Meet the musician whose audience is the animal kingdom

Key Concepts

• Interspecies Musical Interaction: The practice of performing music for animals and observing their reactions.
• Animal Response to Music: The observed calming and engaging effects of music on various animal species.
• Perception of Animal Life: A shift in understanding animal sentience and emotional capacity through musical interaction.
• Busking & Artistic Motivation: The initial impetus for Plume’s work stemming from a lack of engagement with human audiences.

The Origins of Interspecies Performance

Plume, a French musician, has gained significant online attention for his practice of performing music for animals in zoos and sanctuaries. This began approximately three years ago while he was busking in the subway. He experienced frustration with the lack of genuine engagement from passersby, questioning whether to continue performing for human audiences. He felt people “weren’t really paying attention and they were just passing by.” This lack of connection prompted him to explore alternative audiences.

The Cow Experiment & Initial Discovery

The catalyst for this shift came from an article Plume read detailing the soothing effects of music on cows. He decided to experiment by playing music for cows at his grandmother’s farm in the countryside. The reaction was profoundly impactful, described by Plume as completely “blowing my mind.” This initial success sparked his current interspecies musical practice.

Expanding the Repertoire: Diverse Animal Interactions

Over the past three years, Plume has expanded his performances to include a wide range of animals. He actively seeks opportunities to perform wherever invited, stating, “I feel like anywhere that invites me with animals, you know, I want I want to try.” Examples highlighted in the video include performances for giraffes, lemurs, and big cats. Specific musical pieces mentioned include “Lemon Tree” used during the giraffe interaction.

Emotional Impact & Perceptual Shift

Plume emphasizes that this practice has fundamentally altered his understanding of animal life. He states that it has “completely changed my perception of animals life.” While acknowledging initial nervousness, particularly when performing for potentially dangerous animals like tigers (“You’re like, I played for a tiger. I’m okay.”), he finds humans to be ultimately more intimidating. This suggests a perceived honesty or lack of judgment in the animal response that is absent in human interactions.

Observed Animal Reactions & Social Dynamics

The video highlights specific observed reactions. A panda named Pepper experienced a noticeable “trance” induced by the music, immediately followed by a request for physical affection (“Okay, Dad, you pet me now.”) This demonstrates a clear connection between the music and a subsequent behavioral response – a desire for tactile comfort. This observation suggests the music created a state of relaxation and trust, prompting a social interaction.

Accessibility & Universal Potential

Plume believes that anyone can achieve similar results with animals, implying that the connection isn’t dependent on his specific musical talent but rather on the inherent responsiveness of animals to music. This suggests a broader potential for interspecies communication and emotional connection through artistic expression.

Conclusion

Plume’s work demonstrates a compelling exploration of the relationship between music and animal behavior. His journey, beginning with artistic frustration and culminating in profound interspecies connection, highlights the potential for music to transcend species barriers and foster a deeper understanding of animal sentience. The observed reactions, particularly Pepper the panda’s response, provide anecdotal evidence of music’s calming and engaging effects on animals, suggesting a universal responsiveness that warrants further investigation.