One of my favourite questions for people in music is to describe the sound of cities — the one they live in and the ones they love to return to. I truly believe every city has its own soundtrack. For me, Amsterdam sounds like the rustle of leaves in the wind (maybe because my place is surrounded by deciduous trees), the click of bicycle bells and chains, and that sound at the Albert Heijn self-checkout. It is all associations and emotion, and everyone hears a city differently.

I asked Legato, Goddard, and Adam Griffin (click their names to hear the mixes they created for STR) from YOUR ARMY (a UK-based music agency) to describe the sound of their favourite cities.

The sound of Leeds

Leeds was where it all took shape for me, musically. I moved there for university, but the lectures I remember most happened after dark—in basements, warehouses, rooms where the low end rattled your chest. I started DJing at small parties, learning how to read a crowd; from there, I moved on to bigger events. When I wasn’t playing, I spent nights hunched over a laptop, learning to make the music I make today. Leeds was cold, loud, and alive. It formed me.

The sound of Lisbon

I came to Lisbon last year to run the marathon, but the city had me before the starting line. There is something in the air — golden light on tiles, the ocean breathing in the distance, music spilling into the streets. The culture is raw yet warm and inviting. It felt like walking into a place I already knew. I left wanting more.

The sound of Dubai

A couple of years ago, I played All Day I Dream at Soho Garden. The skyline looked unreal, like it had been dropped there overnight. Even after dark, the heat sat heavy, wrapping around the music as it rolled through the crowd. Dubai is a place I hope to return to in the coming years.

The sound of Dubai

I have technically been to Dubai — but only the airport. You know when you’re sitting in the terminal watching people head out into the city and you just wish you were one of them? That was me. I remember seeing the skyline through those massive windows, hazy in the heat, and thinking: I need to come back properly one day. Not for a layover. Not rushing to a gate. Just to actually be there.

I imagine walking out of the airport with my family, feeling the warm desert air hit me, and spending the day exploring instead of waiting for a boarding call. The souks, the food, the sunsets — all of it. I want to see the colours, smell the spices, hear the city come alive at night. That airport visit felt like a tease, and I’ve wanted the full experience ever since.

The sound of Manchester

Manchester feels like a second home to me. I used to live there, and honestly, the people make it what it is. Coming from London, the difference was massive: in Manchester, people look you in the eye and say “morning” with a smile. On my way to work, I’d have these little interactions with strangers that just made life feel lighter. Meeting people Up North felt easier — like you didn’t have to try so hard. I made friends over quick chats in pubs, random conversations in the rain, even just standing in a queue. There’s a warmth you don’t forget. London will always have its energy, but Manchester has a way of making you feel like you belong — and I really valued that when I lived there.

The sound of Norwich

Whenever I think of Norwich, I see the glorious sight of the football stadium, bathed in that patchy Saturday-afternoon sunshine. It is my birthplace — one of the smallest cities to boast a cathedral — its breathtaking spire rising over the rooftops. I have never actually lived there, yet it always feels like home. I have been a Norwich City season-ticket holder for 42 years — most of my life. And there is the quiet buzz of the wonderful market, mingling with buskers on a Saturday afternoon.

The sound of San Francisco

A place I was lucky enough to visit around seven times between 2012 and 2015 while on tour with Perfect Havoc’s nu-disco artists. I quickly fell in love with the city’s realness — some days postcard-perfect, other days like a hard conversation I needed to have. A classic example: homelessness side by side with tech wealth. The hills, the fog, and the world-famous landmarks — the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars on Powell Street. I adore the city’s flamboyant spirit, threaded through a cosmopolitan, diverse, and fun crowd.

The sound of Dubai

Dubai is very close to my heart, which probably shows in the fact that I have visited five times. I still remember stepping off the plane for the first time and being hit by a wave of dry, heavy heat — unfamiliar and unmistakably desert. I am always fascinated by how a relatively young city can have so much character, with glass and steel rising from the sand. I was blown away by the sheer scale of the hotels and their luxury-themed worlds. It is a place I will keep returning to. The water parks are second to none, and I love the flourishing club scene — think Zero Gravity by Skydive Dubai.

By the way, do you want to hear more sounds? Then we have great news for you: STR — our radio — now has its very own app, your gateway to exclusive mixes, curated playlists for every mood, and podcasts featuring inspiring stories from the worlds of art, fashion, and beyond. Don’t miss out — download the STR app and take the sound with you wherever you go!

Download now