THE Q: MUSIC

[MattBrady]

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/TheQ/the_q_1.jpg" border="0" align="right"><i>by Vaneta Rogers</I>

Today Newsarama begins a series of articles asking one question to various creators -- sometimes fun, sometimes serious -- and sharing the answers with our readers. For our first attempt at measuring the pulse of the comics world, we asked a variety of creators a question about the atmosphere in their studio when they're making comics.

<b>The Q: What do you listen to when you work on comics?</b>

<b>Don Kramer (Detective Comics)</b>: "It depends. I go through phases of listening to radio, audio books, music, or talking to my friends on the phone as I work. I love audio books but I am running out of ones that I find interesting at my local library. Got any suggestions? My latest music I've been listening to is Mike Doughty, the Black Keys, the White Stripes, Rob Zombie, Jane's Addiction or the Racontours. After a time, I'll get tired of music. Then, I will listen to sports talk radio, Howard Stern or the comedy channels on Sirius. They all have a tendency to occupy my mind as I flesh out the panels, but after a time, they all become repetitive, so I feel the need to switch them up."

<b>Jay Faerber (Noble Causes)</b>: "I prefer to listen to absolutely nothing when I write. My friends think I'm dead inside, but I rarely listen to music. I mean, I'll put it on in the car sometimes, but I can make a three-hour road trip without ever once turning on the radio. When I write, I prefer complete silence - or as close to it as I can manage. It just helps me concentrate and immerse myself in the story."

<b>Mike Norton (Runaways, All-New Atom, Loaded Bible 2)</b>: "I get bored of my same ol' playlists and radio sucks, so I've been listening to a lot of podcasts. I check out shows like Comic Geek Speak, Around Comics, Diggnation, This Week in Tech."

<b>Mark Brooks (X-Men Annual, Ultimate Fantastic Four)</b>: "Other than listening to editors scream at me over the phone about pages (and believe me, I deserve it), I 'listen' to the History Channel and Court TV a lot, which is to say that it's on TV in the background while I work. For music, I listen to '80s New Wave and 'mash-ups,' which are mixes of 2 or more songs done by various DJs. It's amazing how a Christina Agualara song can be very listenable when mixed with Fugazi or Reverend Horton Heat. Also, 'Me First and the Gimme Gimmees' are an all time fave and have gotten me through so very tight deadlines."

<b>Beau Smith (Cobb: Off the Leash)</b>: "When I'm writing I usually listen to classical music or as we used to call it as kids, 'Cartoon Music.'. We called it that because through Warner Brothers and Tex Avery cartoons were about the only exposure we had to classical music. I listen to everything from Mozart to Ravel. I've got three soundtracks/scores that I play alot when writing, those being the scores to the movies Tombstone, Wyatt Earp and Open Range. The reason I like to play classical is because I can hear myself think as I write. When I've tried listening to rock, country or other genres of music, it kinda confuses my thought process and trust me, if you've read my books then you know my thought process is confused enough as it is."

<b>Sean McKeever (Spider-Man Family, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane)</b>: "Oh man, music is <i>hugely</I> important to my writing. I listen to all sorts of stuff, depending on what I'm working on...the right song can really put me in the right emotional state and even put me right in the scene. It also helps distract my mind from the blank page sitting in front of me."

<b>Liam Sharp (Testament)</b>: "These days I have about a solid week's worth of stuff uploaded on itunes and on random mix, so I never know what's coming on next, but I know I'll like it because I put it there! I guess it's 50 percent classic rock -- Metallica, Zepellin, Rush, Alice in Chains, Free, Lynyrd Skynyrd Yes, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Rainbow, a bit of Queen, and even some ELO and Boston! 30 percent various -- from Bowie and Talking Heads to The Flaming Lips, Martha and Rufus Wainwright, Anthony and the Johnsons, Arcade Fire, Elvis Costello. 10 percent classical and soundtrack, like Mussorgsky's 'Pictures From an Exhibition,' and various Spanish classics: Rodrigo, Falla, Turina. And the Basil Polidorus soundtrack to 'Conan the Barbarian!' (Now there's a classic sountrack! Seriously!) The last 10% is stuff friends like Ali Pow3rs has recorded - he's one of the Event Horizon writers, and an incredible singer songwriter. Check his MySpace! And about 2 percent of that is stuff I've done, either with Ali, or my old Deep Purple cover band, or stuff I've recorded myself. Yeah, I know you hear musicians never listen to their own stuff, but I think they're lying! Why do it if you're never going to listen to it? I tend to listen more when I'm inking - usually I pencil in silence so I can concentrate. The reason I have it on shuffle, though, is for the unexpected element. It's a very labor intensive job that we do, and extremely monotonous. Anything that helps to break that monotony is a bonus, and I can find myself going from feel-good head-banging rock to stuff that gives you pause for thought and puts a tear in your eye."

<b>Jamal Igle (Firestorm, Nightwing)</b>: "Mostly I listen to talk radio these days. I come from a fairly large family, and I'm used to having a lot of voices around me. Since I don't have a TV in my new studio yet to watch movies, I stream several different free FM stations from around the country. I listen to 92.3 WFNY in New York until about 9 p.m. then I switch over to 97.1 KLSX in Los Angeles for the rest of the night. When I work on Saturdays, I listen to the San Francisco station, or Philly, or Air America. I also listen to a lot of comics podcasts like Comic geek Speak, Supertalk Concern, Raging Bullets and The Secret Identity podcast."

[kingofcities]

Fugazi and Aggielara? I think I just felt a synapse misfire... :eek:

[KyleCowstar]

I like this.

[LaughingJak]

This is a cool new feature - bottlecaps of valor to whoever came up with it!

[The Guvnor]

Fugazi and Aggielara? I think I just felt a synapse misfire... :eek:

Me too! That's like mixing beer with bleach.

This is a cool new feature - bottlecaps of valor to whoever came up with it!

Agreed. This is a really cool feature.

[saiyanspider]

Does anyone listen to more than one type of music? I mean I can listen to rap, metal, country, hip-hop, pop, rock, latin, and not bat an eye. Why do people get stuck on one kind of music?

[kingofcities]

Does anyone listen to more than one type of music? I mean I can listen to rap, metal, country, hip-hop, pop, rock, latin, and not bat an eye. Why do people get stuck on one kind of music?

You may want to re-read the Mark Brooks response... ;)

[saiyanspider]

You may want to re-read the Mark Brooks response... ;)

this was a general question, and not directed towards any of the artists. The topic just got me thinking...

[kingofcities]

this was a general question, and not directed towards any of the artists. The topic just got me thinking...

Ahhhh, I see. Well on that level then, I agree with you. I have friends who I feel have good taste in music however they limit those tastes to a very small pool of musical styles. I never understood that. I get restless and crave new things.

[saiyanspider]

Ahhhh, I see. Well on that level then, I agree with you. I have friends who I feel have good taste in music however they limit those tastes to a very small pool of musical styles. I never understood that. I get restless and crave new things.


When I was a kid all I would listen to was rap, not I listen to just about anything. Hell I saw a commercial for "going south" music collection, and most of the songs sounded pretty good.

I can go from "In da club", to "God's gonna cut you down", to "Love is a battlefield" in no time lol

I look at people who only listen to one kind of music, then say they love music, and call them liars. Cause if they liked music they would like anything that's good. Have a favorite style is one thing, but ONLY listening to rap, r&b etc to me is completely silly. Just my opinion.

[nyhardcore]

I knew that many artists listen to music while working, but I'm surprised at how many writers can work with music in the background. I need silence when I'm writing or all of my thoughts get jumbled.

And I think most people listen to multiple genres these days. I've got over 1800 cd's in my collection, not to mention hundreds of tapes and records and of course mp3's. Everything from Classical to Willie Nelson to Bad Brains to Public Enemy to Journey to Arch Enemy. I'm all over the place.

[saiyanspider]

I knew that many artists listen to music while working, but I'm surprised at how many writers can work with music in the background. I need silence when I'm writing or all of my thoughts get jumbled.

And I think most people listen to multiple genres these days. I've got over 1800 cd's in my collection, not to mention hundreds of tapes and records and of course mp3's. Everything from Classical to Willie Nelson to Bad Brains to Public Enemy to Journey to Arch Enemy. I'm all over the place.


Now that is a hell of a mix. I like some orchestra/classical but I prefer some kind of lyrical accompaniment. I remember taking a music class in college and heard classical for the first time and thought "this is pretty bad @$$".

[ender2814]

I imagine Grant Morrison listens to Melt Banana.

And if you know Melt Banana, then that was the funniest joke you will ever hear.

[AlterEgoComics]

I have friends who I feel have good taste in music however they limit those tastes to a very small pool of musical styles. I never understood that. I get restless and crave new things.

I am one of your friends that has a very small pool of musical styles. Eh. whattya do? I'm hard wired that way.

[Michael Heide]

I imagine Grant Morrison listens to Melt Banana.

And if you know Melt Banana, then that was the funniest joke you will ever hear.
Does every song by them sound like this?
http://www.skingraftrecords.com/mp3/LP_MP3/MeltBanana_RoughDogs.mp3

And don't worry, this is not an illegal download, it's from their own record company's website.

[kingofcities]

I am one of your friends that has a very small pool of musical styles. Eh. whattya do? I'm hard wired that way.


There is more to life J than Amy Grant. :p

[dalunt]

I listen to indie rock. Some of them mentioned some good indie bands, but where are the ones listening to Modest Mouse, M83, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Menomena, etc etc etc

Chris Ryall loves the Rilo Kiley though, so that's cool.

[JRATT]

Me too! That's like mixing beer with bleach.



Agreed. This is a really cool feature.


When talkin gof fugazi one must never mention beer or drugs or meat in the same sentence or one will be crucafied by the xxxkids :)
nice feature by the way

[kingofcities]

When talkin gof fugazi one must never mention beer or drugs or meat in the same sentence or one will be crucafied by the xxxkids :)

This is not a Fugazi post.



:p

[johnchrist]

When I write or draw I prefer techno, trance, or some beats which a close friend of mine puts sells to Bay Area rappers gives me before the words get added. I find it's easier to concentrate on something without someone else's words getting in the way of my own thoughts... plus the quick, rhythmic, music gets me workign faster.
Sometimes though, if I really dig a particular song for a particular piece, I'll ust set it on replay while I work on a chapter/ page/ issue/ whatever.

[al_capone]

I look at people who only listen to one kind of music, then say they love music, and call them liars. Cause if they liked music they would like anything that's good. Have a favorite style is one thing, but ONLY listening to rap, r&b etc to me is completely silly. Just my opinion.
I know this is diverting off-topic quite a bit, but I just wanted to chime in to let you know that you're not alone. I completely agree with you 100%. I love all music and I just can't understand people who only listen to one or two categories of music and dismiss others entirely. Sometimes I listen to Rock, sometimes Hip-Hop, sometimes Classical, even tweeny Pop music sometimes. All music has something to offer and some people need to learn to be more open-minded.

Taking things back on topic, this is a very good idea for a new feature and I look forward to seeing what future questions will be asked.

[Kolimar]

Interesting article. Looking forward to the next one. :)

[Zig Zag Wanderer]

You may want to re-read the Mark Brooks response... ;)

Liam Sharp's was pretty interesting too.

Cool new feature. Looking forward to the next ones.

[Kolimar]

Does anyone listen to more than one type of music? I mean I can listen to rap, metal, country, hip-hop, pop, rock, latin, and not bat an eye. Why do people get stuck on one kind of music?

I listen to almost anything: classical, country, funk, punk, grunge, pop, rap, metal, etc. But I have a certain predilection for not-so-new fun music in general and old-fashioned rock and roll in particular. :)

Why? Because it's fun stuff I enjoy. Some because it gets my blood pumping, some because it makes feel like jumping or dancing or shouting out loud, some because it makes me smile, some because I'm depressed and want out or want to sink deeper and wallow in it. There's music for practically every single moment and facet of my life. :D

Why do you listen to the music you do? (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=99259)

[Mercury]

why do people only listen to one type of music? well, the same reason people are strongly militant and elitist about Marvel or DC: people are small-minded and simple.

i agree, theres so much to music, that really, theres only two kinds: good and bad. from motown to post-punk to hip hop to jazz, theres so much there, and its ridiculous that anyone could be so close minded and give loyalty or preference to one type of genre.


i can see though.. often someone will say "i like all kinds of music, except country and rap". i can see slightly the logic in this; as most country and rap music is so entwined with the culture it comes from, i.e, the deep south and the inner city- for people unfamiliar with those lifestyles, they could find it harder to relate to the music. just a theory.

[Ragnarokker]

Originally posted by: saiyanspider

When I was a kid all I would listen to was rap, not I listen to just about anything. Hell I saw a commercial for "going south" music collection, and most of the songs sounded pretty good.

I can go from "In da club", to "God's gonna cut you down", to "Love is a battlefield" in no time lol

I look at people who only listen to one kind of music, then say they love music, and call them liars. Cause if they liked music they would like anything that's good. Have a favorite style is one thing, but ONLY listening to rap, r&b etc to me is completely silly. Just my opinion

I liken music to a Salad bar. You wouldn't go to a salad bar and fill your plate with ranch dressing would you? Then why would you limit yourself to just one genre of music? There is so much to enjoy and so many complementary things. That to just listen to one genre is silly. So, yeah I agree.

When I am drawing I like to listen to Hip Hop (J Dilla, MF Doom, Jurassic 5, MED) or Soul music but sometimes I listen to M83 or Sigur Ros which is the equivalent to beautiful background noise. I also have an extensive collection of Video Game music. But, when I need a switch I put the old playlist on shuffle and enjoy Rilo Kiley, Eagles of Death Metal, Bloc Party, Al Green, Cat Power, NWA... whatever comes on

[Kolimar]

When I was a kid all I would listen to was rap, not I listen to just about anything. Hell I saw a commercial for "going south" music collection, and most of the songs sounded pretty good.

I can go from "In da club", to "God's gonna cut you down", to "Love is a battlefield" in no time lol

I look at people who only listen to one kind of music, then say they love music, and call them liars. Cause if they liked music they would like anything that's good. Have a favorite style is one thing, but ONLY listening to rap, r&b etc to me is completely silly. Just my opinion.

I agree. It's the same thing with comics, food, etc. There's a general narrowmindedness and unwillingness to try new, different things and open up to the experience and enjoy it. Only DC, only Marvel, only Marvel/DC, no manga, just manga, no marinated dog... :D

[SmileOnADog]

Does anyone listen to more than one type of music? I mean I can listen to rap, metal, country, hip-hop, pop, rock, latin, and not bat an eye. Why do people get stuck on one kind of music?

I agree. I can't stand it when people put down any one genre of music. There is good and bad in everything. I like everything from the Sex Pistols to REM to Chumbawamba ( not the song they played on the radio too much years ago). Even modern pop has some good stuff going on.

[ManifestFury]

I knew that many artists listen to music while working, but I'm surprised at how many writers can work with music in the background. I need silence when I'm writing or all of my thoughts get jumbled..

I need music on when I write... it blocks out all the background noise that filters in on me and focusses me on the work at hand. Good tunes that you can enjoy but sorta ignore the words to are the best. I find that generally some good blues or blues rock gets me through... I love the soaring guitars with the steady thump of the bass. Musically, I need to have Stevie Ray Vaughn, Thunder, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepperd, Los Lonely Boys, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Aerosmith, Cinderella, or Black Crowes on... Generally Thunder or SRV.

Oh, and sometimes I find that if I need to write from the angle of a certain character, I put on music that I think they would like... helps me stay in their POV.
-MF

[Arsenal3]

Fugazi and Aggielara? I think I just felt a synapse misfire... :eek:

Mash-ups are great! I will say, there are a lot that are very poorly done, but there are some absolute gems out there. And they're a great way to get introduced to some different styles and artists you'd otherwise never pay attention to. There was a real infamous one a couple years back called "The Grey Album" that mixed Jay-Z with the Beatles.

My favorite mash-up would have to be Q-Unit. It's Queen mixed with 50 Cent. Free download here:

http://www.q-unit.net/

[Arsenal3]

I need music on when I write... it blocks out all the background noise that filters in on me and focusses me on the work at hand. Good tunes that you can enjoy but sorta ignore the words to are the best. I find that generally some good blues or blues rock gets me through... I love the soaring guitars with the steady thump of the bass. Musically, I need to have Stevie Ray Vaughn, Thunder, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepperd, Los Lonely Boys, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Aerosmith, Cinderella, or Black Crowes on... Generally Thunder or SRV.

Oh, and sometimes I find that if I need to write from the angle of a certain character, I put on music that I think they would like... helps me stay in their POV.
-MF

I have very similar tastes when it comes to background music. When I was pulling all-nighters grinding out term papers, I seemed to always listen to blues rock. Some instrumental guitar stuff, too.

[Mercury]

wow, i'll have to check that out- thanks for posting the link. its got to be better than the "new" Queen album they are currently recording. ugh.

i've read about the infamous grey album but havent taken the time to listen yet. of course, the new Beatles disc, "Love" is really a mash up of sorts.. have you heard it yet?

[kossori]

I think the genre of the comic strongly influences what type of music to listen to.
However, I've learned that certain styles of music tend to make me focus on different details.
Like 70s soft rock or country makes me tune in more to backgrounds or urban deco.
Whereas stuff like Enya makes me wanna just draw trees...

[EmeraldGuy32]

good show! I really like The Q. cool concept. I'm like Jay Faerber in that I like silence when I write. Everyonce in a while I'll turn on some opera, but those instances are few and far between.

[Arsenal3]

wow, i'll have to check that out- thanks for posting the link. its got to be better than the "new" Queen album they are currently recording. ugh.

i've read about the infamous grey album but havent taken the time to listen yet. of course, the new Beatles disc, "Love" is really a mash up of sorts.. have you heard it yet?

I listed to the "Grey Album" when it first came out, and it didn't do a whole lot for me at the time. But I'm interested in giving it another listen, if I can find it!

I bought "Love" for my dad for Christmas. It's pretty decent, but really nothing new. I think it sounds more like a medley than a mashup, and you'd have to be a HUGE Beatles fan to pick out the "new" stuff (alternate takes, etc). Still, it's decent enough background music on a car trip, or when you're messing around on the computer or whatever.

[J.C. Bakken]

by Vaneta Rogers
Liam Sharp (Testament): "These days I have about a solid week's worth of stuff uploaded on itunes and on random mix, so I never know what's coming on next, but I know I'll like it because I put it there! I guess it's 50 percent classic rock -- Metallica, Zepellin, Rush, Alice in Chains, Free, Lynyrd Skynyrd Yes, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Rainbow, a bit of Queen, and even some ELO and Boston! 30 percent various -- from Bowie and Talking Heads to The Flaming Lips, Martha and Rufus Wainwright, Anthony and the Johnsons, Arcade Fire, Elvis Costello. 10 percent classical and soundtrack, like Mussorgsky's 'Pictures From an Exhibition,' and various Spanish classics: Rodrigo, Falla, Turina. And the Basil Polidorus soundtrack to 'Conan the Barbarian!' (Now there's a classic sountrack! Seriously!) The last 10% is stuff friends like Ali Pow3rs has recorded - he's one of the Event Horizon writers, and an incredible singer songwriter. Check his MySpace! And about 2 percent of that is stuff I've done, either with Ali, or my old Deep Purple cover band, or stuff I've recorded myself. Yeah, I know you hear musicians never listen to their own stuff, but I think they're lying! Why do it if you're never going to listen to it? I tend to listen more when I'm inking - usually I pencil in silence so I can concentrate. The reason I have it on shuffle, though, is for the unexpected element. It's a very labor intensive job that we do, and extremely monotonous. Anything that helps to break that monotony is a bonus, and I can find myself going from feel-good head-banging rock to stuff that gives you pause for thought and puts a tear in your eye."

I'm liking this guy, any mainstream mention of Rush, Yes and the likes is a-okey in my book!

[blackacid]

No Clutch?! EVERYONE should listen to Clutch!