In Painting the Past: A Guide for Writing Historical Fiction, I waxed poetic about how I love to listen to music as a way to get into the mindset of my story while I’m writing. Sometimes I listen to whatever I want. Sometimes I listen to music inspired by the time or the mood I’m writing about. 

I’m currently immersed in my Dark Academia novel. Luckily for me, there are some wonderful options for creating playlists, especially on YouTube and Spotify, to get into the Dark Academia mood. Some of my choices for Dark Classical music are pieces I already have since I love classical music. 

When I sit down to write my novel, complete with a secret library, secret rituals, and competing scholars, the music allows me to slip easily into that world. As I’m listening, I’m transported to a dimly lit corridor, a Gothic mansion, or a cottage by the raging sea. Listening to music while I’m writing helps to evoke the right mood and gives my imagination cues about where to go.

Why a Playlist Helps

Music helps to immerse me in the world of my story.  If we want our readers to fall into our fictional worlds, we, the writers, must fall in first so we can lead the way. My Dark Academia playlist creates a doorway that leads me into that world. 

Dark Academia is about melancholy. It’s about music in minor keys with slow builds or unexpected dissonance. Having a go-to soundtrack makes it easier for me to slip into that mind space when I’m writing because when I hear the music, I know it’s time to get to work. Mainly, I love music because it helps me get the right emotions onto the page. 

My Dark Classical Playlist

When I listen to Dark Academia music, I love brooding strings and a minor-key piano. Here are some of my favorites.

Chopin, Nocturne in C-sharp Minor (melancholy)
Rachmaninoff, Prelude in C-sharp Minor (stormy crescendos)
Max Richter, On the Nature of Daylight (more melancholy; a lot by Richter will do for Dark Academia)
Arvo Part, Spiegel im Spiegel (meditative)
Clint Mansell, Lux Aeterna (dark intensity)
Agnes Obel, Riverside (ethereal vocals)
The Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis, Spem in alium (ethereal vocals)

Chant by the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos (which I’ve had since 1994) also has some good Dark Academia vibes. I also love listening to movie soundtracks for their atmospheric effect. Some of my favorites are from the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice, the 2019 version of Little Women, Wolf Hall, and, of course, one of my all-time favorites, Harry Potter. 

YouTube Has Great Ambiance

There are some wonderful ambiance videos on YouTube that not only have Dark Academia music but also a matching scene to ponder. Here are some of my favorite ambiance videos with music.

Victorian House Private Library

The Winter Library

Mystical Winter Manor

Dark Classical Academia

You’re Writing Your Masterpiece

Dark Academia at the Ocean’s Edge

Dark Academia Piano and Cello

This is a very short list. You can find many more to choose from here. 

Spotify

If you prefer to listen only and don’t need the ambiance, here are two Spotify playlists I’ve been enjoying.

Dark Academia Writing Music This is a mostly instrumental collection of piano and strings.

Dark Academia Writing Music I love this one. It’s perfect for when I want to hear something with more intensity. 

For me, creating a playlist to write to is part of the fun of writing a novel. I know that we like to focus on what’s hard about writing, and it can be quite hard at times. But leaning into the fun things, like finding books about our topic, visiting places similar to our stories, listening to music that puts us in the time, place, and mood of our worlds, all of it can help make the writing process more interesting, and dare I say fun. Writing should be something that we look forward to getting back to. Music is one of my own personal doorways into creativity. 

Think about what music you might listen to along your journey. What songs or playlists will carry you into the world of your story?