Northwestern University Press, TriQuarterly Books, and Curbstone authors have curated this Spotify playlist to commemorate #AWP21!
See their selections below and how these songs and artists inspired their books: https://spoti.fi/3chk8ZR
- Ama Codjoe, Blood of the Air: Poems, Sweet Honey In The Rock’s “Ella’s Song”
- Tsitsi Jaji, Mother Tongues: Poems Oliver Mtukudzi’s “Todii”
- David Barber, Secret History: Poems, “Trickeration” by Cab Calloway. This song inspired Barber’s poem “Trickeration.”
- Angela Jackson, “Respect” and “Think” by Aretha Franklin
- Daphne Kalotay, Blue Hours: A Novel, “Blue Lines” by Massive Attack: ‘My pick is “Blue Lines” by Massive Attack. This is the title track from their album Blue Lines, released in April 1991. My novel Blue Hours begins in spring of 1991, and I associate this song/album with that time.’
- Gabeba Baderoon, The History of Intimacy, “Spirits of Tembisa” by Moses Taiwo Molelekwa: ‘My rationale is from “Promised Land,” the poem about his music in The History of Intimacy.’
- Jacqueline Jones LaMon, What Water Knows, “Roll Me Through the Rushes” by Chaka Khan, Lew Hahn: ‘This song may very well be a top candidate for the theme song for What Water Knows.’
- Purvi Shah, Miracle Marks: Poems, Gadh Se To Meerabhai Utari (Lata Mangeshkar) [*note the title in Spotify says Meerabnai, but that’s wrong]: ‘This is a bhajan from Meerabhai, referred to through my collection.’
- Purvi Shah, River (Ibeyi): ‘This song aligns with the book’s probing of rivers, their dangers and promise for girls & women.’
- Karla FC Holloway, Gone Missing in Harlem: A Novel, Tracy Chapman’s “The Promise”: ‘It does make me think of the thread that binds DeLilah and Iredell, even beyond death, “I’ll find my way back to you.”’
- Brian Ascalon Roley, The Last Mistress of Jose Rizal: Stories, “Everything is Free” by Gillian Welch: ‘It was written about music during the time of Napster but it still resonates fir any independent artist, including writers. It also has one of my favorite lines, “Never minded working hard, it’s who I’m working for.’
- Benjamin Hedin, Under the Spell: A Novel, “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” by Chet Atkins and Dolly Parton
- Yxta Maya Murray, Art Is Everything: A Novel, “Sacrifice” by Bjork
- Gregory Fraser, Little Armageddon: Poems, John Prine’s “Hello in There.”
- Cynthia Dewi Oka, Salvage: Poems, Fire is Not a Country: Poems, “Dancing With Your Ghost” by Sasha Sloan: ‘If the primary speaker in Fire Is Not a Country had a song on repeat, it would be this one.’
- Cynthia Dewi Oka, “Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield: ‘I have a poem about this song in Fire Is Not a Country, specifically the Roots’ live cover of it! It kept me going through the worst of times with its braiding of joy, grief, and resolve. I love that it’s about becoming ourselves.’