Music to Write By: CryoChamber

For those of you who have yet to discover the wonders of ambient music for writing and inspiration, wait no longer! By definition, ambient music is, "a style of instrumental music with electronic textures and no persistent beat, used to create or enhance a mood or atmosphere." Think of ambient music as a kind of soundscape for your writing world, like the musical themes in video game levels. They set a specific tone and since they tend to be long and generally neutral (there aren't many "drops" or severe changes in pace or sound) they can really help to get your mind in the right state for writing.

There are numerous varieties, sounds, and themes within ambient music, from nature and relaxation, to dark and industrial. With my book being a steampunk thriller, I definitely lean more towards the latter, and have been obsessed with finding good dark ambient music with a subtle creepy vibe to write to.

Enter CryoChamber, a dark ambient label with track after track of amazing work all available for a listen on their Bandcamp. The songs they put out are downright beautiful, and have an epic cinematic sound. Not to mention there is enough variety for just about any mood. It's hard to pick a favorite from among them, but luckily most (if not all) of their albums are available for unlimited streaming on Bandcamp.

As CryoChamber is just the label, there are many different artists represented on their Bandcamp. Among my favorites is Halgrath, whose album The Whole Path of War and Acceptance is quite unlike anything I've heard before. While all of the songs therein paint beautiful emotional pictures (the album's focus is upon the artist's inner struggles and transformations), the song The Opposite Mind and Mutuality is among the best of bunch with its tribal-esque percussion and eerie vocals.

So steep yourself a cup of tea and grab your pen, pencil, type-writer, or keyboard. Give a few albums a listen and you won't be disappointed.