Comments on: Musical Motivation

By: Belinda

Belinda — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:22:49 +0000

Like most folks here, I listen to different music for different results. Most recently I had to write some copy about a company that pegged itself as being “a little off centre” …. so I popped on Flights of the Concords and it put me in just the right frame of mind!

My Monday morning “wake and get workin” album at the moment is Florence and The Machine. You can’t beat a some good drums to get the momentum of the week rollin!

By: Mike Vardy

Mike Vardy — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:03:51 +0000

Thanks, Coe.

I’m listening to a wide array of music right now as I work: Third Eye Blind, Jonathan Coulton, some ambient creative music (called Ghostly Essentials) and – yep – even music from Glee.

I’m a “geek” and a “Gleek” – and have no problem admitting that!

By: Coe Douglas

Coe Douglas — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:00:38 +0000

Mike-

Really fantastic post. I love to write to John Coltrane. Something about his music just puts me in that creative space. If not Trane, I like Elliott Smith or indie rocker Dan Wallace for motivation.

Also, I used to keep a Collings acoustic guitar in my office and when I got stuck or needed creative inspiration I’d play. A guitar is a great way to cultivate creative energy.

By: Leo

Leo — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:38:57 +0000

When i am developing i get something loud, Metal Hard Rock, Screamo…they say i am crazy but it works for me..

By: ReveK

ReveK — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:45:40 +0000

“Rock, rock ’till you drop, Rock, rock never stop”, Def Leppard…

Nice post! Indeed music goes with your mood and / or the task you have to perform. (And definitely Rock (that large family), fits well pretty all the time).

These days if feel “punk”, so some great tunes are playing in my ears (SilverChair, Clash, Nina Hagen, and of course “Les Bérus” (Béruriers noirs).

But when I really need concentration, as when I’m writing a quality procedure or do graphic design, Techno works fine. Goa works really fine. The electronic loops, “weird” sounds and fast beats just kind of free my mind to increase my concentration.

When I’m waiting in an airport, or walking these huge corridors, techno is great, too. Fast trance music makes me feel a sort of astronaut floating around.
And when I need to be alone, quiet, some minimalist music do the job.Philip Glass, John Adams, or that french pianist Erik Satie…

By: Luís

Luís — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:50:44 +0000

Seu Jorge rocks

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:30:58 +0000

Try coding with this in the background:

Underworld – Dark & Long (Dark Train)

Watch productivity sore!

By: Jens P. Berget

Jens P. Berget — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:09:21 +0000

I enjoy rock as well, but I also enjoy all sorts of music. Hence, I’m using Spotify on my computer while I’m writing.

What I’m listening to all depends on the mood I’m in. Sometimes I like it rough, sometimes not. It varies.

But, one of my all time favorite bands are Queen. They always deliver when I’m writing.

By: rafael armstrong

rafael armstrong — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:23:47 +0000

For me, the music that gets a good rhythm going (pardon the pun) is usually a combo of ska (mostly 2Tone and Spanish bands) and blues (folks like Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, koko Taylor). Occasionally metal helps to kick things off (BTW– AC/DC’s catalog is, IMO, PERFECT driving music), and “classic” salsa (think El Gran Combo and Héctor Lavoe) keeps things going.

Now, if I happen to be working late into the night, ambient usually helps me focus.

By: katchja

katchja — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:14:39 +0000

Well the message of the song is extremely important to me.
I guess I build vivid mental images around the lyrics of the song and start my days by recreating my mood through music.
If I’m in a trip I will want to “run, tear the walls that hold me inside”
If I need to bring myself together and get things done I will even start singing to myself “You’ve gotta be strong, you’ve gotta be calm, you’ve gotta be wiser…”