Put on Your Headphones: The Saltwater Between Us Playlist

Saltwater Between Us is officially out in the world. (Internal screaming? Yes. External caffeine? Also yes.)

I don’t know about you, but I cannot write—or live, really—without a soundtrack. Every book has a frequency, and Cerys and Liam’s story is definitely tuned to a mix of rhythmic acoustic soul, bossa nova beats, and those "driving toward the coast" anthems that make you want to roll the windows down.

I’ve put together two playlists for you. One is the Writing/Atmosphere list—mostly instrumental and lush sounds that helped me build the island of Te Motu Aroha. The second is the Character Playlist, featuring the songs that I imagine Cerys blasting on her boat and the swoony tracks that define Liam’s "Grand Gesture" energy.

A few highlights from the list:

• For the Sailing Scenes: High-energy, liberating tracks that feel like wind in the sails.

• For the Golden Hour: Slow, honey-thick soul for those moments on the beach when the tension is palpable.

• The "Cerys" Anthem: Anything by a Black woman artist that screams "I am the captain of my own life."

Spotify/Apple Music Playlist

Grab your copy of the book, put on your headphones, and let’s disappear to the islands together for a few hours. You deserve a break.

The "Solo Horizon" Playlist (Cerys’s Energy)

This is the soundtrack of a woman who is comfortable in her own company. It’s soulful, rhythmic, and carries a sense of movement. Perfect for the "finding yourself" part of the journey.

Artist	Song Title	The Vibe
Corinne Bailey Rae	Put Your Records On	Pure, unadulterated "choosing yourself" energy.
Tems	Free Mind	For those moments Cerys is alone at sea, finding her center.
Tracy Chapman	Fast Car	The classic anthem for wanting to leave a predictable life behind.
Lianne La Havas	Green & Gold	Lush, organic, and deeply reflective of identity.
Sade	The Sweetest Taboo	Smooth, timeless, and feels like a warm tropical breeze.
India.Arie	Video	Because Cerys is a queen who doesn't need a crown to know it.

The "Te Motu Aroha" Playlist (The Romance & Setting)

This is for the slow burn. It’s heavy on the "golden hour" aesthetic—think acoustic guitars, soft percussion, and songs that feel like a physical ache in the chest.

Artist	Song Title	The Vibe
Leon Bridges	Coming Home	The "Grand Gesture" energy Liam brings at the end.
Jack Johnson	Better Together	The quintessential "beach read" acoustic sweetness.
Giveon	For Tonight	For the "Right Person, Wrong Time" tension between them.
Snoh Aalegra	Find Someone Like You	Sultry, cinematic, and deeply romantic.
Te Vaka	Lakalaka	To bring in that authentic, vibrant South Pacific rhythm.
Cleo Sol	Sunshine	A song that feels like the exact moment the sun hits the water.