The Power of Background Music in Documentaries
The background music you use in your documentary completely defines the emotional tone of your project, so it has to be perfect. The best music for documentaries complements the documentary’s theme and doesn’t distract from the narration or visuals. It can set the tone, build tension, and underscore important moments in a documentary’s narrative.
It’s undeniable there’s a magical relationship between film and sound. The right music can act like an invisible narrator, subtly guiding your audience’s emotions without uttering a single word. It plays a pivotal role in turning ordinary visuals into extraordinary storytelling.
Use of Background Music in Mike Tyson’s Documentary
The editors for Mike Tyson’s documentary intuitively knew how to use the track structures for the intriguing openings, the storytelling elements, the transitions that setup big moments, and the big moments themselves.
A few tracks in this documentary:
| Prototype – Lens Distortions Highest Stakes – Lens Distortions Inner Steel – Lens Distortions Where We Come From – Lens Distortions Focus Up – Lens Distortions | Shadows – Lens Distortions Foundations – Lens Distortions Foundations (Reprise) – Lens Distortions Phoenix Rising – Lens Distortions Enormous – Lens Distortions |
All of our albums are conceptual, meaning they’re all designed around a story concept that filmmakers would find in real life. Within each album, we include a track for each scene you might see in a movie.
– Lens Distortions
Documentary Music for the Story You’re Creating
Documentaries use diverse types of music for reflective moments, determined moments, heavy moments, exuberant moments, and everything in between. If you’re trying to decide if a track will make a great background song, ask yourself if it fits your documentary’s atmosphere without overpowering it. It should match the pace and resonate with your audience emotionally.
Sports & Athletics
The rumble of packed stadiums. The larger-than-life personalities that take the spotlight. Documentary music that raises the stakes.
Moody and Confident
Origins conveys the intriguing backstory of the modern cinematic brand.
Heartfelt Journeys
Memoirs takes you on a heartfelt journey through life’s highs and lows. With themes that evoke quintessential indie film trailers, there’s a ton of feeling embedded in each track.
Optimism & Deep Reflection
From larger-than-life feelings of optimism, to deep moments of reflection, these tracks are the perfect backdrop for human interest documentaries.
Technology Inspired
Minimalist tracks to power your tech-focused documentaries. Chill beats offer just enough energy to push the story forward, while the simple synth melodies suggest intrigue and inspiration.
Back to the 80’s Nostalgia
Satisfying textures, patterns, and themes that take your audience back to the 80’s.
Airy and Optimistic for Travel
Airy and optimistic, these background music tracks are perfect for travel documentaries.
“Lens Distortions has THE BEST cinematic tracks for documentary projects in my opinion. I’m regularly drawn to your tracks that have an inquisitive or magical quality to them. Sometimes I’ll listen to your albums just to find new ideas or to think about editing a scene in a different way.”
– Bud Simpson, International Director/DP
Types of Background Documentary Music
Epic Cinematic Tracks
Whether you’re exploring the depths of history, the wonders of nature, or the triumph of the human spirit, epic cinematic music provides the perfect sonic backdrop for your documentary. From sweeping orchestral arrangements to subtle crescendos, these tracks amplify the impact of your storytelling, creating an immersive journey for your viewers.
Emotional Subtle Underscores
Immerse your documentaries in a delicate dance of emotions with documentary music that includes subtle underscores. These carefully crafted musical nuances are designed to enhance the emotional depth of your storytelling, subtly underscoring the sentiments without overshadowing the visuals.
Classic Instrumentals
Sometimes less is more. Classic instrumental background music provides a seamless backdrop that enhances the narrative coherence. Whether it’s a historical exploration, a biographical feature, or a cultural exposition, these timeless melodies lend an air of refinement, enriching your documentaries with a sense of depth and authenticity.
Trendy Pop Music
A lot of big box music asset platforms take trendy pop music and simply remove the lyrics. Using this type of music in your documentary locks your documentary into a specific period of time. Trendy music tends to not age well while the above types are more timeless.