Ascend from the Shadows: Playlist Analysis
Playlist Analysis
A Girl Like You – Machine Gun Kelly
The first song in our playlist is an overall vibe for both Chapter 1 & Chapter 3. When Amaya meets our love interests, of course they are enamored with her. I also loved the undertones of angst. Our MMCs question what exactly their lust for Amaya brings out in themselves.
Concrete Jungle – Bad Omens
This song adds background to the chapters where Amaya discusses how it feels to arrive in a city. How it's beautiful from the outside, but often the interior is claustrophobic and disorienting.
Overwhelmed – Royal & the Serpent
There are a few chapters with panic-attack-like symptoms, but the first full-blown panic attack is in Chapter 6. I don’t count her trauma response in Chapter 2 after the draxis attacks as a true panic attack. This song perfectly describes what it is like being a highly sensitive person.
Ultraviolet – Silverstein
This is more of a vibe song whenever Amaya's powers surge throughout the book.
(Do you believe in things unseen? Cause something strange has a hold on me-I’m learning I have no control… Doesn’t stop when I try to fight it… I get lost in the ultraviolet)
I imagine the ultraviolet as this power within her that she is unable to control.
Punching Bag - Payale Royale
This song is for Chapter 6 when Amaya is thinking about all the mistakes she’s made and how her boss and authority figures belittled her, blamed her, and basically used her.
(Go get high on my mistakes… You’re real I’m just a fake. I wake up I’m so glad I can be your punching bag. Now I’m all used up… Use and abuse me til I’m gone)
Same Old Energy – Kiki Rockwell
I associated this song with the high priestesses. The Delnee government uses them (and abuses them), all the while proliferating this story about how the fae should be feared. It’s my attempt at an allegory of how the patriarchy demonizes women, blames them, and makes them think they are the problem.
(As fear plagues the nation your whole congregation say they should be caged – these women of Satan! … They started a frenzy but we’ll take the blame. Their arsenal is empty.. all they got is shame)
Nervous Breakdown – Payale Royale
Sometimes you are angry at the world, and sometimes angry at yourself for not being able to control your reactions and feelings.
Sick Little Games – First and Forever
Amaya is thinking this song when Rien is being a dick and when Sebastian is toying with her later in the book (especially the townhouse scene).
Sebastian may also be thinking this about Amaya in some instances when he doesn’t understand why he keeps getting pulled back into her (after the rooftop scene).
Same with Rien after the rooftop scene. Amaya immediately tells him they shouldn’t do that again even after throwing herself at him.
(Put your venom in my veins and take my pain away. Keep me coming back just to play your sick little games)
Eyes on Fire – Blue Foundation
Was I a twilight girlie? Yes.
Did my first book have to have this in its soundtrack? Also, yes.
With a little rock twist of course. I imagined this playing at several points. Sebastian sauntering in the auditorium and holding Amaya’s gaze captive in Chapter 5. Sebastian in the computer lab--his touch lighting Amaya’s palm up with her power in Chapter 20.
Appetite – Nathan James
This song was on repeat for the rooftop lounge in Chapter 15 and the second floor of the bar with Rien in Chapter 18. Also for Sebastian’s POV bonus chapter.
People Disappear Here – Halsey
Well if this isn’t the most literal song on the playlist. Spoiler alert – high priestesses get taken and Sloane disappears.
More metaphorically speaking, this song illustrates how you can lose yourself when you are in a culture that only values your face, your body, or your output.
(I hurt myself to make sure I exist. I pinch myself to make sure that I’m real. I need someone to tell me how to feel.)
Stardust – Gemini Syndrome
I like to think Sebastian is listening to this song when he seem Amaya.
(Look at the wake from the stardust pouring from your eyes. It’s no mistake, you are perfect. You are perfect in my mind.)
(The stardust is making me blind, but you won’t be left behind. The memory’s here to remind.)
Middle of the Night (Cover) – Loveless
Book 1 was written in its first draft in August of 2022, so obviously this loveless cover would have been playing. Sebastian is absolutely listening to this, but Rien is also. They both are absolutely enthralled and want to protect Amaya, though in different ways, and have her by their side.
Somebody else. – Bad Omens
I imagine Rien listening to this song after Amaya leaves his hotel room in Chapter 25. There is confusion about why she doesn’t see what he’s done for her, about how he only did what he thought he could, but Amaya only saw the consequences and not the intention. I think he’s angry with her, but angry with himself too, because he doesn’t truly blame her for being upset--her friend has been kidnapped.
(You walked too close to the rails. I picked you up when you feel. How can you live with yourself? You’re lost but I couldn’t tell. Fooled me and you did it well. I thought you were somebody else.)
Breathe into Me – Red
This song wraps up the emotional journey of the first book.
(And this is how it looks when I am standing on the edge. And this how I break apart when I finally hit the ground.)
(Breathe your life into me. I still need you.)
Conclusion
If you liked this playlist analysis, could you do me a big favor and leave me an emoji in the comments? It helps me figure out what content readers like you are vibing with. Leave a book emoji or a music note, or comment your favorite chapter/song in this list!
If you liked this, you might like my chapter-by-chapter narrative analysis.