"Instant Family" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Instant Family (Original Motion Picture Score) + Songs from the Film" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

How do you soundtrack chaos turning into kin? With a warm, melodic score and pop cues that land like postcards from different rooms of the same house. Instant Family balances Michael Andrews’ tender, guitar-and-keys writing with scene-specific songs—HAIM to George Harrison—that sketch out mood, memory, and messy victory.

The official score album—Instant Family (Original Motion Picture Score)—runs 12 cues (~36:49), released by Paramount Music on November 16, 2018; Andrews recorded at Elgonix Studios with additional sessions at Sunset Sound. The film also features an original end-credits single, “I’ll Stay” performed by Isabela Merced (then credited as Isabela Moner), issued the same day as a standalone release. According to the studio album page and storefront credits, the score favors clear themes (“Lizzie’s Theme,” “Instant Family”) over wall-to-wall underscore.

Questions & Answers

Who composed the score?

Michael Andrews (Donnie Darko, Bridesmaids). He wrote, orchestrated, and recorded the album cues.

What label released the score and when?

Paramount Music; November 16, 2018 (digital).

Is there an original song tied to the film?

Yes—“I’ll Stay” by Isabela Merced (Moner) plays over the end credits and was issued as a single the same day.

Music supervision?

Format Entertainment oversaw supervision; Dave Jordan is credited, with team involvement on the project.

Does the retail score include the pop songs?

No—the official score album is Andrews’ underscore only; the licensed songs remain separate.

What’s the tone of the score?

Acoustic-led, lyrical, and clear-themed; it steps aside for songs during montage and milestone beats.

Notes & Trivia

• The director, Sean Anders, based the film on his family’s foster-to-adopt story; the music leans sincere rather than snarky.
• Several cues double as suite-like set pieces (“Lizzie’s Run,” “Crazy Life Decision”) instead of micro-stings.
• “I’ll Stay” was co-written by Isabela Merced with Justin Tranter, Nick Monson, and KENNEDI; a lyric video rolled out alongside the film.
• Geography in the mix: toy-store chaos, court warmth, and theme-park chase each get distinct sonic colors.

Genres & Themes

Acoustic indie score → vulnerability. Fingerpicked guitars, muted piano, brushed percussion outline new-bond tenderness.

Feel-good pop and classic rock → montage & milestone. HAIM and George Harrison push momentum; Starship turns the courtroom into a sing-along.

Alt/indie ballad (end credits) → epilogue. “I’ll Stay” reframes the story from Lizzie’s perspective—promising to choose family on purpose.

Tracks & Scenes

Representative placements and scene beats; time marks approximate. Diegetic status noted. Pop titles are not on the score album.

“Little of Your Love” — HAIM
Where it plays: Foster-parenting classes montage (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Buoyant, hand-clap energy that sells the “we can do this” phase before reality hits.

“Shine On Me” — Dan Auerbach
Where it plays: Adoption fair as Pete and Ellie try (and fail) at small talk (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Sunny groove under awkwardness—hopeful, then undercut by teen eye-rolls.

“Emergency” — Icona Pop
Where it plays: House-breaking-in montage of bathroom disasters (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Comedy valve; the beat keeps pace with quick-cut chaos.

“What Is Life” (2014 Remaster) — George Harrison
Where it plays: Bonding montage after the first breakthroughs (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Classic exuberance; guitars as gratitude.

“Third Uncle” — Bauhaus
Where it plays: Night chase after the school janitor Jacob (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Post-punk tension spikes the stakes for a comedic pursuit.

“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” — Starship
Where it plays: Courtroom adoption finalization; the judge cues it (diegetic/source—played in the room).
Why it matters: Cheesy? Sure. Also perfect. Communal catharsis in three minutes.

“I’ll Stay” — Isabela Merced (Moner)
Where it plays: End credits (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: The kid’s voice has the last word; lyrics promise staying, not rescuing.

Score anchors — Michael Andrews
Where they play: “Lizzie’s Theme” threads quiet empathy; “Instant Family” and “Lizzie’s Run” carry mid-film turns; “Crazy Life Decision” lands the final emotional cadence (all non-diegetic).

Music–Story Links

Pop cues energize external wins (class progress, bond montages, the judge’s flourish). Andrews’ themes do the inside work: hesitant melodies for tentative trust, warmer voicings as the family coalesces. The end-credits single hands perspective to Lizzie—exactly where the story has been heading.

How It Was Made

The score album credits confirm Andrews recorded and mixed primarily at Elgonix Studios (Glendale) with additional tracking at Sunset Sound; Gina Zimmitti contracted the players. Music supervision came via Format Entertainment (Dave Jordan and team), aligning needle-drops with upbeat but character-true moments.

Reception & Quotes

Coverage praised the balance: funny needle-drops, sincere underscore, an earnest original song to close.

“A family comedy that earns its feelings—and the music does plenty of the lifting.” trade review

“Andrews keeps it intimate; the pop cuts do the celebrating.” album coverage

Additional Info

• Score album: 12 tracks; total 36:49; released Nov 16, 2018.
• Original single: “I’ll Stay” (Paramount/Republic) released Nov 16, 2018 with lyric video.
• Key licensed songs in film: HAIM “Little of Your Love”; Dan Auerbach “Shine On Me”; Icona Pop “Emergency”; George Harrison “What Is Life”; Starship “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”; Bauhaus “Third Uncle”; Vance Joy “We’re Going Home”; Rosie Thomas “It Don’t Matter to the Sun”.
• Composer: Michael Andrews; Music supervisor: Dave Jordan (Format Entertainment).

Technical Info

• Title: Instant Family (Original Motion Picture Score)
• Year: 2018
• Type: Score album + film needle-drops + original end-credits single
• Composer/Producer: Michael Andrews
• Label: Paramount Music (score); Republic/Paramount for “I’ll Stay” single
• Studios: Elgonix Studios; additional at Sunset Sound
• Selected placements: “What Is Life” (bonding montage); “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (court, diegetic); “I’ll Stay” (end credits); HAIM, Icona Pop, Dan Auerbach cue the big comic beats.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Paramount Music album page/credits; Apple/Spotify listings for the score and “I’ll Stay”; IMDb/WGA-style song credits; scene-by-scene song placements databases; official trailers.

November, 11th 2025