In a primarily visual culture, Soundtrackcity focuses on the auditory experience of the city. Sound is a fundamental part of the urban fabric. To a great extent, specific sounds determine the atmosphere and identity of a place. They influence people’s state of mind and sometimes even behaviour. Yet little attention is paid to the sound quality of cities and the auditory experience of these spaces often remains subconscious when designing public spaces.

Soundtrackcity wants to make a difference. The organisation, founded in 2009, initially did so by creating sound art for public spaces. A large collection of sound walks was produced in the Netherlands and abroad by a team of artists and composers. Users gain access to a different experience of the urban environment through sound.

Since then, Soundtrackcity has developed from a curatorial collective into an artistic research agency. The socio-cultural effects, meaning and impact of environmental noise are analysed in collaboration with city residents and professionals from various disciplines. The research results are shared in the form of audio walks, theatre productions, sound guides, live radio shows and listening guides. Soundtrackcity collaborates with local residents’ initiatives, social organisations and scientific partners such as the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.