Finding June- Playlist

I am a huge music nerd. Always have been. Music is essential to my writing process and some songs got major play while writing Finding June. I listened to a lot of Sufjan Stevens, Daughter, The Helio Sequence and Josh Ritter while writing Finding June. 

A fun fact: In the first draft of the book, I had wonderfully thought out quotes I picked from songs and used as Chapter Headers. Sadly, I ended up not putting them in the final version of the book. There is a playlist, though, at the end of the book with the songs used in order of chapter. So make sure to check that out! Today I am going to give a little insight with a handful of the songs that didn’t make it into the final version and the story behind them. Enjoy!

“Well I’ve lost it all, I’m just a silhouette” Youth by Daughter

Finding June opened with this song. I read once that Daughter (and this song in particular) was just really good for NA in general. I couldn’t help but agree! As a 20 something myself, I fee lost at least once a week. On a good week ;) But June finds herself in a spot in her life where she doesn’t really know what’s next. It’s hard at this age to make decisions and know if they are the right ones.

“And the only thing that’s certain is that sometimes you are bound to fall” Tight Rope by Alex Clare

I find this just to be good life advice. And the chapter it was part of, well June finds herself falling in many ways. But this also plays into the pressure June feels to be everything everyone wants her to be. Again, something I think is common to 20 something’s. The pressure to be all the things can be overwhelming and knowing that it’s okay if things don’t go the way they are “supposed” to can make life a lot easier!

“There are times life will rattle your bones 

 And will bend your limbs 

 You’re still far away the boy you’ve ever been” 

 Dear Avery by The Decembrists

GAH. This song. This song is all about Reece Day. I lost track of how many times I listened to this song. Reece is such a special character to me, he is light and wisdom to June but that doesn’t mean his story is perfect either. While June is trying to find herself, Reece is trying to find his home. There were so many times I was writing scenes with Reece and just in tears over his story. I wish this song was called Dear Reece.

“I traced my fingers along your trails 

 And your body was the map, 

I was lost in it all”

 Your Rocky Spine by Great Lake Swimmers

I’m a huge nature lover. So this song was all about the connection, physical and emotional, between Reece and June. And it used these beautiful lyrics about lakes and glaciers and I was totally sold. This song was used during a scene that involved a cabin and was one of my favorite parts of the book. I encourage you to look up all of the lyrics of this song because it’s truly beautiful.

“Lucky are you who finds me in the wilderness” 

 Bone of Song by Josh Ritter

Backstory on this song. I’m a huge Josh Ritter fan (Idaho represent!) and was needing a song for part of the book. I was hiking (see, nature lover) on my birthday and on the way done I played some Josh Ritter. This song came on and in that moment when I heard that line, it was perfect for June! Plus Josh Ritter songs are just simply amazing ☺

Please check out the full Finding June playlist. It has the songs listed in the back of the book, as well as the music in the book and other songs that got constant play. Enjoy!

Finding June Playlist 

(As is appears in the back of the book) 

“Youth” by Daughter “Today” by Joshua Radin 

“Much Farther To Go” by Rosie Thomas 

“Tight Rope” by Alex Clare 

“Bright Smile” by Josh Ritter 

“Line of Fire” by Junip 

“Broken Afternoon” by The Helio Sequence 

 “We Sink” by CHVRCHES 

“Bloom” by The Paper Kites 

“The Woods” by Daughter 

“Your Rocky Spine” by Great Lake Swimmers 

“Something Good Can Work” by Two Door Cinema Club 

“Dear Avery” by The Decemberists 

“Still Life” by The Horrors 

“Nothing I Can Do” by Ben Taylor 

“Yellow Light” by Of Monsters and Men

 “Can I Stay” by Ray LaMontagne 

“Northern Wind” by City and Colour

 “The Night Starts Here” by Stars 

“Fall” by Cider Sky 

“Paper Doll” by Rachael Yamagata 

“Anywhere Your Love Goes” by Joshua Radin

 “Bone of Song” by Josh Ritter 

“Lovely Tonight” by Joshua Radin