Since 2019, the concept of listening - and particular ‘Deep Listening’ - has become increasingly important to us in unlocking non-hierarchical approaches to intercultural collaboration. During our last residency and tour in 2022, we began extending ways of listening from humans to other species, with several collaborations responding to the theme of Birds. This year we are taking what feels like a logical and exciting step to further embrace interspecies music-making within Making Tracks. In the meantime, this page showcases some other examples of interspecies music-making from diverse artists.

A video about acclaimed interspecies musician (and Making Tracks Advisory Board member) David Rothenberg's work playing music live with insects - from katydids and crickets to underwater boatmen and backswimmers.

Making Tracks 2022 fellow Shahab Azinmehr performs his song 'Blackbird' live with blackbirds during the Making Tracks tour.

Musician Cosmo Sheldrake, who has incorporated sounds of birds and whales in his music, performs 'Cuckoo Song' during the dawn chorus.

A film about Helen Anahita Wilson's remarkable work, creating music from anti-cancer plants.

One of the French pianist Chassol's 'Ultrabirdz' works, which engages in a melodic dialogue with the birds of his native island of Martinique.

Composer Alexander Liebermann's response to the last recorded song of the now extinct bird, Kaua'i 'o'o. Liebermann spends much of his time studying the sounds of wildlife and is known for his original and accurate transcriptions of animal vocalizations.

A piece of music from Cucusonic - an album of new music, featuring the sounds of Colombia's Neotropical forests.

David Rothenberg plays live with humpback whales