Considering our purpose is to worship and glorify God, it's no surprise to me how much music impacts my writing. With each novel I write, I usually have a song or mix of songs I listen to as I write. Now, I know a lot of writers who can't listen to music while they write, but there's a certain level of music that becomes like 'white noise' to me and my characters. Kutless manages this beautifully nearly every album.
For my latest WIP, a military thriller series, I've had to push the envelope as far as I what I normally listen to. Max, the main character is a hard-edged, angry former Navy SEAL. While my favorite band is Kutless (you REALLY have to get their latests album where they return to their rock roots, although I love their worship albums too!!), Max demands the 'screaming' songs, as I refer to them. Since I have a noise sensitivity due to severe TMJ, it's a challenge to listen to the screaming. LOL However, I have tried to write to lesser songs, only to find Max will not budge. I think he's a metal head, in real life. LOLOL (speaking of, when he discovers his estranged wife is pregnant with his son, he wants to name him Dillon, after Matt Dillon--again, no surprise there!).
Anyway, I was in the store the very day Kutless released their new album, TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALIVE. It wasn't until we moved (about two weeks later) and I aws trying to write on of Max's scenes that this one particular song's lyrics leapt out at me. I realized "that's Max. They're singing about Max." Okay, we won't go into the fact that MAx is a fictional character made up by me (I think). LOL So,I wanted to post a YouTube video here, but for some reason, the codes won't work. Check them out on myspace becuase the song leads the opening of the page: www.myspace.com/kutless
Be sure to post a comment and let me know if you do this too.
Here are their lyrics:
The black of night is closing in around you
The crippling fear moves in as they strap you down
Will you let a moment get the best of you
Will this situation bring you around
When the blood stains dry
Will it bring you around
Will it pass you by
Right now you're bruised and bleeding
I see the hurt within your eyes
I know your pain is for a reason
You need to feel just to know that You're alive
The days have turned to weeks but it's not over
The bandages rewind you to where you've been
These memories will remind you
When life takes you out will it bring you around
When it's said and done
Will it bring you around
What will you become
Right now you're bruised and bleeding
I see the hurt within your eyes
I know your pain is for a reason
You need to feel just to know that You're alive
