The Atlas Obscura Podcast Civic Musical Road (Classic)
Jul 4, 2025
Discover a quirky musical road in Lancaster, California, where grooves create the thrilling finale of the William Tell Overture. Learn how a Honda Civic commercial sparked the musical road phenomenon, blending engineering and artistry. The journey traces its origins back to Denmark, highlighting creative collaborations that enable tires to transform tarmac into tunes. Hear personal stories and community memories as the hosts reflect on the challenges of preserving this unique auditory experience against the elements.
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Punk Rockers Build Musical Road
- Los Angeles record producer Paul DeGray applied his punk rock and math skills to engineer the Honda Civic Musical Road.
- His friends from the punk scene turned production designers collaborated on this unique musical instrument project.
Grooves Create Musical Notes
- Grooves in a road create small sound pops that the tire pressure releases while driving.
- When placed fast and in sequence, these pops form recognizable musical tones perceived as notes.
Imperfections in Musical Road
- The musical road's pitch is never perfect due to production and environmental factors like asphalt expansion.
- Its success lies in resembling the song well enough to provide an enjoyable auditory experience.