walking my plunnie

"


For a more mournful warrior tone:

"

youtu.be/qyXkd6v_ppc

Because Im in a trancey mood today and wanted to share.

Ohh some of those are really helpful! New stuff is always good! I agree that instrumental stuff is extremely awesome so here's a few I like:






and finally, one that has...well, sort of has lyrics (and is also quite emo - but ah, the piano at the beginning!):

How about a few Japanese instrumentals?

20th Century Music FTW~
The first three are quite... um... extreme. The last three are more... enjoyable to listen to as a whole? But the first two are my loves.

This is absolutely my favorite song to write to (for dark scenes anyway).

I listen to cello music, and there is none better than the master himself yo-yo ma. It helps relax my mind so that everything just flows better. I also love DJ Okiwara. Both are just total, total win.

[img]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0gPBb14Rh8[/img]


[img]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUsbHshkiJU[/img]

I love this topic. Well, here are some instrumentals I've listened to recently.

Benjamin Kuli - Last Hero


Found this via DA yesterday. I think it might be from videogame. There's also links to related videos by the same user, also instrumentals.

Moondance - Nightwish


One of my favorite bands.

Well I dunno about writing, but when I need to concentrate or study I usually listen to classical music. Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Vivaldi, Pachelbel are on my top faves. Here is something I'm listening to right now that I find concentration enhancing.


It's Mendelssohn Violin Concerto



Hope it helps

I don't have a link to it but I listen to it a lot.

It's Uninstall by Boesgaard, which is a trance piano mix of the song Uninstall by Chiaki Ishikawa. It's on youtube if you can find it, my computer doesn't like that site though sorry. Crashes whenever I open it.

EDIT: I just found these but they are great. They do a lot of soundtrack music for anime and video games. The group is called Elements Garden, it's all some really good instrumental stuff.