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There’s no better feeling than getting cosy in a chair with a warming drink to start the next book on your endlessly growing TBR. Nearly all of your senses are occupied, but what’s missing? Something to listen to.
A somewhat controversial topic among the bookish community, listening to music while reading is a divisive act, to say the least. Some readers require full melodic immersion, while others prefer stone-cold silence. In the latter camp? What if we told you that music could add to your experience greatly, setting the mood and deepening focus? Enhancing reading with music is scientifically proven to help with memory, retention, and even reading speed in some cases.
At Victoria Freudenheim, we’ve got some great instrumental soundtracks, ambient sounds, and curated playlists to enhance your reading experience. Read on for tracks that will transport you to a fantasy forest, set you off on a romantic beach holiday, or dare you to enter a creepy old mansion with secrets to tell.
There are plenty of reasons to listen to music whilst you immerse yourself in the land of your chosen novel. From exploring new kingdoms to elaborate scenes of battle, your authors have worked tirelessly hard with their descriptions to make you feel you are watching the story in front of your eyes. But, by adding another sensory layer to your reading experience, you take yourself further into the narrative’s settings.
Listening to music whilst reading can also:
Let’s take a look at what you could be listening to when reading your favourite genres.
If you’ve delved into a magical world full of enchanted forests with majestic mythical beasts looming around the corner, it sounds like you’re in for an epic treat. So, why not supplement it with an awe-inspiring soundtrack from your most beloved fantasy films? For example, if you’re reading The Lord of the Rings, try playing Howard Shore’s soundtrack to the movie adaptation.
Want something to help keep your pace high whilst reading fantasy? Because of the lack of rest commonly associated with Celtic music, you can be sure not to lose your focus. Not only that, but its beautiful, ambient melodies will allow you to navigate through a busy forest of elves going to battle or brew remedies with a coven of witches.
Enhance your tales of space travel, cyberpunk cities, and dystopian futures with a generous dose of futuristic beats. Synthwave and electronic music (for example Daft Punk’s Tron: Legacy or Vangelis’ Blade Runner) can often feel like it’s out of this world – as are the wonders that our authors create for us as we lose ourselves in the lore of galactic universes.
If you’re needing something calmer to match your sci-fi vibe, why not try finding some ambient lo-fi beats? They won’t distract you, but they will certainly enhance your reading experience by drawing you in closer to a world so far from your own.
For those page-turners filled with twists, turns, and psychological drama, you can add an extra layer of intrigue and suspense with dark ambient sounds or experimental electronica.
Need something to build intensity? Try tense orchestral pieces from the soundtracks of movies such as Gone Girl and Sherlock Holmes. There are plenty of playlists on major music streaming platforms that you can try whilst finding the perfect spine-tingling rhythm.
If you like falling into a misty-eyed, dreamlike state when reading romantic novels, pair your book with a dreamy indie or acoustic vibe. If you can read with vocal music, then artists such as Bon Iver and Phoebe Bridgers can offer an ethereal atmosphere to your reading session. Often, writing about love themselves, it pairs perfectly whilst you’re rooting for your protagonist to finally get the person of their dreams.
If you struggle to concentrate with music that has lyrics, try some soft piano or jazz to add to the romantic energy of your novel. There are hour-long compilations of some amazing musicians that blend together to allow you to stay immersed and focused in the loved-up world of romance for longer too.
Do you long to escape the 21st Century for a while? Whilst you can’t actually time travel to the era of your historical fiction novel (as much as you’d like to), you can certainly transport yourself to times gone by with the right selection of music.
There are countless public playlists on streaming platforms that are designed to simulate specific historical periods, for example, this niche one on Spotify: “pov: you’re a powerful ancient deity” — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for finding the right vibe for your reading sessions.
Consider a period drama soundtrack as well — they’re usually instrumental and highly ornamental. If you want to submerge yourself in a Jane Austen classic, try the Sandition soundtrack. Reading about one of Henry VIII’s wives? Try The Tudors soundtrack for built-in tension with stringed instruments and lutes to transport you to a scandalous royal court.
If you’re planning to curate the perfect reading playlist to immerse yourself in a fantasy tavern with elves, or to raise your heartbeat over a Victorian thriller with tense orchestral music, it’s all about finding the right book to inspire you.
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