There was one morning a few months ago, about 2 months after moving to Shanghai, that remains vividly etched in my memory. On that day, every small sound and action seemed incredibly present- as if I was living every single second with my full consciousness.
The day started with my roommate knocking on my door, and the beep of my alarm pulling me from sleep. Revving my moped, the engine roared to life as I drove through quiet streets on my way to school. Arriving on campus, chatter and clinking dishes echoed from the cafeteria as I ate breakfast.
In the library, each turn of a textbook page and tap of keys on my laptop stood out as I studied. Bird song filtered through open windows alongside the occasional shout of students passing by outside. One hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Class discussions and the scratch of pens taking notes layered with nearby laughter and phones vibrating in bags. Later, guitar strings sang under my fingers before bed. A long exhale echoed the completion of another day, with the routine soon to repeat.
Though I’ve lived in Shanghai only briefly, the sensory details of that one morning remain vividly etched in my memory. I hope to recreate this immersive soundtrack through layered field recordings that capture the essence of an ordinary yet heightened day of mine.