if you like the gay trauma + anti imperialist parts of tlt: the baru cormorant series by seth dickinson is also a great followup, it does the anti imperialism better than tlt imo. audiobook narrator is....not my favorite but tolerable for baru
This is so thoughtful! I'm forever looking for new audiobook/etc recs, and anti imperialism + gay trauma are always great themes to follow. I'll have to look into that, thank u <3
i have nothing else to post right now (maybe possibly because i only just started writing IHHU again O-O), so enjoy some playlists from my different works :D
In Her Heart Undying
To Promise the Moon: Act I / Act II / Act III / Finale
Hi Nix ! I hope you're doing amazing. I was the anon proding about your playlist and I had similar interpretations save for the ones I really wanted to know and the things you know as the author and I don't (I get the edits part because that's how it presented itself in my head whenever there was a phonky song). Chere-misere and you also made me want to create a little playlist that reminds me of IHHU. It's not entirely done like I feel like it's missing something but I can't pinpoint what. So if you want I'm dropping it here (my musical tastes are very off sometimes) if you want to listen I'll leave it. It's also as a thank you because I added a lot of your songs to my playlist so I'm throwing some of mine here to share. Oh and I'm sorry if this seems weird af. I have a love of music so deep it's bordering on obsession. Here if you or anyone wants :
They're mostly for the vibes and instrumental parts or certain lyrics (some actually are sepcific or made me think of the freaky bird lady for one or two songs, I could explain but only if you are interested ofc) though quite a few songs' lyrics match imo.
AAAAA THIS IS SO EXCITING!!! i genuinely love hearing/seeing others’ interpretations of my work and things that remind them of what i’ve written. i’m listening to the playlist as i drive so i will report back after i finish it 🫡
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CREATING IT!!!! omg im genuinely so excited. i cannot wait to hear everything. AAAAAAAAAAA
Anon is home and now writing whatever I had in mind and likely forgot half of it. And thank you it's nice of you (the rest of class was boring) Onto my possible assault of questions now :
Which song fits IHHU ? Any songs you mostly think of during certain scenes or chapters ? Why do each song fit the fic (if possible) ? I have my own interpretation of things but I wonder if it differs because some of them are instrumental they have a vibe. Songs that have me wonder what you have in mind are : In my room, Balada de la trompeta, I want things to be beautiful, veil (this one has me curious bc it's more of a vibe), Pool and I'll change for you though I have a bit of an idea for that one. I like that they all fit the same vibe tbh and it works because I think of certain things typical of IHHU with each song. Are the instrumental songs purely from the vibes or something specific ? Like an instrument associated with a character (I love doing that for example I see Cass as a cello or a bass guitar, but mostly a cello). I sadly forgot the rest.
very glad you got home safe!! at least it's Friday and no more classes!! hopefully...
i'm putting my thoughts/responses under the cut because i have a tendency to yap a lot hehe.
OKAY OKAY. idk if you meant it this way, but the main song i think fits IHHU the most out of said playlist is IFHY - Instrumental. like, if IHHU was a tv show, this would play in the end credits of every episode, idc. i think the vibes just fit it very well; it's kind of eerie, at least to me, but soft at the same time? and it feels a lot like an end to something.
and honestly, i don't usually listen to any songs in particular when i'm writing certain scenes BAHA. i will, however, play a song on repeat and create edits in my head. #justwriterthings
now, onto my yap session. cannot guarantee i won't go on and on about my own interpretations of each song, but please also keep in mind i don't know the meanings behind these songs, if there are any. these are just what i think of in regards to IHHU when i hear them :D let's go down the list.
Sparks - Coldplay. in particular, the lines, "Did I drive you away?", "But I promise you this, I'll always look out for you.", and, "And I know I was wrong, but I won't let you down (oh, yeah, I will, yeah, I will, yes, I will)" remind me so much of Farmer and Cassandra. in regards to more recent chapters, it makes me think of how Cassandra hid so much from Farmer but continued to protect them, continued to look out for them. Cassandra knows she was in the wrong and should have said something. She knows she let them down, much as she may have tried not to. (also, ask me this again when i eventually finish this fic and i'll have another answer for this song ;))
Everything is Romantic - Alina Kay, Ozz Gold. this song in particular just makes me think of them, especially for a certain scene i have planned. no matter what, they're always going to find their way back to each other. hehe.
Ethereal - Txmy, Freya Ridings. this one is more of a vibe, but it's what i imagine would play in the background of a little montage between Farmer and Cassandra. it's so dreamy. also makes me think of another scene i have coming up soon, so stay tuned for that angst fest.
Where Have You Been? - Goomp. this one is easy, i think? i've mentioned before this song also makes me think of FtLT. but! the exact line, "Where have you been all my life?" with the epics in the background makes me think of either Farmer or Cassandra (it changes in my brain depending on the hour) looking at the other while this plays. realizing they have found someone who is so devoted to them, who understands them so easily, who does not judge them. "Where have you been all my life?" with Cassandra, because she has finally found someone she gets to simply be herself with. she does not have to be a Dimitrescu, a sadist, a killer, a cannibal. she is simply Cassandra. and Farmer, realizing they have finally found someone who chooses them first. she is there as soon as they need her. she is the strength they need, the affection they crave. they are everything to each other.
In My Room - Acoustic - Julia Wolf. this one just breaks my heart. it makes me think of Farmer imagining Cassandra, wanting her to always be around them and live out a peaceful life despite how very impossible that is. but on the other hand, it makes me think of Cassandra during the time Farmer was upset with her. i imagine if IHHU took place during modern times and Cassandra had access to modern songs, this would be blasting through the door and Bela would have to disconnect the wifi to get her to stop being an edgelord. (that last part was added for sillies, but it mostly makes me think of Farmer).
Balada de la Trompeta - Raphael. this one is also more of a vibe. the beginning from around 0:40-1:06 in particular makes me think of the overall vibe of IHHU and the empty farm. how it began with Farmer thinking their life was relatively normal, aside from the few weird things they would see, but also, they live in the middle of nowhere. that's expected. and then slowly, things start getting weirder. scarier. creatures with glowing silver eyes show up. the forest feels alive. Farmer is being watched, but they can never see anyone. a murderer shows up at their door and tries to kill them, too. she keeps coming around. they're getting sicker. they're falling in love with the murderer. something is very, very wrong. but the overall vibe of the song just makes me think of an edit of some sort where this song plays and the pictures get creepier and possibly more distorted as it goes on.
I Want Things To Be Beautiful - Instrumental - Devi McCallion. also more of a vibe. i think of Cassandra when i hear this song LOL. her, or even Miranda. this instrumental gives me the vibe of someone strong, imposing, and knowingly powerful. someone who is afraid of nothing. i want to see an edit of Cassandra to this song SO BADLY.
At the Beach, In Every Life - Gigi Perez. SELF-EXPLANATORY. okay not really. the first half of this song really makes me think of IHHU, but these lines in particular hurt my heart to think of: "And I heard about the twister that lives inside your heart." literally Farmer talking about/to Cassandra, how she is such a confusing and conflicted person but it also makes sense for her to be that way. she is not an individual that will be moved. "If you speak, then I would move, then I would run right where you are." CASSANDRA ALWAYS SHOWING UP WHEN FARMER NEEDS HER MOST WITHOUT THEM EVEN ASKING FOR HER HELP. AUGH. "But you love me like my mother, and you kiss me like your wife. And I swear to you, I'll give you more than I have tonight." this will make sense later. i promise. just you wait. "And how could you be no one when you're everything to me? You're everything to me." this is 100% Cassandra talking to Farmer when they say something like, "I'm a nobody, I'm not important." your honor...
Sailor Song (First Draft 4.29.24) - Gigi Perez. the overall vibe of this version of the song - especially where it's acoustic - SCREAMS Farmer and Cassandra. the parts about not having a savior, the desperation, sleeping so they can see someone... OH I HATE THEM.
Do I Wanna Know? - Hozier. this is also more of an overall vibe thing. it's much softer and makes me think of these two idiots always finding their way back to each other regardless of what's happening or what they might have done. it does make me think of Cassandra to this song when Farmer pushed her away after she revealed everything, and how they came back to her, in the end. and now, in the newest chapter (Chap. 10), i imagine this song playing in the background while Cassandra is so soft and nervous to say anything, how she is typically this strong, stoic character and softened herself so that her human could understand where she came from a little better. (i am rambling, please excuse me).
Veil - Super Slowed - isq. ALSO A VIBE. this actually makes me think of Farmer and how they are so desperate to save their farm, they will do such drastic things: get up in the middle of the night because something was near their window, chase said creature off their farm, shoot and chase lycans away from their animals barefoot in the dead of night, stand up to Cassandra who is already bloody and terrifying in her own right because they wanted to save themself... i really do admire the bravery i've written into their character because that could not be me doing any of this at night. i also have an edit of them planned in my mind palace.
Meet Me in the Woods - Lord Huron. DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED. i think most of this song fits IHHU, but the first half especially. "I took a little journey to the unknown, and I've come back changed, I can feel it in my bones." literally Farmer being infected with the mold. "I fucked with forces that our eyes can't see, now the darkness got a hold on me." LITERALLY FARMER. everything with Miranda, the lycans, Cassandra, the mold, their abilities peeking through and using them unknowingly, only tainting themself further... SOMEBODY SEDATE ME. "How long, baby, have I been away? Oh, it feels like ages, though you say it's only days." their lapse in time, how they blink and appear elsewhere. "There ain't language for the things I've seen, yeah. And the truth is stranger than my own worst dreams." literally everything going on with the mold, all they've learned about Cassandra and her family, the parasites, etc. "I have seen what the darkness does. Say goodbye to who I was." THE REBIRTH PROCESS. SOMEBODY TAKE THESE SONGS AWAY FROM ME.
Pool - Stripped - Samia. okay there is really only one part of this song that makes me think of IHHU. "How long do I have left with my dog? Til I start forgetting shit?" "How much longer til it's midnight? How much longer til the morning? Are my legs gonna last? Is it too much to ask?" it makes me think of the rebirth process and all Farmer has gone through and will continue to go through while the mold is infecting them further.
CREEP U - Black Dresses. given my last few posts about this song... i think it might be self-explanatory BAHA. i originally thought of Cassandra when i heard this song (literally the entire first half of this song FITS HER SO WELL) but now i've been thinking of post-infection Farmer being around their old friends or even their grandfather, if he was still around, and how their uncanny existence would creep everyone out. i have an entire edit planned out in my mind, do NOT get me started.
IFHY - Instrumental - Tyler, The Creator. like i said above!! it feels like an ending of some kind, and i would definitely put it in the credits of every episode because it's creepy and the vibe just... fits?
maybe i should kill myself - Root Canal Years. for some reason, this just makes me think of Farmer. poor thing has gone through so much in such little time, and their entire world has been upturned. not that they are suicidal or anything, but the vibe just reminds me of when they're working on their farm and the Feelings Linger.
It Ain't Me, Babe - Timothee Chalamet, Monica Barbaro. this is just Cassandra and Farmer being edgy together. both of them thinking they're not good enough for the other when they are literally made for each other.
I Want You - Mitski. okay, i lied earlier. this song played on repeat while i was writing chapter ten. but! it may also be important later on :3
I'll Change for You - Mitski. another edgy Cassandra song (joke). but in reality, the line, "'Cause I'll do anything for you to love me again. If you don't like me now, I will change for you." sounds like Cassandra willing to change herself for Farmer, even if it wouldn't work and they love her for HER. i think this would happen in a moment of weakness, where she craves their validation and company so much that she would be willing to change herself, but it doesn't last long. Cassandra is an incredibly strong individual, both mentally and physically, but that doesn't mean she isn't sometimes weaker when she's alone in her room and The Thoughts are ever persistent in her mind. she's found the one person who understands her without question; why wouldn't she try to get them back however she could?
tower of memories - ivri. also for later. this is more just a vibe song, but i think it fits Farmer craving the past and wanting to go back, but they can't. they want to change things, but they can't.
OKAY I THINK THAT'S IT. i would love to hear your own interpretations of these songs!!! my deepest apologies for rambling BAHAHA. i have a lot of thoughts all the time about these two and it drives me insane.
