SoundStory's manifesto

Music shapes how we experience stories. A single track can elevate a scene, evoke nostalgia, or completely change how we feel about a moment.

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SoundStory is a space for music and film fans alike who appreciate the power of a great soundtrack. Whether you're here to discover mixes or playlists inspired by your favourite films and TV series, or to create and share your own, SoundStory is built for those who see music as more than just background noise - it’s part of the storytelling.

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For music listeners (the escapers)

At it's core, SoundStory is a library of mixes and playlists - inspired by popular films and TV series - for the listener to escape and re-experience stories through music.

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Explore mixes and curated playlists that capture the mood of iconic scenes. Filter by genre and theme to discover something new.

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For music curators and selectors (the world-builders)

Secondly, SoundStory provides a creative challenge for music curators and selectors. The challenge? To build a mix or playlist that retells the stories of popular films and TV series.

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Using the themes, character arcs, plot structures and the original soundtrack and score as inspiration, you can creatively arrange tracks to craft a beginning, middle and end that portrays stories in your own, unique way.

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Your mixes and playlists deserve an audience. SoundStory gives you a platform to share your vision with an audience that values great music and storytelling. Which tracks would you choose?

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Explore. Re-imagine. Escape.

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Building a mix or playlist

Be clever with your selections. Select tracks that aren't part of the official soundtrack, but ones that resonate with key parts of the plot, characters or themes.

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Start by analysing the mood, genre, and emotional beats of the film or series. Is it dark and atmospheric (Blade Runner 2049)? Uplifting and adventurous (The Lord of the Rings)? Nostalgic and synth-heavy (Stranger Things)? Identifying these elements will help guide your track selection.

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Think about the genre, speed and key of the tracks. These contribute to setting the scene and composing the story how you want.

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Ultimately, you want to structure the mix or playlist to reflect the narrative or character arcs of the film or series.

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Tips for creating a mix

• Keep the mix interesting by including tracks with varying tempo or key.
• Quality over quantity. Ask yourself "Am I recording this song to fill the mix, or is it an important part of the listening experience?".
• The ideal length depends on how immersive and detailed you want it to be.
  • 30-45 minutes is best for quick, focused storytelling and works well for themes with high energy or tight emotional arcs (e.g. a horror mix, an action-packed heist mix). Ideal for casual listening or workouts.
  • 60–90 minutes (recommended Length) allows for a full narrative arc, mirroring the story’s flow. This amount of time for a mix is great for deep dives into a film’s atmosphere - balancing mood, tension, and resolution and works for immersive listening sessions (e.g. road trips, late-night listening).
  • 2+ hours works best for expansive world-building (e.g., sci-fi, fantasy, historical dramas). Perfect as background music for studying, reading, gaming, or writing. This length of mix lets you explore multiple musical styles and influences from the film/show.

Tips for building a playlist

• Try to keep your playlist to a maximum of 20 songs.
• Think about how you might structure the playlist. Be intentional with the track positions to bring the story to life.

Curating a playlist or mix is a creative process. It's important to have fun and to experiment with different styles.

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Share your mix or playlist with the community – whether on SoundCloud, Mixcloud, YouTube or Spotify – so others can experience the film in a new way. You might even find it featured on SoundStory.