Transforming Construction Noise Into Music: 19 Sound’s Collaboration with Bonfire and Procore

Having partnered with the Bonfire team on global campaigns for Ancestry, among others, we’ve built a strong and seamless working relationship with their team in San Francisco, California.

Our schedules synced in an almost perfect rhythm; morning catch-ups for the creative team in the U.S  / early evening wrap-ups for us in the U.K, before we go to work overnight, ensuring the music was ready and waiting in their inbox by the time their new day began.

When Bonfire was approached by Procore, a leading company in the American construction industry, to produce a film for their annual conference, we were excited to be brought on board. The film was bold and dynamic, spotlighting the heavy machinery central to Procore’s projects; steel girders hoisted by trucks, circular saws slicing through metal, and specialized power tools in action, while telling the story of the teamwork behind large-scale infrastructure builds.

The creative approach was one we’d successfully used before: transforming the raw sounds of the construction site into the foundation of the music itself. We used the high-pitched whir of drills and the sharp cut of circular saws to create intricate rhythmic textures. The heavy clang of steel beams became snare hits, while the deep rumble of a pickup truck served as the kick drum.

For the melodic elements, we isolated a short loop from the alarm of a reversing truck and, using additive synthesis, transformed it into an unexpected but compelling synth melody. This was layered with a simple, evolving line that builds momentum—reminiscent of the atmospheric and slightly euphoric tones found in the score of the TV series Industry.

As with all our projects, we provided several distinct demo options. Each one exploring different creative directions, before refining the chosen option, into the final track. It is an essential part of our process, ensuring the end result truly fits the creative vision.

The result, a soundtrack that’s bold, energetic, and deeply connected to the visuals—turning the raw sounds of a construction site into something rhythmic, powerful, and entirely unique.