Concrete ghosts

"In the field recording, there was a conversation that felt like reminiscing. I say it felt that way because I do not speak the language. I loved the contrast between that dialogue and a shouting voice at the start and end that sounded desperate for someone's attention.

"The shout itself could have been anything, a chant, a protest, or even a stall holder drumming up business, and it truly captured my imagination.

"I wanted to create two opposing parts: the past, represented by a granular, ghostly memory, before moving into the 'now' and beyond, recognising that the present will one day become a memory itself.

"I used the chant to move between these two states. I wanted it to represent resistance, protest, excitement, and the march of progress all at once, because change can be simultaneously exciting, scary, and sad.

"Beyond the voices, I used other sounds from the recording to create granular rhythms and textures, as well as some more percussive sounds for a beat and finally, I worked on including additional synths and some drums."
 
Guqiting Street, Yangzhou reimagined by Craig Burton.