Gonna take some liberties with question 12:
What's a song you associate with Ramies?
A song you associate with Guard 76?
A song you associate with Lucio Nebulae or the whole Nebulae family?
A song you associate with The Great?
Finally got around to answering so thank you for being so, so patient with me.
THANK YOU @whimsicalentropy FOR SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.
What's a song you associate with Ramies?
I have quite a few songs that I equally have characterised with Ramies and Starlight combined (and I think that's due to the fact they're women in somewhat similar situations– by which I mean orbiting around an unstable man)
So I equally would, but Mitski again here, especially 'Drunk Walk Home'
But I also think 'Blood in the Cut' by K.Flay and 'Cup Runneth Over' by Kiki Rockwell. These two are vastly different in theme: one is about self-destruction, the other about trying to understand gender identity within the set standard (which is very much Ramies internal thoughts if I had built upon what my intention was for her and what she represents to me as a writer).
A song you associate with Guard 76?
I have a strong plotline involving Guard 76 experiencing a significant identity crisis as his world begins to fall apart. He is characterized as a loyal, watchful knight and a dedicated follower of the Empire and the state religion. When his facade breaks, it triggers a personal crisis, prompting him to do anything to restore it. While we haven't seen much of this yet (though we will, in some form), it's a focus I find intriguing as I work on my second draft.
So, with that said, although we haven't seen it, I'm very inspired by some more moody tracks for Guard 76 based on this theme. Such as Keosz's 'All I Had To Do' and 'Betrayal' from The Jamie Lloyd Company.
The Nebulae's overall theme centers on revelry, partying, and a sense of personal freedom, which conceals their more sinister activities. They attract the public easily and are extremely wealthy from monopolizing bio-discs, making them performative and flashy while fiercely guarding their own assets.
So, in all honesty, and given Prince Lucio's proclivity for performing live shows, I would really describe the Nebulae's sound as very commercially friendly, consistently summer, cheesy POP and EDM-vibe. This one being the most tongue-in-cheek and silly:
But if I were being very particular and being honest on a deeper level, I listen to a lot of Aphex Twin when writing about the Nebulaes. Mainly because his music has a lot of 'healing frequency' vibes whilst being very firmly of the 90s house genre, and his mixes are incredibly complex. Which I think really frames them well (past all the silly Brit-House-Ibiza-rave crap Lucio plays).
For The Great, I have so many orchestral themes that vary between threatening and somewhat romantic.
The Great [Spoilers] is a version of Siebren that has self-actualised through the trauma of the accident and the severe ego-death it brought. He is the happier, brighter side of a Siebren that, unfortunately, isn't too common. And sadly, he, too, has been absorbed by the Emps' overall plan and rapidly deteriorated for the sake of being a tool.
With that said, there is this sense of secretiveness and hidden warmth behind The Great, so I really utilise a lot of Max Richter's pieces here to convey a sense of being in the presence of a deep yet very silent love, and of being starved of the answers you need. And pairing that with a deep sense of uncanniness and familiarity (especially when paired with Star - that will be important LATER). The Irrepressibles come to mind, especially their more surreal stuff.
Due to the fact it is Siebren, I also have to include Son Lux's 'Let Me Follow'. It's a very deep and personal track which I was heavily inspired by for their first meeting where he isn't a near-corpse.
And for Starlight's personal feelings towards him? I have to use Kelela's 'All The Way Down' (because she's perfect for conveying feelings).
