Music & Emotion – conveying the right message: Looking at the relationship between emotion and image and addressing the sensitivities of that relationship
It seems obvious, the statement that music and emotion are intertwined and have a direct relationship to our perception of image when these elements are married together. In films, TV, Documentaries, Advertising and all other forms of media music plays a key role in conveying the right message about a given moment or an overall statement (in regards to title music) about the programme / image. Music has the power to manipulate emotion, create empathy for a villain or rage towards a heroin, it can draw out fear or set pulses racing. But it’s the finite detail in your music selection that will make all the difference in creating an affective message.
Often in a production you can know what you want to convey as a theme – let’s say magic and adventure; but what are the nuances of emotion that can carry that message. The music could convey a delicate, innocent curiosity that is magical and childlike or it could convey drama and adventure in a building journey style of music.
Here are some examples where we’ve provided an image for each broad category that is followed by links underneath to music that evokes different nuances of the overall theme.
Click on the orange links to hear some samples :
Adventure & Magic:
Reflective:
Uplifting:
Upbeat, energetic, enthusiastic
World, adventure, inspirational & expansive
Whilst sound and image play a key role in any production it often gets left until the last moment for consideration. It is worth considering either working along side a team of music specialists, bringing in a composer / team of composers through a publisher / agent or selecting tracks to build alongside for shorter productions (i.e. adverts). The result when working in this way provides a higher potential for a congruent relationship between sound and image and gives the best possible opportunity to get the musical message right. It can make the difference between making your audience sniffle or turn the channel.
In order for music not to interfere too much with the dialogue / audio; instrumentals are often a better choice, are subtler and therefore can infiltrate the subconscious more effectively. It is important to also look at volume so as not to drown your audience in sound or make dialogue inaudible.
Synctracks – a new production music library offer musical guidance alongside the catalogue and an alternate perspective in music selection that can be an invaluable tool when choosing between a vast number of possible tracks. Emotional relevancy is subjective and therefore having outside input can uncover an angle that may not have immediately seemed obvious. In a time when there is music to be found in abundance online a personal touch can really make the difference. That along with quality is what Synctracks is all about – amplify your image; it’s simple.
Synctracks have helped select music for Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC, Westfields, Guide Dogs, and delivered bespoke music for Oxfam to name a few.
GOSH! Productions 
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