De Unde

Cities and Memory - remixing the world

"As we journey through new lands, we seek self-discovery or a place to call home. Whether driven by safety or change, we connect with new worlds, bringing pieces of home to unfamiliar places and returning with new experiences. We build on what we know and explore what we encounter, exchanging views on life, customs, trends, language, and recipes. Even on the shortest journey, we create bonds that transcend distance.
"In many cultures, travelers are welcomed with greetings, food, and drink. This hospitality, deeply rooted in my Moldovan upbringing, thrives in places like farmer and flea markets. These markets are social hubs where people exchange news and form connections. In Soroca, farmers from neighboring villages and Ukraine gather at the market (Piaţa/Bazar) to sell their goods, creating a sensory experience rich with diverse languages, aromas, and interactions.
"At these markets, you hear the latest news, tales of love and conflict, wedding invitations, funerals, or even get a psychic reading. They are cultural melting pots, where stories from strangers transport you to ordinary and extraordinary places. These moments linger in memory, resurfacing in similar interactions later in life. I felt this in Istanbul, where food markets reminded me of the connections between social life and migration.
"Returning to Moldova after years in the USA was profound. As an immigrant re-experiencing my hometown, being in Moldova's Roma capital felt symbolic and meaningful. My favorite spot in Soroca is the halfway point towards Dealul Ţiganilor (Roma Hill), offering an unforgettable view of Moldova and Ukraine. It's a place where you feel connected to both sides of the river, appreciating the geography's uniqueness.
"Our experiences build a cultural database, helping us compare and understand what we know with what we encounter. We find similarities, appreciate uniqueness, learn, and share with others. A story unfolds through words, sounds, and pictures, enhanced by shared food, language, and beliefs.
"We seek home, shuffling memories of comfort, belonging, and safety. We long for something fresh and exciting, yet secure enough to build a future. All these lives, encounters, and paths have a soundtrack, as migrant as we are.
"Inspired by my experiences, I wanted to create a track based on memories of the farmers market (Piaţa) in Soroca city center, where sensory overload is guaranteed. The track had to reflect the multiculturality of Soroca, featuring all the modern and historical influences blended into a cohesive sound hybrid that also represents me as an artist. The cacophony of sounds—blips of conversation, snippets of radio, and passing cars—creates a massive symphony.
"As a child, I would weave these random sounds into patterns, rhythms, or songs, realizing that everything is melody, and everything is sound."
Moldovan farmer's market recording reimagined by Serge Bulat.
Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.
For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration