Subtlety or Spotlight? Choosing the Right Approach in Music Production

What Kind of Producer Are You?

Do you create instrumental pieces for live performance? Song tracks? Movie soundtracks? Jingles? Or maybe all of the above?

If you're based in Australia (like I am) it’s almost essential to dabble across the board. The industry here is relatively small, which means versatility isn't just an asset, it's a survival skill.

But each style of production calls for a completely different mindset.

Song Tracks & Jingles

Song tracks often need to stand out, to grab the listener’s attention quickly and hold it. In today’s fast-paced world, we’ve only got seconds to sound fresh and different before someone scrolls away.

It’s the same with jingles for TV or radio. When an ad agency asks you to compose a 30-second spot, the goal is crystal clear: make something that demands attention and points it straight at the product or service. No time for subtlety. You’re the spotlight.

Film Scores

Film scoring is a whole different game. The purpose here is to support the story, to underscore the emotional context, to help the viewer interpret what’s happening beneath the surface.

The music helps us know whether to trust a character, to feel nostalgic, nervous, hopeful, or heartbroken…..even if the scene isn’t spelling it out.

And the real trick? Doing all of that without drawing attention to yourself.

This is the opposite of song production, especially pop music. Too much personality in the score, and you risk pulling the viewer out of the story.

Of course, there are moments where film music is meant to take the lead (like in a montage or title sequence) and sometimes it even becomes a character in its own right. But the ultimate aim is still to enhance the visuals, not compete with them.

If someone tells me they loved a film I scored but can’t remember the music, I take that as a huge compliment. Like a cinematographer or a colourist, the composer’s job is often best appreciated on a subliminal level.

At the heart of it, good production is about knowing your role in the bigger picture. Sometimes you're the centre of attention, and other times you're the invisible thread holding it all together. The real skill lies in knowing which is which and having the humility (and versatility) to do both well.

As producers, we’re not just making sound. We’re shaping how people feel, often without them even realising it.