Heathrow’s New Soundtrack Turns Airport Noise into Music — Here’s How

30 July 2025 | Travel News

If you’ve ever found airports overwhelming, Heathrow’s new summer initiative might just change that. This year, they’re introducing a calming, immersive soundtrack made entirely from the everyday sounds of the airport itself.

Introducing “Music for Heathrow” by Jordan Rakei

In collaboration with Grammy-nominated musician and producer Jordan Rakei, Heathrow has unveiled “Music for Heathrow” — a bespoke ambient track designed to enhance the airport experience. Inspired by Brian Eno’s legendary 1979 album “Music for Airports”, Rakei’s modern interpretation blends over 50 real recordings captured across Heathrow’s terminals, runways, and baggage areas.

The result? A sonic experience that’s both calming and energising, helping travellers ease into their journeys from the moment they arrive at the terminal.

What Makes This Airport Soundtrack Unique?

Unlike traditional background music, Music for Heathrow is built entirely from real sounds recorded across the airport. Rakei spent time exploring the full Heathrow ecosystem, from arrival halls to airfields, capturing everything from the roar of jet engines to the soft beeps of boarding gates.

🔊 Here’s what you’ll hear:

Plane engines transformed into smooth synths
Boarding calls and baggage sirens reimagined as ambient textures
Passport stamps and carousel thuds used as rhythmic percussion
Air traffic control chatter adding subtle tension
The iconic “ding” of a Tannoy announcement woven into transitions

There are even sound samples from iconic airport film scenes, including the security scanner beep from Love Actually and rhythmic foot taps from Bend It Like Beckham, adding a nostalgic British twist.

Why Heathrow Is Doing This

Heathrow is embracing sonic branding, a rising trend in the travel sector where airports and airlines use music and soundscapes to shape the traveller experience. Just this year, Riyadh Air released its own brand anthem, “Sound of a New Era”, fusing Middle Eastern heritage with futuristic tones.

With Music for Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport is not only focusing on logistics, it’s investing in atmosphere, emotion, and memory.

“Nothing compares to the excitement of stepping foot in the airport for the start of a summer holiday,” says Lee Boyle, Head of Terminals at Heathrow. “This new soundtrack perfectly captures those feelings.”

Listen Before You Fly

You don’t need to wait until you’re at Heathrow to hear it. The full track is now available on Jordan Rakei’s SoundCloud, so you can get into travel mode well before take-off.

If you’re flying through Heathrow this summer, listen out for it across all terminals — whether you’re queueing for security or sipping a flat white before boarding, it’s designed to set the perfect tone for your trip.

🎵 Final Boarding Call: Why This Matters for Business and Leisure Travellers

Ambient airport music might sound niche, but it’s a small, smart move that reflects a bigger trend — airports becoming not just places of transit, but emotional touchpoints. Whether you’re a frequent business flyer or heading off on holiday, Heathrow’s new soundtrack reminds us that the journey doesn’t begin on the plane — it starts the moment you walk through the terminal doors.