I can't write in silence. It's weird. I blame my days working in a busy newsroom for the need for noise. It's why I listen to music now. Thing is I can't write to music with words. I suppose that those years listening to the commotion of a newsroom all the voices blended together, nothing indistinguishable.
For years, I've spent time tweaking Pandora stations and Spotify playlists full of trance-style dance music. Then I discovered lo-fi hip hop, and I had to tell you all about it. Even if you aren't a writer and just need something that can play in the background, this is it. Most of if it is jazzy piano or sax or trumpet over a hip hop beat. There's occasionally a vocal sample, but even that is super low key.
There are several channels filled with mixes on YouTube. My favorite so far is Fantastic Music, but there are others that have their own style. Here's a few of my favorites so far, but check them out for yourself.
