I have just returned from my first writing conference in years, like pre-Pandemic years. I attended the Kauai Writers Conference in Lihue, Hawaii. It goes without saying that the scenery was ridiculously gorgeous, but that wasn’t the inspirational part. The inspiration came from being around hundreds of other writing geeks, storytellers just longing to share with the world everything our big, beautiful brains had come up with. And that’s basically it, I just want my stories to be heard. If I won the lottery tomorrow, sorry, that’s WHEN I win the lottery, I will still be doing this exactly as I am now. I dream of letting my characters live. In addition to the conference, I am at an amazing time in my life. After years of increasing unhappiness, I am me again, happy and dreaming. It’s amazing that there is a real life scenario in which you no longer feel the boot on your neck until its weight is finally off of you. I am a full-time writer now and just in the last four months of being full-time I can see the benefits, both in my craft and in my business decisions. I am dreaming up stories again and it is glorious.
In celebration of this storytelling spirit and the fire that the conference gave me, I thought that for this week’s Musical Monday I would share a haunting story. This week’s song is The Poet and The Muse by The Old Gods of Asgard or the Poets of The Fall, depending upon your viewpoint. They are, in fact, the same band. The Old Gods of Asgard are featured in the Alan Wake video games which I have not yet played, but sound amazing. (Also, why has no one made a movie out of these games???) They are a fictional heavy metal band who play gorgeous, otherworldly music which helps with the world building in the Alan Wake games. The real world version of The Old Gods of Asgard are The Poets of The Fall. Poets are an actual heavy metal/alternative band from Finland. Yes, Finland again for the win. (Seriously, we need to see what they are putting in that country’s water. It’s a nation whose heavy metal badassery is batting way out of their weight class. So many good bands! Also, sorry for the mixed metaphors there.)
Poets of the Fall are modern day troubadours. I adore them. It is not just the, forgive the obvious statement, the poetry. It’s not just the beautiful music. No, let’s call a spade a spade. Their lead singer, Marko Saaresto, has been gifted with the silkiest, most beautiful tone to his voice. It’s literally spell binding. I actually enjoy the band less when they do something harder as his voice is so amazing with a slower, more emotion/romance laden song. All the musicians are really good and their song writing is absolutely on point. I have a few all time favorites from them.
The video that I am posting from YouTube is actually the one from the Alan Wake game. For those who have played the game, it’s the backstory of Thomas’ wife, the lake and the dark power that holds them prisoner. Also, allegedly it gives the key to defeating this dark power and releasing Tom’s wife. As a fantasy writer, I may just have to play this game!
Please enjoy… and turn the volume up. Marko’s voice is truly unique.
