Is there any better duo than music and books? We don't think so. Over the past year, Overcup has been creating Spotify playlists tailored to all your reading, writing, and studying needs. Give them a listen below (+ some book recommendations that would make for the perfect pairing!)
Got a favorite reading playlist? Let us know @overcupbooks on Twitter!
Magical Playlist
This playlist is all about the magic. Perfect for working while pretending you're in a magical forest, or writing your newest fantasy novel. The celtic-inspired orchestrations pair great with any high fantasy novel, but might we also suggest putting this playlist on while reading the beautiful and imaginative book Tolly to your little one?
Classical Playlist
There's nothing quite like the soothing tunes of Mozart and Beethoven to help you focus. This classical playlist would go excellent with a classical novel; perhaps a gothic/romantic-era novel. Our staff suggests turning this on and reading Oscar Wilde's A Picture of Dorian Gray. Or, if you want to feel extra sophisticated, why not check out Buckminster Fuller: Poet of Geography, a beautifully illustrated biography full of colorful details that illuminate the man best known for inventing the geodesic dome.
Oregon-Based Artists
As Overcup is an Oregon-based publishing company, we wanted to honor our roots with some of the best indie tunes from top Oregon-based artists. Featuring the likes of The Shins, Elliot Smith, and The Decembrists, this playlist offers nice, chill indie tunes that pairs good with memoirs and coming-of-age books. We suggest listening to this one while reading Ruby McConnell's Ground Truth: A Geological Survey of a Life (which is also based in Oregon!)
Romantic Vibes
Are you a hopeless romantic? We've got you covered. These soothing instrumentals are sure to make your heart soar as you read the latest Nicholas Sparks novel. Or, if you're interested in art books, we'd recommend listening to it while browsing through the beautiful photos and art pieces in Matt Wagner's The Tall Trees Of Paris, chronicling 42 Parisan-based artists! Paris is the city of love, after all.
Oldies
This one offers some tunes to through you back to the older days. It of course pairs great with any novel set in the 1950s-1980s, but we also would suggest trying it out with a dystopic/speculative fiction novel. Margaret Atwood's Onyx and Crake might be an interesting pair to try out. And why not make a drink while listening to this? Check out The Field Guide to Drinking in America while listening to this playlist!
Chill Winter Vibes For Focusing
There's nothing quite like the feeling of sitting by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and a book, while snow falls lightly outside. This playlist is perfect for those winter days; or at least, imagining those winter days. Any book pairs well with this one, but we're going to take the opportunity to suggest Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People: Portland's Bridges and a New Icon, a friendly, informative look at the Tilikum bridge's engineering, cable-stayed structure, and unique LED lighting system - along with the history of the city's other bridges that earned Portland the title of Bridge City, and it's historical importance to the Chinook people.
Soothing Sounds For the Holidays
The Holiday season can be one of the best times of the year, but also one of the most stressful. That's why we devised a playlist specifically designed to ease the stress and help you relax. And if you need a little extra help in relaxing, why not check out 99 Ways to Make a Pipe or High-Proof PDX: A Spirited Guide to Portland's Craft Distilling Scene.
Let's Travel
COVID-19 had alot of us stuck at home. If you're a vagabond at heart and miss travelling pre-COVID days, this is the playlist for you. We picked tunes that are guaranteed to bring back memories of simpler, vacationing days, all whilst staying indoors. For the full travel fantasy, why not check out Liz Prato's memoir, Volcanoes, Palm Trees, and Privelege: Essays on Hawai'i.
Strange and Strong Vibes
If you're into the strange and all things mystic, then you'll love this playlist. For reading the newest experimental, supernatural, or magical realist book, this playlist features songs to get you in the perfect mindset. Our staff recommends pairing it with some of Neil Gaiman's novels, or perhaps Stephen King.
If you use any of these playlists, be sure to tag us on Insta or Twitter--@overcupbooks! And let us know what's on your TBR list for the summer.