London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks is one of the world’s most iconic annual live celebrations, bringing together tens of thousands along the River Thames and millions more via broadcast.

For the 2022/23 celebrations, the show returned as a full public event and introduced a new creative chapter under lead agency Identity. Framed around the theme “With Love From London”, the concept centred on unity, diversity and optimism as the city welcomed in 2023.

ON THE SLY returned to the project as music directors, this year working alongside Identity and co-music director Kojo Samuel, delivering the music for Europe’s largest annual firework and drone spectacle.

Music plays a central role in the experience. It supports narrative, anchors emotional shifts and provides structure across a vast visual canvas. For 2023, the soundtrack reflected key cultural moments from the year, including the Lionesses’ UEFA Women’s Euro victory, messages of solidarity for Ukraine and celebrations of Pride and community.

The soundtrack combined carefully curated commercial music with narrative voice content and bespoke audio design, forming the musical backbone of the show and integrating seamlessly with fireworks, drone formations and lighting across London’s skyline at midnight.

Working closely with creative, technical and broadcast teams, ON THE SLY ensured the music carried the show’s message clearly and cohesively, delivering a shared moment of celebration for both the live audience and viewers worldwide.

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ON THE SLY has delivered music direction and soundtrack production for multiple editions of London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, helping shape one of the world’s most widely watched annual live events.

This project forms part of our work creating soundtracks for fireworks and drone shows around the world.