Musician Stewart Copeland has launched a new musical project titled "Wild Concerto," which incorporates recordings of animal sounds into orchestral compositions. The project, a collaboration with British naturalist Martyn Stewart, utilizes vocalizations from species including hyenas, owls, and howler monkeys. Copeland showcased the development of the album during a tour of his Los Angeles recording studio with Bill Whitaker of 60 Minutes.
Copeland is widely recognized for his tenure as the drummer for the British rock band The Police. Following his career in rock music, he has focused on experimental sound design and orchestral percussion. This latest work represents a shift toward blending traditional instrumentation with environmental audio captured from the natural world.
During the demonstration, Copeland displayed a variety of instruments used in his creative process, ranging from custom-built percussion rigs and tuned bells to waterphones and gongs. The studio also contains historical items, such as a 1920s trumpet previously owned by his father and a guitar gifted to him by his former bandmate, Sting. The production combines these elements to create what the collaborators describe as a celebration of nature's sounds.
For the ordinary listener, the concrete change would be noticed in the auditory experience of the "Wild Concerto" album, where natural sounds replace or supplement traditional orchestral melodies. This reflects a broader trend in sound design where creators utilize organic, non-human elements to build compositions. The collaboration with naturalist Martyn Stewart suggests a reliance on specific high-fidelity field recordings rather than synthesized approximations of animal sounds.
The knock-on effects could include increased interest in environmental acoustics and field recording as a legitimate component of music theory and production. It sets a precedent for how retired rock musicians might pivot toward environmental advocacy or experimental art in their later careers. The album and the accompanying profile of Copeland’s studio were originally published on April 19, 2026. The source does not report a specific release date for the full album or future performance schedules.