Music to work by

[rockdog]

Lately I have been favoring Peter Gabriel's music whenever I start doing anything creative. Before the 'Peter G' phase, it was techno/dance music, and before that I think it was Tori Amos. This got me to wondering how it works for other creative/artistic types.

Does the music you listen to while designing, creating, etc change from period to period or do you have favorite genres or artists you always listen to? (I know one oil painter who always listens to Joni Mitchell, to each their own I guess)

Or do you find music distracting from your creative process?

I was just curious how it works for others

[MmSuperMario]

There are two things I listen to while working, Amy Winehouse and Videogame Music. ONly two things I could draw to.

[Abraxsis]

Honestly, I listen to whatever I can sing along with, and with this weird ability to remember the words of songs after hearing them once or twice, that alot lol. I do however lean towards punk and newer stuff. Not a huge country fan other than 2 exceptions ... Strawberry Wine by Deanna Carter and I dont have to be me till Monday by Steve Azar. Strawberry Wine was the song that I first danced with Lindsay in High School, she was the love of my life (until high school was over anyway) and the second one is just a great song, country or otherwise.

Primarily my favorite band in the world is Unwritten Law, and especially the album "Elva." Only album where I can truly say that I like EVERY song on the album. I could listen to Elva a couple times a day and it never gets old. Just awesome music.

My co-workers find it annoying when I find a song thats really getting me going, cause I just set it to repeat and let the creative juices fly.

[Stampyhead]

I can't listen to music while I work. I find it too distracting.

[shecky]

http://www.designobserver.com/archives/035704.html

[riscy]

When I'm typing a long doc I usually play some Prodigy and my WPM goes through the roof ;)

Edit: oops just noticed where this was posted ie Graphics - sorry :)

[kingslod]

Deadlines require Spoon!

Normal work is always enhanced by something ambient. Listening to "Stars of the Lid" right now... pretty cool. Also anything with a good beat and not too many lyrics: Caribou, Animal Collective, Panda.

For me: Design is always better and more fun with music!

[Z.Beeblebrox]

I put my iTunes on random shuffle and let the fun begin. I love being surprised by those songs I haven't played in forever or those tracks I skip over and forget to listen to. I also dig my playlist of Broadway Musical soundtracks.

[aldog]

Depends on where I'm at in the drawing. But most of the time I listen to harder electronic rock, I guess post hardcore is the best term to describe what I listen to

Enter Shikari
Victim Effect
Hadouken!
Paramore (a little)

but then other times I go to things like
The Brobecks
Love You Long Time
The Bravery
The Killers (sawdust)
Hannah Montana...it's great.


some of those are local bands, but they're great.

[dopey220]

I've got some Ben Folds Five going right now.

[tMac85]

Explosions in The Sky. No words just simple calm creative indie tunes...

[7on]

I can't listen to music while I work. I find it too distracting.

Haha, I worked on a painting yesterday in front of the tv watching LOST :p

But that aside: The Bravery, OK GO, Fettes Brot, The Killers, Daft Punk, Futuristic Sex Robotz

Anything with a fast beat really

[Wee Beastie]

I can listen to pretty much anything in my collection--whatever I am into at the moment. I prefer to use my headphones, unless I have the office to myself. I usually just play my iPod on shuffle or listen to Pandora.com (http://www.pandora.com) (I recommend this site). New music with really engaging lyrics distracts me a bit...but then again so does MacRumors. :p I prefer to always have music playing, but on days when I am really busy I'll catch myself working for a 1-2 hr stretch with no music, and I'll think, "what the hell am I doing?!" and throw my headphones on a rock out.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Sirius radio channels: First Wave, Lithium, Alt Nation, Left of Center, Symphony Hall, Sirius Pops.

[devincco]

As I was reading this, I kept in mind what was playing. Outkast, Hootie and the Blowfish then Mark Knopfler. So a little bit of everything. Just as long as it keeps me from becoming brain dead.

[TooFastForLove]

Dj Shadow - ...Endtroducing

[mperkins37]

Fugazi, strangelight, Cashout,
Deftones - all
Warren Haynes/Govt Mule
Les Paul
Steve Vai

[Nuks]

For some reason I always seem to put on Charlemagne Palestine- "Strumming Music" whenever I design. It's engrossing music, the kind that gets the creative juices flowing but at the same time, it doesn't scream for my attention. It allows me to concentrate on what I'm doing. Other than that, usually just shuffle in iTunes: stuff like The Constantines, Battles, Daniel Johnston, Low, My Bloody Valentine.. I tend not to listen to heavier music while I design....

[Krebstar]

El Ten Eleven, which is the best band heard in the film Helvetica, just edging out The Album Leaf.

I usually listen to anything instrumental/experimental/post rock.

[rhett7660]

I put my iTunes on random shuffle and let the fun begin.

Bingo,, that is what I do. I have a lot of music that ranges from Death Metal to Classical to broadway. Good mixture!

[Dagless]

I work to Tangerine Dream mostly, and if I'm working on my game then I'll play the OST I and a friend worked on.

[shecky]

depends, but for working its usually :

underworld
zero7
lemon jelly
boards of canada
air
etc...

and some Manchester Alternative like:

Stone Roses
Joy Division
A Certain Ratio
Charlatans
Happy Mondays
Smiths
etc...

[JasonElise1983]

lately i've been bouncing between a few things, and they definately change the way i work.

Bon Iver - gives me a laid back feel and lets the creativity come at it's own pace. Helps me figure out "clean and simple" faster.

The Presets - gets my creative juices flowing full throttle and some really interesting things come out of it.

those are really my main two this week. I listen to lots of stuff though, but those really get me going right now.

-JE

[CRSpeedy]

Country.

I listen to it all day long while working.

[scotty96LSC]

Select party shuffle and go at it.

[GSMiller]

When I'm working at the computer and people are in the next room talking I usually play some Amy Winehouse.

[StrongBad]

Explosions in The Sky. No words just simple calm creative indie tunes...

couldn't agree more. try Isis (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=201321919&id=201321862&s=143441) if you need a little more sludge with your rock.

[MindBrain]

Tool, Radiohead, The Doors

[semiconstructiv]

Muse, Radiohead, Kelly Rudick, and Some ambient tracks I've made. but, I usually listen anything on my itunes. MUSIC is key for me. when it comes to designing.

[PHX-Locksmith]

I like to listen to a little Amon Tobin.

[rockdog]

I picked up Hydra by Iris today, not bad if you like that sort of music.
I think I have a new album to listen too for a while :)

[covisio]

The sound of money dropping into a cash register - and I'm not talking Pink Floyd :rolleyes:

[ruskiwi]

Enigma - great background music without distracting lyrics, or some Classic Chillout mixes so I don't get stuck with the same artist all the time. Strawpeople. Sting. Jean-Michel Jarre (but only the recent stuff, not the really old ones).

[pmbooks]

Groove Salad

[skyton]

couldn't agree more. try Isis (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=201321919&id=201321862&s=143441) if you need a little more sludge with your rock.

totally!
i went to a festival they curated a few weeks back
awesome music

also mono, godspeed! you black emperor, silver mount zion, etc, etc...

[PCMacUser]

Jeff Buckley
Pearl Jam
Cat Stevens
Elliott Smith
AIR
Sigur Ros
Portishead

I suppose there are others, but that's all that comes to mind right now. Perhaps these artists work for me because they take you on a journey...

Whenever I listen to 'Black' by Pearl Jam, I want to paint something.

[davisjw]

I listen to a variety, at the moment that includes heavily: Velvet Underground, Alice Cooper, Charlie Brown Jr. (Brazilian rap/ rock), some FIFA 08' random toons ummm Better Than Ezra, some others that don't come to mind.

I usually zone out when I'm really cruising along so something with a good beat is fine with me. Listening to music also gets me in a mood so if I have to work on something sad I'll go for some lighter music, something blazing with stuff I prefer rock, etc.

When I'm trying to come up with something however I prefer silence and reading but while I'm just randomly listening to music I can come up with some cool ideas without meaning too.

[bartelby]

When I'm in work I listen to all sorts. Recently I've been listening to a lot of Philip Glass.