James Murphy reveals plan to revamp NYC turnstiles
James Murphy would like to change the way that New York City subways sound. The LCD Soundsystem mastermind and DFA label head wants to replace the current beeps of the systems turnstiles with 3-to-5 note melodies that would harmonize with each other.
Via Murphy's Subway Symphony site:
Every time you swipe your MetroCard, the turnstile emits a flat, unpleasant "beep". Each turnstile emits its own beep, all of which are slightly out of tune with one another, creating a dissonant rubbing-styrofoam-on-glass squeak in stations all around New York City. It's kind of horrible.
"This is not a big deal!" you cry. "There are way bigger problems in New York!" you yell. You're pretty much totally right. But this one is so infuriating because, quite simply, it would be really cheap and easy to change. And I think it would be really lovely, honestly.
Murphy hopes to implement the change as the city renovates its 3.289 turnstiles for a new tap-to-pay system that will help the system move away from Metro cards.
"Someone's going to make a chip that beeps on the next system... that's a given. All I'm asking for is the chance to help make that beep something memorable," Murphy writes.
The MTA's response, courtesy of spokesperson Adam Lisberg? "We really don't care" about an "art project."