The next stop on our Future Cities tour of the world’s cities is Santiago, Chile, a metropolis nestled at the foot of the Andes – with more than six million citizens, it’s one of the biggest cities in Latin America, and a vibrant, fascinating place to visit.

Our Santiago sounds begin with start off by listening to the sound of street drummers, a traditional music form in Chile, with the drummers performing often-elaborate dances at the same time as drumming out complex polyrhythms, with foot-controlled drum triggers.

Here we hear a troupe of four drummers performing on the streets of Santiago near the universirt.

City version:

The street drummers were reimagined by Paul Collins, who writes:

“My music often eschews the regular beat, and it is only too seldom that I have the opportunity to play with a live drummer, let alone a whole horde them.

“With this field recording of street drummers in Santiago, I attempted to create a song that swings. It’s infectious.”

Memory version:

The mighty Cerro Santo Cristobal dominates the Santiago skyline, and affords some incredible views from the top via panoramic walks or a cable car network.

The quickest way to the top – and one that gives us this recording – is aboard the clanking funicular track.

City version:

The funicular was reimagined by Kristoffer Raasted, who took this approach:

“I’ve edited the recording on a DJ mixer, reflecting upon the technological aspect of railways. The train metaphor in music is very present in the rhythmical aspect, and in that sense somehow connected to the narratives around the turntable wheels etc.”

Memory version:

Our last stop on the tour of Santiago sounds is a familiar city soundscape – a central square around which people congregate, where vendors are selling food, drink and souvenirs, and where street performers come together to entertain the crowds.

Plaza de Armas is the biggest, most important such square in Santiago, and this recording shows some of the variety and richness of life around this central location.

City version:

Andy Lyon‘s Plaza de Armas composition sounds like this:

“The recording captured a range of activities and a diverse range of sounds.

“It has quite a laid back feeling and I’ve created a fairly minimal arrangement to compliment and contrast the mood. I’ve used a variety of Spitfire Audio libraries, Go2 synth by Rob Papen and a range of Eventide Effects.”

Memory version: