Stewart Copeland and Martyn Stewart Release 'Wild Concerto' Album
Legendary drummer Stewart Copeland and naturalist Martyn Stewart have released "Wild Concerto," a groundbreaking album fusing orchestral music with authentic animal field recordings. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios and developed in Los Angeles, the project utilizes Stewart’s extensive archive of wildlife sounds to create an environmental manifesto. The collaboration aims to elevate animal vocalizations to lead performances, raising awareness for biodiversity conservation and species preservation. This innovative work marks Copeland’s continued evolution beyond rock, blending artistic expression with urgent ecological advocacy through a unique auditory experience.
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Stewart Copeland and Martyn Stewart Release 'Wild Concerto' Album
Rock legend Stewart Copeland, widely recognized as the iconic drummer for the band The Police, has collaborated with renowned naturalist Martyn Stewart to create a unique musical project titled 'Wild Concerto.' This innovative album merges traditional musical compositions with authentic field recordings of animal sounds, aiming to bridge the gap between artistic expression and nature conservation. The partnership highlights Copeland's versatility beyond rock music and Stewart's dedication to capturing the auditory landscape of the natural world. By integrating these organic sounds into a structured musical format, the duo seeks to raise awareness about wildlife and the environment through an accessible and engaging medium. The project represents a creative fusion of entertainment and environmental advocacy, offering listeners a novel experience that emphasizes the beauty and urgency of preserving natural habitats. Released in April 2026, 'Wild Concerto' stands as a testament to the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing contemporary ecological concerns through art.
Home - CBSNews.comStewart Copeland Transforms Studio into Wild Orchestra for New Album
Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland recently invited CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker into his Los Angeles studio to showcase his latest musical endeavor, "Wild Concerto." This pioneering project represents a unique fusion of traditional orchestral elements and nature-inspired sound design. Copeland, renowned for his rhythmic expertise in rock music, has collaborated with British naturalist Martyn Stewart to create an album that celebrates the sounds of the natural world, incorporating recordings of hyenas, owls, and howler monkeys alongside custom percussion instruments. During the tour featured on 60 Minutes, Copeland demonstrated his extensive collection of rare and custom-made instruments, including tuned bells, waterphones, gongs, and a vintage 1920s trumpet inherited from his father. He also displayed a guitar gifted by his former bandmate Sting. The studio serves as a living laboratory where Copeland experiments with blending these diverse acoustic textures. This project highlights Copeland's continued experimental spirit, moving beyond conventional rock drumming to explore complex soundscapes that merge human musicianship with the raw audio of wildlife, offering listeners a novel auditory experience that bridges the gap between concert halls and the wild.
Home - CBSNews.comStewart Copeland and Martyn Stewart Release 'Wild Concerto' Album Featuring Animal Sounds
Acclaimed musician Stewart Copeland, best known as the drummer for The Police, has collaborated with naturalist Martyn Stewart to release a groundbreaking album titled 'Wild Concerto.' This unique project fuses Copeland's musical compositions with nearly 100,000 field recordings of animal sounds collected by Martyn Stewart over six decades. The album features vocalizations from hyenas, owls, wolves, and frogs, aiming to elevate these natural sounds to stardom while humans play a supporting role. The collaboration was inspired by Martyn Stewart's desire to preserve his extensive archive of nature recordings, particularly as he battles cancer and witnesses increasing species extinction. Both creators hope the album will foster a deeper appreciation for the wild kingdom and highlight the urgent need for environmental conservation. Martyn Stewart describes audio as a 'barometer of the planet,' noting that changes in animal sounds reflect ecological health. The project includes rare recordings, such as those of the critically endangered Panamanian golden frog and the extinct-in-the-wild northern white rhinoceros, serving as both an artistic endeavor and a call to action for preserving biodiversity.
Home - CBSNews.comStewart Copeland Transforms Studio into Wild Orchestra for New Project
Legendary drummer Stewart Copeland, best known for his work with the rock band The Police, recently provided CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker with an exclusive tour of his personal recording studio in Los Angeles. The visit highlights Copeland's latest musical endeavor, titled "Wild Concerto," a project that diverges from traditional orchestral arrangements by incorporating a unique blend of custom-built percussion instruments, rare global artifacts, and nature-inspired soundscapes. During the segment, Copeland demonstrates how he integrates these eclectic elements to create a distinct auditory experience that mimics the unpredictability and raw energy of the natural world. The studio serves as both a creative sanctuary and a laboratory for sonic experimentation, showcasing Copeland's continued innovation in music composition decades after his initial rise to fame. This feature offers fans and music enthusiasts a behind-the-scenes look at the artistic process behind the "Wild Concerto," emphasizing the fusion of technology, organic sounds, and classical structures. The report underscores Copeland's enduring influence in the music industry and his willingness to push boundaries beyond conventional rock drumming into complex, immersive compositional territories.
Home - CBSNews.comStewart Copeland and Martyn Stewart Release 'Wild Concerto' Album Fusing Music with Animal Sounds
Stewart Copeland, the legendary drummer of The Police, has collaborated with renowned naturalist Martyn Stewart to create a groundbreaking new album titled 'Wild Concerto.' Recorded at the historic Abbey Road Studios, the project uniquely combines orchestral music with authentic field recordings of various animals, including hyenas, owls, howler monkeys, and arctic wolves. The album is built upon Martyn Stewart's extensive archive of nearly 100,000 audio recordings of wild creatures, some of which are now extinct or endangered, lending the work an environmental manifesto quality. Copeland composed the musical arrangements by selecting specific animal calls from over 30,000 hours of footage, allowing the raw sounds to dictate the choice of instruments, such as pairing trombones with wolf howls. This collaboration marks a significant departure from Copeland's rock roots, showcasing his evolution into a composer who previously scored films like 'Rumble Fish.' The album aims to give the animal kingdom a spotlight, treating their natural vocalizations as lead performances while human musicians provide supportive backing, creating a unique auditory experience that blends nature conservation awareness with artistic innovation.
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