Cities and Memory

What Cities and Memory actually is

A global sound project that pairs each field recording with a second, reimagined version composed from it, both pinned to the spot they were captured. Thousands of contributors have covered protests, markets, migrations, glaciers and empty rooms across more than a hundred countries.

Why it is worth your time

Hearing the raw recording and then the composed response back to back turns a map pin into something closer to a short documentary.

Common questions

Is Cities and Memory free?

Yes. Cities and Memory is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does Cities and Memory take?

Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention. We file it under "Coffee break" — a world map where every pin is a field recording.

Does Cities and Memory work on a phone?

Yes. Cities and Memory works on a phone as well as it does on a laptop.

What kind of site is Cities and Memory?

We list it under Sound & Signal — music discovery that beats the algorithm. Hearing the raw recording and then the composed response back to back turns a map pin into something closer to a short documentary.