In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Previous contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Lauren Groff, Bret Easton Ellis, Celeste Ng, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Hanif Abdurraqib, Andrew Sean Greer, Roxane Gay, and many others.
Chloe Lauter’s novel The Flayed Man is as moving as it is unsettling, an impressive literary horror debut.
Library Journal wrote of the book:
“In this debut, Lauter has crafted a genuinely frightening book with emotional depth. Readers of complex fiction with a gritty sensibility such as Andy Davidson’s In the Valley of the Sun or Hailey Piper’s strong, complex women characters will love this book.”
In her own words, here is Chloe Lauter’s Book Notes music playlist for her debut novel The Flayed Man:
My novel The Flayed Man is a monster story in a literal sense—the main character will turn into a gruesome, violent creature if she fails to regularly consume blood—but also in the way the trauma-driven, codependent relationship she has with her mother turns their interactions monstrous. I’m always looking for music that embodies the experience I hope the book provides: fast-paced, immersive, emotionally intense.
“Vampires” by S
The book’s epigraph is lyrics from this song so of course I had to include it. In charting a post-break up malaise it expands on the idea of what a vampire might be: someone who takes without care for the person they’re taking from.
“Soft Atrocity” by rook&nomie
God I love this song. I love everything rook&nomie puts out honestly but this song has always been my favorite. It opens with a feral howl followed by “was that okay?” which is the perfect example of the paradox it seems to be playing with: wanting to be soft, but knowing even your self-love has to be violent in order to protect you.
I adore the original of course, but there’s something about this cover’s stripped-back instrumentation and the fragile vulnerability of the vocal delivery, like they might be rushing to get the words out before someone stops them.
“More for Me” by Tegan and Sara
Patron saints of lesbian pop! I listened to their 2000 album This Business of Art on repeat while I was working on the book. I love the way this song moves seamlessly between acerbic bite and bald desperation for a bigger life.
“Nothing Feels Natural” by Priests
This is a song that’s best heard live. The vocals take on a rougher, wilder edge that turns it into a manifesto for total transformation. I love the repeated line “No it’s not for anyone / and I can’t wait until it’s done.”
“Adore” by Savages
This song has such emotional depth, from the hypnotic vocals to the instrumental build at the end as Jehnny Beth repeats, “I adore life… do you adore life… I adore life…”. Haunting.
Chloe Lauter is an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles.