Musical transformations of non-places

Abstract

The twentieth and twenty-first century have been a temporary canvas where two closely related concepts have broadened, both in terms of modernity and supermodernity: ambient music and the development of urban spaces. Both phenomena undergo a development, interaction and sustained change process, largely caused by technological changes. For the purpose of this study, first the concept of "non-places" and its change from physical spaces to virtual spaces will be presented. In second place, the development of ambient music is specifically considered; first regarding the close relationship that it establishes with non-places and then the generation of atmospheres through collective sound spheres. Subsequent technological transformations spread and fragment the associations between non-places and music, enabling personal atmospheres through individual spheres. At present, technological developments allow virtual non-places to take shape (Augé), which are environmentally filled thanks to playlists through streaming services. Subsystems of delocalised networked spheres and temporary spheres are established, yet they are emotionally contiguous. This article presents the humanising role that music has experienced within this urban growth process in western societies, which have developed over the last century.