Cuzco street market
Mar 23, 07:19 PM
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"As the primary sound from the original field recording, I chose to loop a section featuring what sounds like an older woman talking and laughing. To me, she seems like someone who has been to the market many times—perhaps even works there. Her laugh carries an element of mystery and wisdom. By looping this moment, I wanted to express how, although time passes and this recording captures just a moment from a single day, the market itself—hopefully—remains, as it has for many years.
"I also included a section featuring a young child, perhaps in a pram, playing with a squeaky toy. Birds can be heard, along with a wonderfully cheerful greeting from a vibrant young woman—"¡Hola, cómo estás?"—spoken in a way that could only bring a smile to your face.
"At 3:29 in the original 7-minute-plus field recording, there is a sound after the woman’s laughter that resembles the notes of a flute. This moment inspired the flute riff I played. The flute is an important traditional instrument in Peruvian music, so I though it a good fit to complement the atmosphere of the market, the birds, and the market-goers. I explored scales commonly used in Peruvian flute music and settled on A Lydian mode. The other sounds momentarily 'disappear' for a few bars to make way for this message from the flute. Another section from the original field recording, featuring a young child, is looped repeatedly with the addition of plugin effects.
"I also added a layer of electromagnetic smog—something ever-present in our world, yet inaudible to human ears. It contributes to the hustle and bustle of the market, introducing a chaotic energy that contrasts with the more familiar human and animal sounds. It represents both the uncertain future of traditional markets and our own uncertainty as a species on this planet. While its electronic, technotronic vibe contrasts with the organic sounds, it also enhances the atmosphere of the piece, helping to introduce and transition between different elements.
"The drums are samples from an Eric Harland Yurt Rock pack, which I arranged on the MPC One. They serve as the backbone of the piece. I wanted a rhythm that felt a little freeform and jazzy—something that could stand on its own rather than a rigid, structured beat. The piece actually works well without drums, but I believe it is stronger with them. I then added other elements, including two synth pads, an 808 sub, and mixed everything in Reaper DAW.
"I wanted to keep the piece quite short—like a bird flying over the market, catching a fleeting glimpse of its life without staying too long. It’s not about fully experiencing the market but about catching a brief impression of its atmosphere, then transforming that into something new while still retaining its original essence."
Cuzco street market reimagined by Wanted Sound.
———————
This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage
"I also included a section featuring a young child, perhaps in a pram, playing with a squeaky toy. Birds can be heard, along with a wonderfully cheerful greeting from a vibrant young woman—"¡Hola, cómo estás?"—spoken in a way that could only bring a smile to your face.
"At 3:29 in the original 7-minute-plus field recording, there is a sound after the woman’s laughter that resembles the notes of a flute. This moment inspired the flute riff I played. The flute is an important traditional instrument in Peruvian music, so I though it a good fit to complement the atmosphere of the market, the birds, and the market-goers. I explored scales commonly used in Peruvian flute music and settled on A Lydian mode. The other sounds momentarily 'disappear' for a few bars to make way for this message from the flute. Another section from the original field recording, featuring a young child, is looped repeatedly with the addition of plugin effects.
"I also added a layer of electromagnetic smog—something ever-present in our world, yet inaudible to human ears. It contributes to the hustle and bustle of the market, introducing a chaotic energy that contrasts with the more familiar human and animal sounds. It represents both the uncertain future of traditional markets and our own uncertainty as a species on this planet. While its electronic, technotronic vibe contrasts with the organic sounds, it also enhances the atmosphere of the piece, helping to introduce and transition between different elements.
"The drums are samples from an Eric Harland Yurt Rock pack, which I arranged on the MPC One. They serve as the backbone of the piece. I wanted a rhythm that felt a little freeform and jazzy—something that could stand on its own rather than a rigid, structured beat. The piece actually works well without drums, but I believe it is stronger with them. I then added other elements, including two synth pads, an 808 sub, and mixed everything in Reaper DAW.
"I wanted to keep the piece quite short—like a bird flying over the market, catching a fleeting glimpse of its life without staying too long. It’s not about fully experiencing the market but about catching a brief impression of its atmosphere, then transforming that into something new while still retaining its original essence."
Cuzco street market reimagined by Wanted Sound.
———————
This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage