This is the only book I have ever truly written to a soundtrack. Some books have to be written with noise in the background and some have to be written to silence. This one however, which is interesting considering Rafi’s issues with silence, had to be written to a specific soundtrack that actually shaped the book. I needed these songs both for inspiration and in one case to define the end of the book. Many of them helped me to connect with particular characters. Dillon especially was formed from listening to some pivotal New Model Army tracks. So for once it wasn’t about background noise for me – these songs really are the soundtrack for Louder Than Words.
New Model Army, Purity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xOX-xy3lNo
This really is for Lara in the first instance and then for the rest of ActionX. I’d like to play this to them. This was a shaping song for the direction I took for ActionX. What I love about New Model Army is that they’d get totally behind the ActionX ideals etc but they’ll make music about the dangers of that kind of mentality too. These lines sum up Lara at her worst:
‘We've seen the restless children at the head of the columns
Come to purify the future with the arrogance of youth
Nothing is as cruel as the righteousness of innocents
With automatic weapons and a gospel of the truth’
Come to purify the future with the arrogance of youth
Nothing is as cruel as the righteousness of innocents
With automatic weapons and a gospel of the truth’
(Though when Lara is at her best, I am very fond of her as a character.)
PS You’ll have to ignore the hair in this video – it’s an oldie. Er, Justin’s teeth are
best ignored too!
The Levellers What a Beautiful Day
This one evokes Silas and Lara’s early dates, and is the song that gets me to Lara at her angry anarchist best.
New Model Army, Higher Wall
Another Lara song, but this time it’s one she would listen to herself. It’s about our treatment of those we keep on the outside of the wealth in our developed world.
James Blunt You’re Beautiful
Silas…I don’t think this one needs any explanation
New Model Army Here Comes the War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VJTy8pgdvs
Another Lara song, which would be a favourite of the whole of ActionX too. The sad thing about this song is it was written in 1992…but it could have been today. Nothing has changed.
Jewel, Hands
This is my Rafi song. It’s not always the lyrics with this one, although some fit her, but more the overall feel
(Although I think the video is lame – listen to it without looking)
New Model Army, Fate
This song is very much about Dillon. There’s a link here to the lyrics on NMA’s site:
http://www.newmodelarmy.org/index.php/the-music/lyrics/143-fate
LMFAO, Sexy and I know It
I’d play this to Toby. Now this is one you do have to watch with the video to get it. I suspectRafi would like to play it to Toby too, with a raised eyebrow and a snarky smile.
New Model Army, Lust for Power
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNha7b83pZs
This is the absolute definitive Dillon song, and a warning to the rest of ActionX. The lyrics are really important and are here at:
Tom Odell, Another Love
Before I kept hearing this song on the radio, the ending of Louder Than Words was different. By the time I’d heard this song about ten times, I realised it was telling me something about Silas and about the end of the book should be. I love this song. Rafi would love it too for it’s a very true song.
Thanks Laura! Make sure to check out the rest of the tour and pick up a copy of Louder Than Words. And you might as well get Skin Deep and By Any Other Name while you're at it. You won't regret it!
Sophie
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