In addition to being the author of the upcoming (epic) An Ember In The Ashes, Sabaa Tahir is a bit of a music nerd (hello friend) and she’s here today to share a sample of her writing playlist. Ember was a really visual read for me which is kind of weird because I’m not generally the kind of reader that paints vivid brain paintings as I go. Sometimes it felt more like watching a movie than reading a book so I’m quite excited to have a soundtrack to round out the experience.
I’ll let Sabaa take it from here.
To make a playlist limited to 15 songs is actually painful to me. So there are 22 songs on this list. SORRY. But really, you should commend me on my self-control, because the full EMBER playlist has 200 songs on it. These ones were the most influential from 2007-2013, when I wrote the book.
1. Outro by M83
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDoEqBas4Y0
2. The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves
3. Wicked Blood by Sea Wolf
4. Map of the Problematique by Muse
5.Ways to Go by Grouplove
6. Seether by Veruca Salt
7. I’m With You by The Stills
8. Somewhat Damaged by Nine Inch Nails
9. Ghostcity by Thomas Azier
10. Break Me Gently by Doves
11. Love Is Blindness by Jack White (cover)
12. Woe Is Me…I Am Ruined by The Lonely Forest
13. Tornado by Jonsi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pc2A66m7Zg
14. Neighborhood #3 by Arcade Fire
15. Screaming Bloody Murder by Sum 41
16. You by Radiohead
17. Comeback Kid by Sleigh Bells
18. Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols
19. I’m a Goner by Matt & Kim/Soulja Boy/Andrew W.K.
20. Blow Away by A Fine Frenzy
21. Metamorphosis One by Philip Glass
22. Tell Me (Clock Opera Remix) by Au Revoir Simone
About The Book
Available for pre-order | Goodreads
I WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING I TELL EVERY SLAVE.
THE RESISTANCE HAS TRIED TO PENETRATE THIS SCHOOL COUNTLESS TIMES. I HAVE DISCOVERED IT EVERY TIME.
IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE RESISTANCE, IF YOU CONTACT THEM, IF YOU THINK OF CONTACTING THEM, I WILL KNOW
AND I WILL DESTROY YOU.
Laia is a slave.
Elias is a soldier.
Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
[about-author]
Frannie Pan @ Frannie in the Pages
Loved this book so so much!! And I always like a music background while reading a book, so when I’ll pick this beauty up once again and re-read it (it will happen soon enough, i can tell already!) I’ll listen to these songs! Thanks! 😀
Olivia @ Fluttering Pages
Great post!
I am SO PUMPED to read An Ember In The Ashes. I always have music going in the background, so this was super cool and helpful!
Layla
Ah! I love getting a glimpse of people’s playlists (even more so when they’re connected to a book I loved). This is great – I remember having the Jack White song in particular on repeat when The Great Gatsby came out two (?) years ago.