Thematic's Songs page includes a keyword search and a filter panel. Here is what each option does.
Keyword search
Type any word into the search bar to search across song titles, artist names, and song lyrics. Use this when you have a specific word, phrase, or mood in mind - for example, "summer," "rain," or an artist name. Combine keyword search with filters to narrow results further.
Song Type
Three toggles that are all on by default, meaning the full library is visible. Turn any toggle off to exclude that song type from your results.
- Instrumental - toggle off to hide songs with no vocals. Useful when you want results with vocals only.
- Explicit Songs - toggle off to hide songs with explicit language. Recommended if you're creating family-friendly or brand-safe content.
- With Lyrics - toggle off to hide songs that include vocals and lyrics. Useful when you want instrumental-only results.
Access Type
Filters the library by which songs you can download based on your plan. All three are enabled by default.
- Early Access - available exclusively to Pro subscribers for 7 days before the song opens to all creators.
- Premium - available to Premium and Pro plan subscribers only.
Note: if you downloaded a song while it was free and it later became Premium, you keep full access to use it at no cost - the Premium label only affects new downloads. - Free - available to all Thematic creators at no cost, using the points download system.
Genre
Browse by musical genre. Select from top-level genre categories (Pop, Rock, Jazz, Electronic Dance, Folk/Country, R&B, Classical, and more) and expand any genre to see its subgenres nested underneath - for example, Electronic Dance includes subgenres like Abstract/IDM/Leftfield, Breakbeat/Drum & Bass, and Deep House. Select at the genre or subgenre level, or combine multiple selections.
Vibe
Filter by mood or emotional feel. Choose from 132 vibe tags - from Adventurous, Calm, and Hopeful to Melancholy, Eerie, and Triumphant, and everything in between. Use this when you know the feeling you want the music to create, even if you're not sure about genre.
Video Keyword
Filter by the theme or content type of your video.
Options include: Adventure, Aesthetic, Animals, Animation, Art & Photography, Beauty & Makeup, Books, Cars, Challenges, Construction, Cooking & Food, Dance, DIY, Educational, Family, Fashion & Style, Finance, Fitness & Workouts, Gaming, Gardening, Hair, Health & Wellness, Holiday, Home Decor, Interviews, Kid Friendly, Live Streams, Meditation, Music, News, Organization, Podcasts, Politics, Pop Culture, Pranks, Real Estate, Reviews, Routines, Science, Self Care, Skits, Sports, Studying, Technology, Travel, Tutorials, Unboxings, Vlogs, and more.
This is the fastest way to find music matched to what your video is actually about.
Energy
Filter by the overall energy level of the song.
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High - driving, intense, fast-moving
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Medium - balanced, moderate pace
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Low - calm, understated, background-friendly
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Variable - energy shifts throughout the song
Vocal Type
Filter by the gender of the lead vocals.
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Female - songs with female lead vocals
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Male - songs with male lead vocals
To filter for songs with no vocals, use the Instrumental toggle at the top of the filter panel.
Featured Instrument
Search or select from a dropdown to filter by the most prominent instrument in the song - for example, piano, guitar, strings, synth. Useful when a specific sonic texture matters for your video.
Movement
Describes the rhythmic feel or physical quality of the song - how it moves, not just how fast. Options: Bouncy, Driving, Flowing, Groovy, Nonrythmic, Pulsing, Robotic, Running, Static, Steady, Stomping. Use this when you're looking for a specific kind of motion or groove rather than a mood or genre. For example, a montage or action sequence might call for Driving or Running; a meditation or ambient piece might call for Flowing or Static.
Emotional Dynamic
Describes how much the song's emotional intensity shifts from start to finish. Think of it as the song's emotional arc.
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High - the song builds, climaxes, or changes dramatically - emotionally expressive, with clear peaks and valleys
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Medium - moderate variation in emotional intensity across the song
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Low - steady and even throughout - the emotional tone doesn't shift much from beginning to end
Use this when you need a song that holds a consistent mood (Low) or one that builds and pays off (High).
Emotional Profile
Describes the overall emotional character of the song - not the specific mood, but whether it leans positive, negative, or somewhere in between.
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Positive - upbeat, optimistic, feel-good
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Negative - darker, tense, melancholic
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Variable - moves between emotional states
For a more specific mood, use Vibe instead.
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
BPM is the tempo of a song - how fast the beat moves. Filter using a slider. As a rough guide: 60-80 BPM feels slow and contemplative (ballads, ambient), 90-110 BPM is mid-tempo (pop, folk, soft R&B), 120-140 BPM is upbeat and energetic (dance, pop, hip-hop), and 140+ BPM is fast-paced (electronic, drum and bass, intense action). If you're not sure what BPM you need, use Energy or Vibe instead.
Song Length
Filter by track duration using a slider from 0:00 to 5:00+. Useful if you're editing to a tight time constraint or need a long background track.
Language
Filter by the language the song is sung in. Select from the dropdown. Useful if you're creating content for a specific regional audience or want lyrics that match your audience's language.
Artist Location
Filter by where the artist is based. Select from the dropdown. Useful if you want to feature music from a specific country or region, or support artists from a particular location.
Sort
Control the order results appear in. Choose from the dropdown in the top right of the results area.
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Most Popular (default) - songs ranked by creator popularity on Thematic
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A to Z - alphabetical by song title
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Newest - most recently added songs first
Frequently asked questions
Can I use multiple filters at the same time?
Yes. Filters stack - apply as many as you need and the library updates in real time to show songs that match all of your selections.
What's the difference between Vibe and Emotional Profile?
Vibe describes the mood you want the music to create for the viewer - Chill, Uplifting, Melancholic. Emotional Profile describes the song's underlying character - Positive, Negative, or Variable. A song can have a Chill vibe and a Positive emotional profile, or a Melancholic vibe and a Variable emotional profile. Use Vibe when you're thinking about the viewer's experience; use Emotional Profile when you want more precise control over the song's emotional tone.
What's the difference between Energy and Emotional Dynamic?
Energy describes the overall activity level of the song - how much drive and intensity it has. Emotional Dynamic describes the range of emotional expression - how dramatically the song shifts in feeling. A high-energy song can have low emotional dynamic (steady, driving, consistent) or high emotional dynamic (building, climactic, dramatic).
I found a song I like. How do I find more songs like it?
Click the radio icon next to any song to instantly find similar tracks. Thematic will surface songs with a comparable sound, mood, and style - useful when you've found something close but want a few options before committing.
Can I save my favorite filters so I don't have to reapply them every time?
Yes. Toggle on Recent Filter History at the top of the filter panel, apply the filters and keywords you want to save, then click Save Filters. Your saved combination will be available to reapply in one tap the next time you visit.
I can't find what I'm looking for with filters. What else can I try?
Use the keyword search bar to search by song title, artist name, or a word from the lyrics. You can also browse Thematic Collections and Suggested Playlists for curated sets matched to specific themes and content styles.