FRI- VOICES IN MY HEAD SILENT PODCAST (NEWSPOD)
About my musical tastes and my writing
Me, the host:
As I have said before, I have taken to listening to Celtic folk music, and some is almost quite a different language. Does Wales speak a combination of German-ish and lazy English?
Smarter me, Frank,the guest
Welsh (Cymraeg) is actually a completely separate language from English and isn’t a Germanic language at all. It comes from the Brythonic branch of the Celtic language family, which means it’s more closely related to Breton (spoken in Brittany, France) and Cornish (revived in Cornwall) than it is to English.
English, on the other hand, is an evolved mix of Germanic (from Anglo-Saxons, Norse, etc.) and French/Latin influences. So while Wales has been heavily influenced by English, especially in modern times, Welsh itself is an ancient language with its own grammar, structure, and words that don’t resemble English at all.
Some words and place names might look like a mix of letters someone forgot to buy vowels for (like "Llanfairpwllgwyngyll"), but they make perfect sense in Welsh! If it sounds like a "lazy" version of English sometimes, that might just be the influence of bilingual Welsh-English speakers blending the two in casual conversation.
Celtic folk music is almost magical. Some Irish and Scottish Gaelic songs also have that almost otherworldly quality, like they’re from another time!
I said:
The Pandora station of Celtic folk music is what I play while I am writing. About half the songs have wonderful harmonies, that I adore, and the other half is often faster, instrumental "reels". Overall, it’s pleasant to have on while writing. I also enjoy a Gregorian chant station, but I am strange, I guess. Five years of Latin strange.
Frank said:
That is a great writing soundtrack! Celtic folk music has such a rich, storytelling quality—those harmonies can be hauntingly beautiful, and the reels keep things lively. It makes sense that it works well while writing—kind of like having a creative rhythm running in the background.
Gregorian chants are another level of immersive. The steady, meditative tones could help with focus, almost like a musical form of deep work. It can put you in a unique headspace that helps your writing flow. It also may help you understand the word “headspace.”
Do you find different types of music influence your writing style or mood? Like, do the harmonies lead to more reflective pieces and the reels to more energetic writing? What is the deal with all this music crap?
I said:
I have been involved in music since the sixties, so my musical taste is simply a more cerebral season of all that.
Frank said:
That makes a lot of sense! With that kind of long-term connection to music, it’s probably more like a natural evolution rather than a sudden shift. Celtic folk and Gregorian chants definitely fit into that more reflective, immersive side of music—almost like they create a writing atmosphere rather than demand attention.
What kind of music were you most involved with back in the sixties? Rock, folk, something else entirely?
I said:
Rock, of course, British Invasion stuff, and forward.
Frank said:
Nice! So you were right there for the British Invasion—Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Who, all that good stuff. That’s a great foundation for appreciating music with strong melodies and harmonies, which makes sense with your love for Celtic folk.
Did you play an instrument, sing, or were you more of a dedicated listener?
I said:
I live in Nashville. we are cowboys and hillbillys, but we have to play, record, engineer, mix both live and recorded music.
Frank said:
That makes total sense—Nashville is a serious music town. Whether it’s country, rock, or anything in between, the level of musicianship there is top-tier. Sounds like you’ve been around both the creative and technical sides of music. Did you mostly play, record, or work on the engineering side? Or a mix of everything?
I said:
All of it at times, none great.
Frank said:
That’s awesome—having experience in all aspects gives you a real appreciation for the whole process. Do you still play or record anything these days, or is writing your main creative outlet now?
I said:
Now I write. I also go to a lot of doctors, and work on walking, and making my left side work again. That is why I can sit and listen to music, enjoy it, and dissect it. All of that doesn't rate very high on the charts, I’m afraid.
Frank said:
That makes a lot of sense. Music has a way of keeping the mind engaged, even when the body isn’t cooperating the way it used to. And dissecting it—really listening—is an art in itself. I bet all those years of playing and working with sound make you hear things most people don’t even notice.
Even if it doesn’t “rate high on the charts,” finding ways to enjoy and analyze music while writing and recovering is still a big deal. It’s your own rhythm, your own way of staying connected to creativity. Do you ever find certain kinds of music influencing your writing?
I said:
It is often just a one-handed, non-capitalized, stream of consciousness. If whatever I write for publication makes me smile, I put the Grammarly to it and let it rip.
Frank said:
That’s a solid process—raw creativity first, polish later. And if it makes you smile, chances are it’ll connect with someone else too. Sounds like your writing is as instinctive as your music ear, just letting it flow naturally.
Do you ever find yourself writing about music, or does it mostly stay in the background while you work on other things?
I said:
My writing about music is probably a bit too “inside baseball” to be enjoyable.
Frank said:
Incidentally, you do understand that this podcast is simply a way you can talk about yourself without sounding like a self-centered, narcissistic goose?
PS. STILL WORKING ON TODAY’S NEWSLETTER. -BACK SOON-
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Don’s a keen observer and prolific reporter of truth, common sense, humor, & life. He’s a WRITER and humorist, sometimes serious, sometimes tongue-in-cheek. He lives in Nashville, TN. He publishes every weekday morning. If you liked this stuff, get his direct delivery by subscribing HERE!