One of the most fascinating things to come out of our #StayHomeSounds project to record the sounds of the global Covid-19 lockdown has been to compare some of the world’s bustling, busy cities as they are today with how they were just a few short weeks ago.

The differences between the sounds tell the story of the global lockdown all by themselves – let’s take a listen to a few examples.

Times Square, New York

One of the world’s most famous urban tourist attractions, Times Square is bold, brash and garish – and above all, noisy! Compare this clip from 2019, with cars, crowds and street entertainers, with the locked-down recording, in which the ghostly drone of air conditioners from the surrounding buildings now dominate the soundscape – it’s a truly ghostly, almost sci-fi movie-esque sound.

Before the lockdown:

After the lockdown:

Grand Central Station, New York

Staying in New York, Grand Central is an iconic train station known the world over – its main central hall is a huge, reverberating space that quickly becomes a miasma of noises all blending together. In the locked-down recording, you can actually hear the sounds of individual people moving inside the space, which is a truly remarkable change.

Before the lockdown:

After the lockdown:

Tottenham Court Road, London

Over to London, and we can hear the differences being made to the sounds of the city’s iconic Underground metro system in these clips from Tottenham Court Road in the heart of the city. The first is a typical day on the Tube, with trains coming and going, announcements and bustling crowds – and the second, just before London’s lockdown, still sounds spookily deserted.

Before the lockdown:

After the lockdown:

Covent Garden, London

Close by is Covent Garden, the world-famous market usually full of tourists, street entertainers and buzzing city life – the first clip sees us leave the Tube station, immediately heading into the bustle of the area. In the second, Covent Garden is shut down, deserted and almost silent.

Before the lockdown:

After the lockdown:

Padova, Italy

Over in Italy, and here are two sounds from a major city – Padova is in Veneto, one of the worst-hit regions in the north, and is totally locked down at the time of publication. The first sound is the typical Padova city centre, with some of its classic street entertainers – and the second is a clip sent into by a local resident, as all normal life is suspended in the heart of the city.

Before the lockdown:

After the lockdown: