From Bengaluru Traffic to Java Volcanoes: A New Video Series Captures Sounds of Life Through Travel

Ask any first-time visitor to the Asia Pacific about their impression of the first city they landed in, and they’re likely to say the overwhelming sounds caught their attention. From the sound of spoken language itself to the sonic textures that surround us – at the bazaars, beaches and busy streets – the relationship between travel and aural experiences is intimate. 

In a bid to capture the unique moods of the many places in Asia Pacific, Marriott Bonvoy has collaborated with Amsterdam musicians Parallelle to curate, chronicle and showcase a new video series. The idea is to create an interface that connects avid travellers to the destinations they’re at, and to provide a sonic window to a place’s culture, heritage and legacy.

 Parallelle, comprising brothers Julien and Thomas De Bie, are composers, producers and multi-instrumentalists who have been on a mission to integrate world culture into their hybrid music that spans electro-jazz and EDM. Their live performance sets are euphoric – with groove and bass at the forefront, amplified by soaring vocals. Having played sets at DGTL Festival, Burning Man and Wonderfruit, Parallelle look at recording and performing music with a community-focussed narrative.

Watch the video for Parallelle’s sonic experiments in the bustling city of Bengaluru:

“We aren’t choosing sounds; we are meeting people,” says Thomas. “In order to curate these sounds, you have to interact with the locals. We love meeting people who show us their worlds, their lives and their day-to-day routine.” Adds Julien, “There is so much more to travel than meets the eye. Through sound, we can experience places and cultures like nothing you’ve ever known. Our music transcends borders and infuses the richness of destinations, traditional music and from time to time, spotlights local musicians.  We hope that our music can inspire people to explore new destinations and cultures.” 

Their collaboration with Marriott Bonvoy witnesses them curating the varied sounds of Fiji, Osaka, Bangkok, and Bengaluru.

“We believe experiencing a destination goes beyond just seeing the sights. It’s about connecting with the local community and immersing yourself in their way of life. Our collaboration with Parallelle does exactly that, allowing travelers to reimagine travel through sound and forge stronger emotional bonds to their favorite destinations,” says John Toomey, Vice President,  Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China), Marriott International.

The five-episodic music videos build on Parallelle’s ongoing ‘A Day In’ sonic chronicles where they showcase indigenous narratives by means of immersive collaborations. The vivid vides have been shot by celebrated French cinematographer Arnaud Moro.