This isn’t entirely new, of course. Barack Obama famously walked out to U2’s “City of Blinding Lights” at rallies—a pop anthem that made you feel like you were part of a music video. But that was walk-on music. Starmer’s approach is more subtle: music as atmosphere, not as a floor-stomper. It’s the difference between a stadium concert and a coffee shop ambience.
Think of the Oscars or the Grammys: when a winner gives a speech, a gentle piano or string section often plays underneath. It’s called “bed music,” and it’s designed to keep the audience’s energy from dipping. Politics is finally borrowing that trick. Fun fact: the BBC’s Proms uses similar techniques during spoken interludes to keep the crowd engaged without distracting from the music.
Keir Starmer gives his first speech as prime minister - BBC Newsround
Practical tip: the power of your own background score
You can steal this idea for your own life. Next time you’re giving a presentation at work, try playing a soft instrumental track at low volume as you speak. Not a distracting pop song—think Moby or Explosions in the Sky. It lowers the listener’s heart rate and makes you sound more authoritative. Just keep it under 20 seconds of audio delay so you don’t trip over the beat.
For your next Zoom call with friends? Insert a chill lo-fi track in the background. It signals “I’m relaxed, but I care” and can even help your voice sound warmer. Science backs this up: a study from the University of London found that ambient noise at 50 decibels improves creative focus.
