Have a listen: here’s the best music coming to the big screen

You’ll usually find music journalist Kate Solomon in The Guardian or Time Out, talking about the hottest new tracks – so we got her to listen to music coming to the big screen and pick her favourites, just for you. Here are Kate’s top must-hear moments.

There’s something cinematic about even the lowliest pop song - walking home in the rain with your headphones on, who hasn’t pretended to be starring in a film of their life? - but there’s something extra special about experiencing music that fits perfectly with the emotions and images of a story you’re invested in, hearing it as loud as is good for you, surrounded by people feeling the same feelings. That’s why the cinema is such a great place for music fans.

Now shh, it’s starting...

MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. - Out 21 September

This documentary tells the story of Sri Lankan-born, London-raised M.I.A., from her earliest days as a nobody with the confidence to stroll into a record label’s offices and demand they sign her, to world superstardom and activism along the way. M.I.A. songs tend to be heavy on the bass and reliant on world beats – basically, made for the biggest soundsystem you can get your hands on. Bucky Done Gun is the first M.I.A. song I encountered and I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever heard.

Get MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. tickets and times

Skate Kitchen - Out 28 September

Easily the coolest film of the quarter, Skate Kitchen’s all-girl skate crew has a killer soundtrack to match their killer attitude. Rising rap hero Princess Nokia and teen fave Khalid provide feels and vibes - Young Dumb & Broke seems to sum the whole thing up.

Skate Kitchen is out 28 September - find out more here

Bohemian Rhapsody - Out 26 October

Even people who say they hate Queen secretly love Queen. Hearing those stadium-sized rock operatics coming out of Rami Malek’s mouth is going to be the closest you’ll get to seeing Freddie Mercury in the flesh. Bohemian Rhapsody is the big crowd pleaser, but I dare you not to clap along to We Will Rock You, especially as everyone in the screen joins in. Impossible.

Get Bohemian Rhapsody tickets and times

The Grinch - Out 9 November

I’m a big fan of the Jim Carrey version of The Grinch with tiny Taylor Momsen sweetly singing ‘Where are you Christmas?’ before she discovered eyeliner and punk rawk. But soundtrack maestro Danny Elfman is scoring this animated version - could he equal the brilliance of his Nightmare Before Christmas score? One thing we do know: we’re getting a new version of You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch.

The Grinch is out 9 November - find out more here

Suspiria - Out 16 November

Thom Yorke, Radiohead frontman and master of the slinky dance move, is scoring this arty horror film remake from the director of Call Me by Your Name. If the teaser trailer is anything to go by, he’s mastered the art of a score that gets under your skin, raises your heckles and has you chewing your fingernails down to the cuticles. Definitely a Lynchian feel to it. I’m already scared.

Suspiria is out 16 November - find out more here

The album’s first song has now been released - listen to Suspirium:

Mary Poppins Returns - Out 21 December

It’s very important to note that this is a sequel and not a remake! That means new songs! With the musical duo behind Hairspray! on the case, things bode well. Emily Blunt proved she can sing in Into the Woods, Angela Lansbury was a singing teapot in Beauty and the Beast and lamplighter Lin Manuel-Miranda wrote and starred in Hamilton, for crying out loud. The songs, at least, are going to be amazing.

Mary Poppins Returns is out 21 December - find out more here

No songs yet, but the second trailer has dropped - check it out: