Or: Why Drum & Bass Makes My Demons Punch Harder
The first time I realized music could actually fuel a fight scene I was writing, I was sitting in my usual corner booth at a coffee shop—half-buzzed on espresso, procrastinating like a pro. My protagonist, a snarky necromancer with a grudge, was supposed to be battling an eldritch creature in an alleyway drenched in rain and neon light. But I couldn’t get it right. Everything felt flat, like a clunky stage play with swords made of cardboard.
Out of frustration, I yanked in my earbuds and hit shuffle on a playlist I’d made for cardio workouts. The opening notes of The Prodigy’s “Invaders Must Die” blasted into my skull—and suddenly, the fight came alive.
And I mean alive.
The Vibe Matters
Urban fantasy is a genre soaked in adrenaline and shadows. You’ve got werewolves scrapping behind nightclubs, witches slinging hexes in subway tunnels, vampires in pinstripe suits pulling knives in back alleys. It’s gritty, fast-paced, a little unhinged—and the music you use to write those scenes? It needs to match that energy.
For me, it’s all about rhythm. That pulse. That driving, relentless beat that makes you clench your jaw and type like your keyboard owes you money. It’s less about melody and more about momentum.
My Top Picks (That Totally Slap)
Let’s talk specifics. These are my go-tos when the fists (or fireballs) start flying:
1. Drum & Bass / Dark Electronica
Artists like Noisia, Pendulum, Sub Focus, and Black Sun Empire. These tracks are tight, aggressive, and make me feel like someone’s about to crash through a window any second now. The rapid-fire percussion is perfect for tracking blows, dodges, and magical chaos.
Favorite tracks:
- “Stigma” – Noisia
- “Tarantula” – Pendulum
- “Timewarp” – Sub Focus
2. Industrial Rock
When I need a grittier, more grounded fight—think brass knuckles in a dive bar or a werewolf-on-vampire showdown—I turn to Nine Inch Nails, Celldweller, or Marilyn Manson’s earlier stuff. There’s something visceral about distorted guitars and electronic growls that just works.
Favorite tracks:
- “The Way You Like It” – Adema
- “Switchback” – Celldweller
- “Wish” – Nine Inch Nails
3. Cinematic / Trailer Music
Sometimes I need the drama turned up to eleven. You know, when the world is literally cracking open and the hero is unleashing some forbidden spell. That’s when I dive into the overly dramatic, brass-heavy world of Two Steps From Hell, Audiomachine, or Epic Score.
Favorite tracks:
- “Heart of Courage” – Two Steps From Hell (cliché? maybe. effective? absolutely.)
- “Blood and Stone” – Audiomachine
- “I Am the Storm” – Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones, but still counts)
The Mood Shifter
Here’s the wild part: the right track not only makes the scene flow better, it changes me. I sit differently. I breathe faster. My typing speeds up like I’m trying to win a race. I stop second-guessing myself and just go. It’s like music unlocks the primal part of my brain that knows how to write a brawl better than my thinking mind ever could.
Also, I’ve scared my cat more than once by shouting “DUCK!” at my screen mid-write. So, bonus points for immersion.
Honorable Mentions: Because Not Every Fight Is a Bloodbath
Sometimes you need something less in-your-face. Like if the fight’s more psychological—an underground chess match with telepaths—or stylish, like a sword duel on a rooftop. That’s when I pull out:
- Woodkid – moody and majestic
- Carpenter Brut – synthwave with a sharp edge
- UNSECRET – cinematic with a modern twist
So Yeah…
Writing fight scenes used to stress me out. I’d overthink every blow, every reaction, trying to choreograph it like a Hollywood stunt coordinator. But once I let the music lead the rhythm, everything changed. Now, I build a playlist before I write the scene. I match the tempo to the tone, hit play, and let my fingers go feral.
So yeah. Music isn’t just background noise—it’s my fight choreographer, my pacing coach, and, on some days, the only thing that keeps me from giving up and switching to writing soft-baked vampire romance instead.
Which… might also need a playlist.
But that’s another blog post.