The Subway Above Ground

South Ferry

The following piece simulates a full ride on the 1 line of the NYC subway, where the quantity and power of the instruments at any given moment in the song correspond to the median household income of the neighborhood that you are passing through.

Instructions: if you would like to experience this offline and on a subway ride, download the media file via the button below the video. Once you start to play the file, find your station (you can use the track listing on this page as a guide), and listen to the song in the background as you ride the subway. The result is a meditative piece in which the dramatic contrasts of a song echo the dramatic differences of income in the city.

Download this video*
*Right click or long-press the button above and select "download link..." to save to your device

Track Listing

• 00:02 Van Cortlandt Park - 242 St $67,367 approx. median household income
• 00:56 238 St $59,613 approx. median household income
• 02:09 231 St $33,520 approx. median household income
• 03:12 Marble Hill - 225 St $32,914 approx. median household income
• 04:25 215 St $72,459 approx. median household income
• 05:27 207 St $39,481 approx. median household income
• 06:39 Dyckman St $46,496 approx. median household income
• 07:47 191 St $37,108 approx. median household income
• 08:59 181 St $49,535 approx. median household income
• 10:53 168 St - Washington Hts $32,403 approx. median household income
• 12:16 157 St $51,507 approx. median household income
• 13:51 145 St $47,811 approx. median household income
• 14:48 137 St - City College $43,774 approx. median household income
• 16:10 125 St $30,307 approx. median household income
• 17:50 116 St - Columbia University $73,645 approx. median household income
• 18:37 Cathedral Pkwy $100,801 approx. median household income
• 19:29 103 St $104,852 approx. median household income
• 20:39 96 St $107,264 approx. median household income
• 21:46 86 St $147,606 approx. median household income
• 22:47 79 St $160,399 approx. median household income
• 23:51 72 St $122,581 approx. median household income
• 24:47 66 St - Lincoln Center $155,722 approx. median household income
• 25:45 59 St - Columbus Circle $154,961 approx. median household income
• 26:59 50 St $120,472 approx. median household income
• 28:17 Times Sq - 42 St $104,235 approx. median household income
• 29:20 34 St - Penn Station $149,645 approx. median household income
• 30:00 28 St $141,969 approx. median household income
• 30:40 23 St $120,565 approx. median household income
• 31:18 18 St $139,844 approx. median household income
• 31:59 14 St $130,941 approx. median household income
• 32:53 Christopher St - Sheridan Sq $105,661 approx. median household income
• 33:54 Houston St $119,411 approx. median household income
• 34:55 Canal St $137,706 approx. median household income
• 35:34 Franklin St $190,445 approx. median household income
• 36:21 Chambers St $246,843 approx. median household income
• 37:09 Cortlandt St $185,449 approx. median household income
• 37:59 Rector St $144,203 approx. median household income
• 38:59 South Ferry $150,563 approx. median household income