Music has always been a big part of my life, and my writing life in particular. I played the piano for many years, and am attuned to the importance of rhythm and flow in both writing and music.
This playlist reflects the many moods of me as a writer and of the book. It is a combination of my many musical loves: hip hop, rap, bhangra (a Punjabi dance that I grew up doing in celebration of many things), and Hindi film music. I listened to these songs as I wrote, edited, and took breaks from writing. I danced to some of these songs when my editor told me the manuscript was perfect, when I celebrated holding the galleys of my book in my hands, when I held the finished copy against my heart.
When I wrote the last word of the manuscript at the UCross Foundation in Wyoming, I sank to the ground, pressed my forehead against the floor, and let the song Aaj Mera Jee Karda accompany me through the many emotions I felt at that moment: exhaustion, joy, anxiety, contentment. I hope that these songs give you a reason to think, write, and move your body to their eclectic beats.