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Fantastic tunes to listen to help write more and focus

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I listen to tunes when I write. This is often to drown out the noise of fellow humans, but I also really like it and it can induce flow state. And everyone loves a good flow state.

It also goes without saying that nearly everyone loves music. I just checked and found that apparently 3% to 5% don’t like music so listening to tunes might not be ideal for them – but there are alternatives. More on that in a sec.

I am always on the look out for new music and playlists for writing. I have a ton of tunes on a Spotify playlist specifically for writing. But it doesn’t end there, as I sometimes listen to ambient noises or awesome apps like Brain.fm. (If you click on that link I get a small fee and you can use promo code – JasonWardWriter – to get 20% off.)

After scouring Reddit, I started building a list. Then, I asked all the writers on Substack what they listened to and the response was enthusiastic. You can see all the recommendations by clicking this link and looking at the Notes.

I should warn you right now, this post is not going to look pretty but you are almost guaranteed to like something. (Unless you’re one of the 3% to 5% who hates music, in which case it will suck.)

Top tunes for writing

I cannot stress enough how subjective this is and how many different answers I got. Some were definitely not for me, but several options came up repeatedly.

What some liked but I don’t

The options that were not for me were silence (anything but silence!), and general music with lyrics. Some people listened to weird clips on YouTube that were just a couple of minutes long on repeat. Others listened to power metal. I love metal, but it definitely doesn’t help me write or get in the zone.

I am somewhat randomly connected as a friend of the author Stephen Leather on Facebook (we were both journalists in Hong Kong, Bangkok, and London and know some of the same people, but I’ve never met him). He writes with the TV on, which is pretty hard core.

What people generally agreed on

Most, like me, prefer tunes or noises with no lyrics. The most popular genres—film and game soundtracks — are ones I had read about in articles as being good for productivity.

When asking, I mentioned that my go-to film soundtracks were Blade Runner and Tron: Legacy. The game soundtracks I use are Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Cyberpunk 2077. I guess I like ambient synth.

Here are some of the suggestions I got from Substack:

  • Futurescapes – ambient sci-fi playlists.
  • Guild of Ambience 
  • Jean Dawson
  • Crystal Castles
  • Indie for Weirdos on Spotify
  • Eluveitie, Cruachan, and Suidakra – Celtic Folk Metal.
  • Neutral (dark fold band)
  • Soundtracks:
  • How to train your dragon
  • Interstellar
  • Stellaris
  • Conan
  • All Quiet on the Western Front
  • All John Carpenter (guy recommended the Fog)
  • 1979 by Deru/ Max Richter/ Ghost in the Shell ambient music (original film)
  • Classical:
  • Brahms.
  • Dark classical playlist on Spotify.

I then asked ChatGPT for some recommendations for game soundtracks. Here is what I got I got.

Ambient and Atmospheric Soundtracks

  • EVE Online – A soothing mix of sci-fi ambient soundscapes, perfect for deep focus.
  • No Man’s Sky – Spacey, chill music with a meditative feel, great for zoning in.
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind / IV: Oblivion / V: Skyrim – Beautiful orchestral pieces with soft melodies that enhance concentration.
  • Journey – Emotional and inspiring, but not too overwhelming.
  • ABZÛ – A dreamy, underwater atmosphere that keeps you relaxed.

Orchestral and Cinematic Scores

  • Halo Series (especially ODST & Reach) – Epic yet ambient tracks that feel cinematic but not distracting.
  • Ori and the Blind Forest / Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Soft, emotional, and uplifting.
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Calm Exploration Tracks) – Some tracks are grand, but the softer ones (like “Kaer Morhen”) are fantastic for background focus.

Electronic and Synthwave

  • Deus Ex: Human Revolution & Mankind Divided – Dark cyberpunk synths, great for deep work.
  • Mirror’s Edge – A mix of ambient electronic music and soft beats for a smooth focus boost.
  • FEZ – 8-bit-inspired electronic ambiance that’s oddly hypnotic.
  • Mass Effect Trilogy (especially Mass Effect 1 & 2) – Futuristic, minimal synth-heavy music that’s atmospheric and great for working.
  • Cyberpunk 2077 (Ambient and Chill Mixes) – Not the high-energy tracks, but the ambient background music fits well for focus.

Chill Loops & Strategy Game Music

  • Civilization Series (especially IV, V & VI) – A mix of world music and orchestral themes that are pleasant without being overwhelming.
  • Stellaris – Grand sci-fi ambiance with a slow, immersive feel.
  • Anno 1800 – Relaxing orchestral and instrumental themes for calm focus.
  • The Sims (Build Mode Music from Sims 1, 2 & 3) – Surprisingly chill and great for productivity.
  • Frostpunk – Melancholic but immersive music for deep focus.

Chiptune & Minimalist Game Soundtracks

  • Celeste (B-Sides & Piano Collection) – Calming piano and lo-fi electronic elements.
  • Undertale (Chill and Ambient Tracks) – Some tracks are chaotic, but softer ones like “Waterfall” are great.
  • Stardew Valley – Light and repetitive in a way that can be helpful for background focus.
  • Animal Crossing Series – Soft, happy, and easygoing tunes for a relaxed workflow.

A couple of other options

The are other options I use if I want some low-key tunes or generally pleasant noises.

  • YouTube has some great binaural beats options. These help me get in the flow state, but might do nothing for you.
  • Low-fi girl on YouTube features endless low-fi tunes, that are really good to work to.
  • Brandon Sanderson has a playlist on Spotify that I listen to pretty regularly.

A special mention goes to Brain.fm, which I use all the time. It is based on science and it creates soundscapes, ambiet tunes and more, all specifically designed to help you focus, or chill out or whatever.

In fact, I am such a fan of Brain.fm, I became an affiliate. If you want to see what they do you can click on this link – it doesn’t cost you a thing, and if you use promo code – JasonWardWriter – you will get a 20% discount, which is well worth it.

So there you go. Tons of tunes to write to. I still haven’t listened to all the suggestions yet, which means I have more fun ahead.

I hope this helped someone.

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