The Playlist That Wrote the Story: Music & Mood in A Fragrant Melody

Have you ever had a song play and immediately felt a story unfold in your mind? That’s exactly how the playlist for A Fragrant Melody came to be. Sometimes it was a lyric that tugged at a character’s heart, other times it was the rhythm that matched the pulse of a scene. Music didn’t just accompany the story—it helped me write it. If you want to see what music shaped A Fragrant Melody, follow along below as I dive into the specifics…

Klara’s Soundtrack

For Klara, it was important to capture her essence before Gaelin even re-enters her life. Maine by Noah Kahan perfectly represents where she is at the start of the story—reflective, a little lost, but quietly strong. Crazier Things by Noah Kahan and Chelsea Cutler also helped shape her early character development, and later, Where It Stays by Charlotte OC became the perfect song for the moments when she grows and finds her rhythm. If she were listening to artists on repeat, it would definitely be Noah Kahan and City and Colour. Their songs bring that warm, grounded feeling I associate with her.

Gaelin’s Soundtrack

Gaelin, being a musician, had a playlist that reflects his more bluesy, introspective style. Songs that shaped him emotionally, like My Drug by Anthony Mossburg or Like Water by Patrick Droney, fit his internal world and gave me cues for how he experiences love and connection. Other songs, like Duet by Penny & Sparrow or Stephanie Briggs, inspired specific emotional scenes without giving anything away (readers, you’ll have to see which ones!). If he were listening on repeat, it would definitely be Patrick Droney and John Mayer.

Scenes & Story Soundtrack

Certain songs became the soundtrack for specific scenes. Green Eyes by JOSEPH, for example, captures a quiet, intimate moment while Klara and Gaelin are driving together. Acoustic by Billy Raffoul and Say You Will by Kygo, Patrick Droney, and Petey Martin inspired the emotional beats of the book overall. And then there are songs that helped me work through writer’s block—City and Colour, Noah Kahan, and Patrick Droney became my “get unstuck” playlist when a scene wouldn’t come together.

The Emotional Connection

Each song on the playlist isn’t just background music—it embodies the story, the characters, and the mood I wanted to convey. Listening to a song while drafting often makes scenes unfold in my mind almost like a movie, guiding my pen, and later, letting me relive the story while revising. And the beauty is that I hope readers can do the same: play the playlist, and let the scenes and characters come alive in their own imagination.

If you’re reading A Fragrant Melody, I’d love for you to try the playlist while you read. It’s the closest thing I have to giving readers a cinematic experience alongside the story. Music shaped my writing, and maybe it can help you connect with the story in a new way too.

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