Twenty Thousand Hertz: "Sound Off (Gold): Transit Tunes & Childhood Chimes"

September 10, 2025 | Host: Dallas Taylor

Overview

This special episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz spotlights the top entries from the show's Sound Off listener competition, celebrating short audio stories about the world’s most iconic and personal sounds. Host Dallas Taylor introduces five winning stories, each exploring the impact of sound in surprising, emotional, and creative ways—from the intricate melodies of Japanese train stations to personal stories of family, childhood, and healing.

Key Discussion Points & Stories

1. Tinnity (by Daniele Prina)

Timestamps: 02:12–07:12

• Theme: Living with tinnitus and reclaiming control through sound design.
• Story Highlights:
  • Daniele shares the challenge of chronic tinnitus, a persistent ringing, despite careful ear health and a perfect hearing test.
  • After the test intensifies his awareness of the ringing, he experiments with generic therapy soundscapes (rain, waves), finding them impersonal.
  • Inspired, Daniele curates his own soundscapes from personal field recordings—parks, city streets, memorable trips—discovering that familiar, personally significant sounds offer comfort and relief.
  • The story closes with a moving moment: lowering his custom soundscape, he hears his daughter call “Papa, Mama” from the other room—a cherished sound that marks newfound peace.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Yet, there’s one sound I can’t control. One sound I didn’t create. One sound that never stops.” (03:05, Daniele Prina)
  • “If external conditions could make it better or worse, maybe sound itself could be the key.” (05:13)
  • “These weren’t just random sounds...they were mine. And somehow, they worked.” (06:06)

2. Departure Melodies (by Ryan Holiday, featuring Rika Ino)

Timestamps: 07:12–12:06

• Theme: The artistry and philosophy behind Japanese train departure tunes.
• Story Highlights:
  • Ryan describes being struck by the distinct, original melodies at every Tokyo subway stop—each one different and thoughtfully composed.
  • Rika Ino, founder of arts agency Sozo, explains “Hasha melody,” unique four-to-seven-second tunes for each station, designed by composer Minoru Mukaiya.
  • Mukaiya’s process is meticulous: melodies are crafted to suit the station’s local character and demographics (e.g., traditional sounds for older neighborhoods, contemporary for schools).
  • The concept is embedded in Japanese cultural values: “komakai koto” (attention to detail), “omotenashi” (hospitality), and orderliness.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “It was a full musical idea, fully realized, and surprisingly catchy.” (07:44, Ryan Holiday)
  • “There is a Japanese philosophy called komakai koto...This concept that values attention to small things and small gestures.” (11:06, Rika Ino)
  • “The sounds you hear…are like part of that orderliness, that sort of organized chaos, gently nudging you along.” (10:22, Rika Ino)

3. The Whispering Guitar (by Santiago de la Paz Cardona)

Timestamps: 12:12–15:53

• Theme: The intimate connection between family, music, and memory.
• Story Highlights:
  • Santiago recounts how his father’s gentle guitar playing (influenced by his short surgeon’s fingernails) created a unique, soft sound he grew up with.
  • A demonstration contrasts the sharp sound of traditional guitarists with his father’s “whispering” tone.
  • This familial sound shapes Santiago’s own compositions and guitar playing—evidence of how deeply personal sonic “signatures” can inspire lifelong creativity.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “I wanted those guitars to speak the way people who love each other speak.” (12:38, Santiago)
  • “[My father’s guitar] sounded different...softer, rounder, sweeter, as if the guitar was whispering.” (13:40)
  • “Now every time I compose for guitar, I try to emulate it.” (14:32)

4. Jimmy and the Bells (by Mikey)

Timestamps: 20:48–24:54

• Theme: A mischievous childhood adventure with lasting consequences.
• Story Highlights:
  • Mikey narrates a childhood memory with his older brother Jimmy, both altar boys sneaking into the church before dawn.
  • They accidentally discover a way to play the church bell tower, waking the whole town with a comedic rendition of “Shave and a Haircut.”
  • When confronted by Father Murphy, the boys deny involvement, narrowly avoiding blame—a secret Mikey now reveals decades later.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “[The church organ] looked like a spaceship. But then, next to this beast was a tiny keyboard...Jimmy flipped the switch to on and there was an electric hum.” (21:20)
  • “Some folks wake up to roosters. On that day, Wilkinsburg woke up to Jimmy.” (23:15)
  • “I just found out that there’s a 50 year statute of limitations on pinky swears. Who knew?” (24:48)

5. The Language We Built (by François Benandry) — Winning Story

Timestamps: 25:01–30:10

• Theme: Building a unique father–son connection through sound and music.
• Story Highlights:
  • François’s son is born with congenital glaucoma, making visual experiences blurry but heightening the importance of sound.
  • Their bond forms through storytelling, playful language, and exploring the sonic world—especially his son’s fascination with the Montreal metro system.
  • François crafts a custom “blue soundbox” filled with metro sounds, helping his son engage with his passion beyond physical journeys.
  • Personal experiences bleed into professional work: François designs the new REM train chime as a melodic continuation of the city’s existing sounds, inspired by his son’s input.
  • The story closes with the realization that their family's history is uniquely preserved not in photos, but in shared audio recordings—a "landmark" in their lives.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Sound became everything for him. And it just so happens that sound is my professional field.” (25:12, François Benandry)
  • “When he pressed those buttons, he wasn’t just playing. He was traveling, imagining, building his own journeys.” (26:43)
  • “It’s sound that has allowed us...to build something truly unique together.” (29:41)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Daniele Prina on personalizing therapy:
  • “Why was I settling for someone else’s idea of comfort? Then, one night, a thought hit. I work with sound every day. What if I made my own?” (05:39)
• Rika Ino on Japanese culture:
  • “Mundane is treated with utmost care and reverence. The other thing...is this notion of orderliness...that there is an extreme care towards harmony.” (11:21)
• Santiago Alvarez Martinez on legacy:
  • “It was the music of my home, the music of my father. And now? Now every time I compose for guitar, I try to emulate it.” (14:14)
• Mikey on forbidden bells:
  • “We weren’t looking to steal anything, just fascinated by all the off limits places.” (21:00)
• François Benandry on parenthood and creativity:
  • “Most people keep photos to remember those early years. But for me, I realized it was the recordings that captured it best.” (27:39)
  • “A daughter continuing her mother’s voice...Just like I was continuing something with my son through sound. It felt meaningful.” (29:08)

Important Segments (with Timestamps)

• Start of Listener Stories:
  • [02:12] Tinnity
  • [07:12] Departure Melodies
  • [12:12] The Whispering Guitar
  • [20:48] Jimmy and the Bells
  • [25:01] The Language We Built
• Interviews:
  • [08:45] Rika Ino explains shasha melody traditions

Episode Tone

The episode is heartfelt, creative, and full of genuine wonder about the interconnectedness of sound and daily life. Stories span the quietly personal to the culturally profound, carrying a sense of discovery, nostalgia, humor, and deep familial love throughout. Dallas Taylor’s hosting is warm and enthusiastic, celebrating both the art of audio storytelling and the listeners who contributed.

This summary captures the essence, structure, and emotional highlights of “Sound Off (Gold): Transit Tunes & Childhood Chimes,” offering rich context and key takeaways even for those who have not yet listened.