To say I was ecstatic to be a part of this blog tour does a great injustice to my feelings.
Today the talented Paula Weston, who is going to discuss her musical inspiration for Haze, is visiting the blog. But first, here is some information about the book which I demand that you read:
Title: Haze (The Rephaim #1)Author: Paula Weston
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication Date: September 9, 2014
Gaby Winters’ nightmares have stopped but she still can’t remember her old life. Still can’t quite believe she is one of the Rephaim—the wingless half-angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim’s best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed.
But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive.
And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger. -Goodreads
But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive.
And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger. -Goodreads
Before I go into the guest post, I'd like to talk about the character quiz all of those participating/contributing to the blog tour have taken. We had to answer questions, made by Paula herself, and submit our answers to find out which character we are most like, personality-wise. I'm pretty satisfied with who I got; I've always seen a bit of myself in her.
***
Musical inspiration for Haze
By Paula Weston
I generally don’t listen to music when I write, mainly because I have a tendency to get drawn into the song and lose track of what I’m trying to do on the page. But I do daydream about my characters and their scenes when I’m listening to music in the house or while driving.
So, here are a few songs I found myself listening to over and over again during the time I was writing Haze. They’re tracks that helped me get a better grip on the ‘feel’ of certain scenes, or made it easier to daydream about the Rephaim. Sometimes it’s about the music, but most often it’s the music and the lyrics that worked for me.
If you’ve read Shadows and Haze, you’ll know I’m a bit of a Foo Fighters fan, so it’s probably no surprise there are three Fooey songs here. J
- Black Water Rising Stonefield
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wv2lxPrKq4
This is an indie band of sisters from Australia. I love their retro sound and the lead singer’s voice. This song, with its driving beat and darkish mood, tends to lead me into Gaby’s headspace whether I mean to go there or not.
Breathe the rhythm of the cool wind breeze
The night's darkness soak through my skin
Light's reach was too far away for me
Black water rising through my soul…
- My Hero by Foo Fighters
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqWRaAF6_WY
This early Foo Fighters track is still one of my favorites. In Haze, Rafa has changed Gaby’s ringtone to this song, which amuses me for its irony. In live shows, the band does a stripped down version. It’s more melancholic, but also works for Gaby’s state of mind in parts of Haze. (I’ve linked to the original, but if you haven’t heard the live version, it’s worth a listen.)
Too alarming now to talk about
Take your pictures down and shake it out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
Don't the best of them bleed it out
While the rest of them peter out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
Take your pictures down and shake it out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
Don't the best of them bleed it out
While the rest of them peter out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
- Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters
This track is most famous for its film clip (the guys ham it up playing multiple roles and there’s a cameo by Tenacious D). But if you get past all that and listen to the lyrics, they’re oddly appropriate for Gaby.
I think I'm done nursing the patience
It can wait one night
I'd give it all away if you give me one last try
We'll live happily ever trapped if you just save my life
Run and tell the angels that everything's alright...
I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I'm looking for a complication
Looking 'cause I'm tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly high.
Make my way back home when I learn to...
...fly along with me, I can't quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own..
It can wait one night
I'd give it all away if you give me one last try
We'll live happily ever trapped if you just save my life
Run and tell the angels that everything's alright...
I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I'm looking for a complication
Looking 'cause I'm tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly high.
Make my way back home when I learn to...
...fly along with me, I can't quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own..
- Little Black Submarines (The Black Keys)
I love the way this song starts off melancholic and then shifts into something stronger, more take-charge. For me, that transition sums up Gaby’s journey through the Rephaim series. It’s also a bit Zeppelin-esqe, which rates high with me.
Pick you up, let you down
When I wanna go
To a place I can hide
You know me, I had plans
But they just disappeared
To the back of my mind
Oh can it be
The voices calling me
They get lost
And out of time
I should've seen a glow
But everybody knows
That a broken heart is blind
When I wanna go
To a place I can hide
You know me, I had plans
But they just disappeared
To the back of my mind
Oh can it be
The voices calling me
They get lost
And out of time
I should've seen a glow
But everybody knows
That a broken heart is blind
- Wild at Heart (Birds of Tokyo)
Birds of Tokyo is an awesome Australian band with a unique sound. This track has such a sense of longing, and the lyrics are beautifully evocative.
You know that I fought with many and I won for some
We stared at ourselves 'til our breaking point
We wear our bruises like watermarks
The life and the death of the wild at heart
When was the moment it all fell apart
With no sign of warning, no raised alarm
We still wear our bruises, we shows our scars
Forever the wild at heart
- Skin and Bones (Foo Fighters)
Another melancholic track (yes, melancholy is a theme!), this time with a sense of urgency beneath it. I love the way this song builds like a runaway train at the end. Kind of like Gaby’s journey.
Lately I've been measuring
Seems my time is growing thin
Wind me up and watch me spin
Watch me spin
Watch me spin
Skin and bones
Skin and bones
Skin and bones, don't you know?
Seems my time is growing thin
Wind me up and watch me spin
Watch me spin
Watch me spin
Skin and bones
Skin and bones
Skin and bones, don't you know?
***
And don't forget to check out Tundra's post to find out how you can win a signed, hardcover copy of Shadows and a hardcover of Haze!
And don't forget to check out Tundra's post to find out how you can win a signed, hardcover copy of Shadows and a hardcover of Haze!
This characters quiz sounds interesting, would love to read both of these books to find out about the characters.
ReplyDeleteHi Denise! You've won a copy of Shadows and Haze! Congratulations and thank you for reading all the blog tour posts. Please DM on twitter your mailing address or e-mail Tundra!
ReplyDelete