You Were the Song That My Soul Understood: Why My Chapters are Song Titles

One of the first things readers notice about The Strangest of Places is that every chapter has a song title instead of a traditional chapter heading or number.

Chapter 1: "Pebbles and Marbles" by Phish

Chapter 10: "Brokedown Palace" by Grateful Dead

Chapter 25: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds

It's not a gimmick, it's not random, and it wasn't part of my original plan.

The songs chose themselves.

How It Started

When I began writing The Strangest of Places, I had no intention of titling chapters with songs. I was just trying to get the story down—Autumn's discovery of Phish, her complicated family dynamics, her journey toward finding her people.

But as I wrote, I kept hearing music.

Not literally (though I do write with music playing). I mean that certain songs kept surfacing in my mind as I worked on specific scenes. A lyric would echo the emotional beat of what Autumn was experiencing. A melody would capture the mood I was trying to create.

At first, I ignored it. I was focused on the story itself, not on some elaborate structural concept, but the songs kept showing up, insistent, and unavoidable.

So, I started jotting down quick notes in the margins.

This chapter feels like 'Mad World’ but the Gary Jules version; not the original.

Autumn’s mom’s anthem is '32 Flavors'

Aunt Ann is Des’ree

By the time I finished the first draft, I had a complete playlist. Thirty songs that had revealed themselves as I wrote, each one perfectly aligned with a chapter's theme, emotional arc, or turning point.

That's when I realized: these aren't just notes. This is the structure.

Music as Meaning

Music has always been how I process emotions and experiences. A song can capture a feeling in a way that words alone sometimes can't. It's shorthand for something complex—nostalgia, heartbreak, joy, longing.

When I listen to "Cat's in the Cradle," I don't just hear a song about a busy father and a neglected son. I hear every complicated parent-child relationship I've ever witnessed or experienced. I hear regret, missed opportunities, and the painful realization that time doesn't wait for you to get it right.

That's what I wanted for my readers.

By pairing each chapter with a song, I'm giving you an optional key to unlock another layer of the story. If you choose to listen—either before, during, or after reading the chapter (or all of the above)—the lyrics will resonate with what Autumn is experiencing in ways that go deeper than what I've written on the page. Think of it as the soundtrack to her life.

The Lyrics Are the Point

I'm not just choosing songs because they were popular in the 90s or because they fit the music scene Autumn is part of—though those are often happy coincidences—I’m choosing them because the lyrics speak directly to what's happening in that chapter.

Sometimes it's a single line that captures everything.

Sometimes it's the entire song.

Sometimes the connection is obvious.

Sometimes you have to sit with it for a minute before it clicks.

But it's always there.

Years ago, I ran across this video in some Phish-focused social media group and fell in love with it. I had always associated “Joy” to Trey’s relationship with his daughters based on the lyrics telling a story of growing pains and a parent’s helplessness to do anything to ease the strain of those challenges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk8NBVcdVg0

If you watch this video, you’ll get a sense for how I envision the chapter-song connection playing out in your head. As you listen to the lyrics, you can connect what’s being said to what you read in that chapter of Autumn’s story.

Take "Voices Carry" ('Til Tuesday) for Chapter 9. The song is about being in a relationship where you're told to keep quiet, to not make a scene, to hide how you really feel. That's exactly what Autumn is navigating in that chapter—being made to feel like she's not worth being seen with in public.

Or "Brokedown Palace" (Grateful Dead) for Chapter 10. It's a farewell song, a benediction, a goodbye. If you know the song, you know what's coming in that chapter without me having to telegraph it.

The playlist is a map—a supplemental companion to the reading experience.

Not All Songs Are From the 90s

Some readers might expect every song to be from the time period the book is set in (1993-1996). And many are, but not all.

My primary goal isn't historical accuracy with the playlist—it's thematic resonance.

If a song from 2007 perfectly captures what Autumn is feeling in a chapter set in 1995, I'm using that song. The emotional truth matters more than the timeline.

That said, most of the songs do fit the era. Phish, Radiohead, Sheryl Crow, Smashing Pumpkins, Sarah McLachlan, Alice in Chains—these are the artists who were shaping the 90s music scene and Autumn's world.

But I'm not limiting myself when a more recent song nails the feeling.

Why It Matters

Titling chapters with songs does a few things:

1. It creates an interactive readinng experience.

You can engage with the story on multiple levels—reading the text, listening to the songs, connecting the dots between lyrics and plot.

2. It honors the role music plays in Autumn's life.

Music isn't just background in this story. It's how Autumn understands herself and the world. The chapter titles reflect that.

3. It gives each chapter its own identity.

Instead of "Chapter 6," you get "Cat's in the Cradle"—which immediately evokes a mood, a theme, a set of associations before you even start reading.

4. It builds a playlist that stands alone.

Even if you never read the book, the playlist itself tells a story. You could listen to these 30 songs in order and get a sense of the emotional journey Autumn is on.

The Side Quest

I call listening to the songs an "optional side quest" because it is. You don't have to engage with the music to understand or enjoy the story. The chapters stand on their own.

But if you're a music geek like me—if you're the kind of person who hears a lyric and immediately thinks, Oh, that's exactly how I feel—then the playlist adds a whole other dimension.

It's like having a conversation in two languages at once. The prose tells you what's happening. The lyrics tell you what it means.

What's Next

I'm working on a blog series called "Autumn's Playlist" where I'll dive deeper into each song—why I chose it, how it connects to the chapter, and what it meant to me personally.

If you've read The Strangest of Places and you're curious about the music behind it, those posts will give you the full story.

If you haven't read the book yet but you love music-driven fiction, maybe the playlist alone will convince you to give it a shot.

The Strangest of Places isn't just a book about finding your people through music; it's a book where the music is part of the storytelling.

Every chapter is a song, every song is a clue and if you listen closely, you'll hear Autumn's story in a whole new way.