Netflix Documentary Pitch: “Finding Our Voice: Music and Identity in Australia”

English essay

Music. It’s more than sound- it’s the heartbeat of who we are. Across Australia, music shapes identity, builds community, and tells stories of where we’ve come from and where we’re going.

In this documentary series, Finding Our Voice: Music and Identity in Australia, using an expository-observational mode, we explore how Australians use music to express who they are. It’s a story of heritage, belonging, rebellion, and discovery- one that deserves to be told on your platform,

since more than 97% of Australians engage with music every week, whether live or recorded. The series targets viewers aged 16–30, who actively explore music as part of their identity, while older audiences will connect through nostalgia and cultural heritage. A voice-over from a respected musician like Paul Kelly will add authenticity and warmth.

Music in Australia isn’t just entertainment – it’s culture. It connects generations, challenges people, and amplifies voices that might otherwise go unheard. We will follow Australians whose lives are shaped by music: an Indigenous rapper using hip hop to share his culture, a migrant family keeping traditions alive through folk songs, and young artists discovering themselves through electronic music scenes. Themes of heritage, identity, and belonging resonate locally and globally.

Music in Australia isn’t just entertainment – it’s culture. It connects generations, challenges people, and amplifies voices that might otherwise go unheard. We will follow Australians whose lives are shaped by music:

an Indigenous rapper using hip hop to share his culture, a migrant family keeping traditions alive through folk songs, and young artists discovering themselves through electronic music scenes. Themes of heritage, identity, and belonging resonate locally and globally.

Intimate interviews are the main focus, just like in Free Solo. Honnold’s close-ups reveal raw emotions during intense climbs, and we will capture moments when artists share what music means to them- their hopes, doubts, and struggles.

For example, a close-up of a teen songwriter whispering her lyrics reveals vulnerability and hope, letting audiences feel the rhythm of their lives: pride, conflict, and joy.

Wide aerial shots, inspired by Free Solo, will capture the scale of music festivals like Splendour in the Grass or Yabun Festival- thousands united by sound. Handheld phone footage of bedroom jam sessions or small suburban gigs will show music identity being created in everyday spaces.

Balanced against these energetic shots are reflective scenes: a singer quietly writing lyrics by the beach or an elder teaching songs of country. Music carries emotion- an elder sharing songlines with pride, or a teen’s trembling voice revealing resilience- connecting audiences to the lives behind the sound.

Sound will be central. Like Free Solo’s careful use of music and silence, our documentary uses non-diegetic tracks from Midnight Oil to Baker Boy to symbolise resilience, cultural pride, and rebellion.

Nostalgic ballads tell stories of heritage, while pulsing beats capture youth energy. Diegetic sound- from live performances, jam sessions, and family singing- immerses viewers in the moment, grounding the story in real Australian spaces.

Historical footage traces Australian music’s evolution-

from live performances, jam sessions, and family singing- immerses viewers in the moment, grounding the story in real Australian spaces.

Historical footage traces Australian music’s evolution- from pub rock and Indigenous protest songs to viral TikTok hits shaping modern identity. This context shows how music evolves while continuing to shape national conversations.

Free Solo promised “this is climbing like you’ve never seen it before.” Our documentary promises the same: this is Australian music like you’ve never seen it before- not just performances, but the deep stories of identity they carry.

Netflix’s commitment to authentic storytelling makes it the perfect home. Finding Our Voice: Music and Identity in Australia will spark global conversations about music’s universal role in shaping identity while highlighting uniquely Australian stories that deserve to be heard.