The Soundtrack Behind Lost Souls: How Music Shaped My Writing

Something squishy is dripping into my ear-

Writing a horror novel is more than just creating characters and plot twists—it's about immersing yourself in the eerie atmosphere that the story demands.

For Lost Souls, my upcoming horror novel, the act of writing was inseparable from the music that fueled it. Music has always been a powerful tool for me, but this time, it became a constant ghoul at my side, guiding the tension, pacing, and emotional weight of the story.

In horror, atmosphere is everything. It's not just about what happens to the characters but how it makes the reader feel. When I began working on Lost Souls, I knew I needed something that could match the dark, foreboding energy of the story. As I wrote, I searched for the perfect soundtrack, something that could immerse me in the world of my novel, pulling me deeper into its haunting embrace.

After experimenting with various genres, I discovered a piece of music that perfectly aligned with the tone I was trying to set. The soundtrack became an essential part of my writing process, affecting everything from the pacing of my prose to the emotional intensity of the scenes. It wasn’t just background noise—it was mood, atmosphere, and, in many ways, the emotional heartbeat of Lost Souls.

Finding the Perfect Soundtrack

It might sound a little strange, but when I'm writing, the right music often acts as a "mood generator." For Lost Souls, I wanted something haunting, ethereal, and intense—music that would allow me to crawl into the dark places of my mind and experience the fear, confusion, and dread that my characters were going through.

I stumbled upon a track that immediately resonated with the novel’s themes. The haunting piece can be found here, and as soon as I pressed play, something shifted in me. The music was a perfect marriage of eerie, atmospheric soundscapes and rising tension. It felt like the heartbeat of a hidden world just waiting to be discovered.

This track had an almost visceral effect. The slow, pulsing rhythm and the otherworldly tones fit the vibe of Lost Souls like a glove. It was as if the music spoke directly to the emotions I was trying to convey through my words. In fact, the music didn’t just influence the way I wrote—it almost dictated it. Every beat, every layer of sound, seemed to guide me through the darker corners of the narrative, where I could feel the tension building in every sentence.

The Role of Atmosphere in Writing Horror

Atmosphere is one of the most crucial elements in horror fiction. Without it, the scares can feel shallow and unearned. Lost Souls is a psychological horror story, with plenty of twists and turns, but the key to its tension lies in the constant sense of dread that pervades every scene. Music is one of the most powerful tools I have to create that atmosphere. It sets the mood, guiding the emotional journey of both the characters and the reader.

When I listened to the track I chose, I found that it enhanced my ability to feel the story rather than just write it. The music provided an emotional undercurrent that I could tap into, even during moments of uncertainty in my writing process. In horror, there are often moments when the writer has to walk a fine line between showing too much and leaving enough to the imagination. The music helped me keep that balance. It created a tension in the background that seeped into my writing, nudging me to write with more urgency or subtlety, depending on the scene.

In particular, the track’s gradual crescendos and sharp breaks helped me build suspense. Each time the music swelled, I could feel the stakes rising in the narrative. When it dropped to something eerie and quiet, I knew it was time to add a moment of silence—an opportunity for the reader to take a breath before the next jolt of terror. The music guided me in the pacing of these moments, teaching me when to build up and when to pull back.

Writing Emotional Moments with Music

One of the most powerful things that music does for me as a writer is help me connect with the emotional depth of my characters. Lost Souls features characters who are trapped between life and death, struggling to break free from their pasts. Their emotional journeys are deeply tied to their fears, regrets, and unresolved trauma. It was essential for me to channel those raw emotions into the writing.

The music I listened to while writing Lost Souls had a profound impact on how I approached these emotional moments. In scenes where the characters were at their most vulnerable or desperate, the haunting tones of the track helped me dig deeper into those feelings. It was almost like the music gave voice to the unspoken parts of the story—the things the characters couldn’t express out loud. It helped me build empathy for them, which in turn made their experiences more authentic and moving.

There were moments when I would stop writing and simply listen to the music, allowing myself to absorb the emotions it was evoking. The eerie, suspenseful atmosphere would settle into my bones, and I would then return to the page, knowing exactly how to channel that feeling into my writing.

Music as a Creative Catalyst

For many writers, music is a way to focus and get into the creative zone. For me, it’s also a way to unlock deeper layers of creativity. As I wrote Lost Souls, I found that the music became a catalyst for inspiration. Some of my most unexpected and chilling plot twists came to me during the moments when I was deeply immersed in the soundtrack. The music opened up spaces in my mind that I hadn’t even realized existed.

This track wasn’t just a tool for atmosphere—it became an integral part of the creative process itself. It helped me transcend the typical limitations of writing and allowed me to embrace the unknown. The music inspired me to take risks with my narrative, to push the boundaries of horror and challenge my own expectations of the genre. It encouraged me to write with a rawness and intensity I hadn’t experienced before.

The Final Product: A Novel Shaped by Sound

As Lost Souls nears its release, I can’t help but reflect on the deep connection between my writing process and the music that guided it. Without that soundtrack, the novel would have been a very different experience—less atmospheric, less emotionally intense, and perhaps less authentic. The music became as much a part of the novel as the words on the page.

I invite you to take a listen to the track that shaped the novel and see how it influences your own perception of the story. For me, it was more than just music—it was an essential tool in crafting a story that I hope will terrify, haunt, and captivate you. As you await the release of Lost Souls, I encourage you to immerse yourself in the soundtrack that helped create it. I hope it helps you experience the same eerie, unsettling energy that I felt while writing.

Thank you Kevin for creating this piece and sharing it with the world.

You can listen to the track here: